By Julie Hutchison | President, Co-Founder and Chelsea's Mother
It was a busy 2018 for The Chelsea Hutchison Foundation. We continue to reach far and grant comfort and hope to those affected by seizures/epilepsy. We have had an increase in visibility nationally and because of that we have seen a large increase in the number of requests. We still provide as many grants, devices and wish trips as we can and will continue to do so.
With your generous support and the support of others and our events, we were able to grant 17 families with all-major expense paid trips to participate in Epilepsy Awareness Day and the one-of-a-kind Educational Expo at Disneyland in November 0f 2018. More than half of these families were single-parent families. Click on Chelsea's Wish Trip 2018 if you'd like to see our most recently video.
These are invaluable trips for our winners! Epilepsy Awareness Day at Disneyland (EADDL) has grown over the years and families have access to many top professionals and advocates in the field, information on the latest treatment options - conventional and non-conventional – and the ability to meet with other families who are share similar worries, challenges and concerns. The bonds made between the families at this event are as important as any information they come away with. There is a support system that forms between the families during their days at Disney that lasts long after they return home. EADDL does wonders for these families who connect and become a community long after the event and CHF facilitates that community. Seeing almost two thousand people in purple shirts – people who either have epilepsy or are caring for someone with epilepsy – is an experience beyond compare.
We will start accepting nomnations in May for 2019 trips and our fundraising has begun. The number of trips we award depend on the success of our fundraising efforts.
Thank you for your support!
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