For the Media:

First Youth Council Meeting Charts Course for the Next Two Years

Landover, Md., January 16, 2007— The Youth Council of the Epilepsy Foundation convened its first-ever meeting concurrent with the recent meeting of the Foundation's board of directors. The focus was to create a strategic action plan for the next two years to cover the Foundation's youth programming and how the Foundation will reach out to both young people with epilepsy and young people who do not have epilepsy.

"We are excited about this important new program," said Eric R. Hargis, President and CEO of the Epilepsy Foundation. "Changing the attitudes and opinions of today's youth about epilepsy is key to eliminating the stigma of epilepsy. By reaching out to youth, we are both helping young people today and creating a platform for change for tomorrow."

The Youth Council comprises 10 young adults, ages 18 to 24, who have demonstrated exceptional leadership in the epilepsy community. Members serve as ambassadors and public spokespeople for the Epilepsy Foundation's mission, as state and national advocacy representatives, and as epilepsy community leaders at the local level. Council members include youth with and without epilepsy. Members of the Youth Council also serve as national program and youth outreach materials advisors.

"Young people know the best way to talk to young people," said Elizabeth Goldberg, chair of the Youth Council and member of the Epilepsy Foundation's board of directors. "We understand what messages are most important, and how to deliver those messages. Because the Council has youth who have epilepsy and youth who don't — youth who simply want to advocate change and raise awareness in all communities — we can bring a unique vision and new way of thinking to the Foundation. I am thrilled that the Foundation has embraced youth leadership as a priority."

Youth Council members include:  

Elizabeth Goldberg, Chair, is a graduate of Smith College living and working in Washington, D.C. Elizabeth has been a member of the Epilepsy Foundation board of directors for the past four years. Elizabeth has been a public advocate and ambassador for epilepsy services and awareness since the age of 16.

Paul Babbitt, from Flagstaff, Ariz., has been volunteering to help educate others about epilepsy since he was diagnosed with epilepsy at the age of 12. He is a founding member of the local teen support group at the Epilepsy Foundation of Arizona, as well as a puppeteer for the Kids on the Block program.

Tim Finnigan, from Southern Ala., is a freshman at the University of Southern Mississippi majoring in Broadcast/Journalism. Having had epilepsy all his life, Tim conducts educational workshops for his affiliate, participates in fundraising campaigns, and was the National Winning Kid of the Year in 1999.

Bridget Green, from Pa., is a senior at St. Mary's College in Indiana where she is a Communications major. Bridget orchestrated an ADA compliance audit of her college to ensure that all students with disabilities had access to the college environment.

When Jamie Laurie's younger sister was diagnosed with epilepsy, Jamie became an advocate for the epilepsy cause. Jamie is originally from Ohio and is currently majoring in Journalism at Ashland University .

Elan McCollum, a junior at Smith College who serves on the student government, is majoring in Psychology with a minor in Engineering. Elan became involved with the Epilepsy Foundation when her younger sister had her first seizure at 3 months old.

Ilana Rothbein, wanting to do something to help her brother who has epilepsy, began donating one hour's worth of weekly babysitting money for a year when she was 16. Her $450 donation quickly spurred her on to create Chores for Charity (www.choresforcharity.com), a program where high school students can donate money made from part-time jobs in exchange for community service hours. The program has generated over $20,000 so far for epilepsy research.

Kristin Schkade is a college student, a field representative for an advertising company and the mother of a three year old. Diagnosed with epilepsy at the age of twelve, Kristin also works as assistant director of Camp Spike and Wave in Texas .

Jennie Solomkin has been volunteering with the Epilepsy Foundation since her diagnosis in 2001. She has worked with the Epilepsy Foundation of Long Island on numerous awareness projects, organized a fundraiser and attended the Public Policy Institute in 2004. Jennie also co-founded a club at her school called All Ways Are Really Exceptional (AWARE ) that is designed to raise awareness of people with disabilities at the school and in the community.

Marine Vaillant is a student at the University of South Carolina pursing a major in business and a minor in Spanish. Diagnosed with epilepsy at the age of eight, Marine has been a leader in the epilepsy community, working with the Epilepsy Association on campus as well as attending a H.O.P.E. training and planning seminars for her job and the university's Office for Disabilities.

About the Epilepsy Foundation

The Epilepsy Foundation (www.epilepsyfoundation.org), a national voluntary health organization established in 1967, works to ensure that people with seizures are able to participate in all life experiences; to improve how people with epilepsy are perceived, accepted and valued in society; and to promote research for a cure.