Epilepsy Foundation Announces “Now I Know” Facebook Video Contest Prize Winners

Video testimonials share hope, encouragement and advice about epilepsy

LANDOVER, MD (February 28, 2013) – At the culmination of the Epilepsy Foundation’s “Now I Know” Facebook video campaign, the Epilepsy Foundation is proud to announce the 12 prize recipients whose video testimonials about life with epilepsy garnered the greatest number of votes during the campaign. The campaign asked the question “When it comes to epilepsy, what do you know now that you wish you knew sooner?” with the goal of creating a forum where people could share their experiences, support and advice about epilepsy.

Participants from one of four regions won an iPad for the most votes, iPod Touch 5th Generation for the second and an iPod Nano for the third. Prize recipients are as follows:

• Northeast
• 1. Cathy Fletcher – Ridley Park, Pa.
     
  2. Jerri Ann S. – Va.
     
  3. Jennifer Prevete – Miller Place, N.Y.
     

• South
  
• 1. Nick Fuerte, Fla
     
  2. Camryn B. – Tega Cay, S.C.
     
  3. Meagan Kinney Gerk – Round Rock, Texas
     

• Midwest
  
• 1. Flor De Amelia Hoffman – Ames, Iowa
     
  2. Staci Fulton – Sugar Grove, Ill.
     
  3. Andrew Hust – Cincinnati, Ohio •

• West
  
• 1. Maile Kaneshiro – Hawaii
     
  2. Lacey Shimabukuro – Aiea, Hawaii
     
  3. Jeannett G. – Calif.

“We’re thrilled with the results of this campaign and the impact we’ve seen,” said Philip M. Gattone, President and CEO of the Epilepsy Foundation and the father of a child with epilepsy. “As a result of our participants’ and the epilepsy community’s efforts, thousands of people were drawn to the Epilepsy Foundation’s Facebook page to learn more about epilepsy and to help create awareness around this disorder.”

People from all across the country submitted videos ranging from carefully edited photo and video slide shows to off-the-cuff video testimonials. Each video came from a unique perspective and provided something new to the conversation – like Nick, who gave a presentation to his high school class about what life is like for a teen with epilepsy, or Lizette who gives honest advice for mothers of children with the disorder. Participants, like Nick and Lizette, shared their videos with family and friends and encouraged more than 13,000 votes and 1,300 comments throughout the contest period. To see the winning videos, visit the Epilepsy Foundation’s YouTube channel.

“We’re excited by the momentum that the “Now I Know” campaign built and hope to continue it throughout the year,” continues Gattone. “From the merging of the Epilepsy Foundation and the Epilepsy Therapy Project this winter to our National Walk in April we’re making big strides in the fight against epilepsy and look forward to executing large-scale national campaigns like “Now I Know” in the future.”