March 2026
Community is at the heart of all we do. That’s because we understand that navigating the epilepsy journey can take courage, tenacity, and sometimes—a big hug and a belly rub with a loveable therapy dog. On Valentine’s Day this year, I was reminded of the simple goodness of slowing down to check in with yourself through the companionship of a pet at our Paws for Self-Care Valentine’s Day event. Thanks to Haddon and Maizy, two incredible service dogs with Canine Therapy Corps, Members and Caregivers truly felt the love and connection of a caring community network. In this edition of eConnections we feature a variety of epilepsy community-focused events and initiatives. Join us on March 7th for the 9th annual Empoderando a Nuestras Familias- “Empowering Our Families,” EFGC’s Annual Epilepsy Education Conference for Spanish-Speaking Families. Let your voice be heard with us and our friends at Danny Did Foundation and Epilepsy Action Network in the fight to advocate for insurance coverage for medically prescribed, FDA-approved seizure detection devices, and for Illinois law enforcement training standards in identifying and interacting with individuals with epilepsy. Our community is full of new and old friends, including Dr. Rosabel Young, who kicks-off our new featured segment, Ask The Expert, with great advice on sports concussions and epilepsy. And meet Natasha Irani, a dedicated EFGC Associate Board member who’s story of personal empowerment on her journey with epilepsy will truly inspire you. Read on and remember: if you live with or love someone living with epilepsy, we are your community and no one faces epilepsy alone.
In Service,
Alison Ruble
President & CEO
November 2025
It’s Epilepsy Awareness Month and we are reaching out, sparking conversations and spreading the word. No better time to send you the latest updates and news from the EFGC. What an exciting month it has been! This past weekend we hosted our 15th Annual Epilepsy Education Conference, featuring an esteemed panel of presenters, community-building and resource sharing. Then, a quick drive to Porshe Chicago for EFGC’s Casino Night to raise vital support for our programs and services—and have a lot of fun in the process. These events are just two examples of the work we dedicate 365/24/7 to support a strong epilepsy community and ensure that no one living with epilepsy takes that journey alone. This theme is explored in new and exciting media launching this month, featuring stories of our amazing Members—and introducing a new face of leadership: Eric Weber, EFGC Chairman of the Board, 2025 – 2028. We’re also excited to introduce some new faces to our EFGC Staff Team this November: Tammie Morris, VP of Programs and Services; Parisha Boatright, Case Manager; and Tataneshia Middleton, Clinician. Be sure to check out Ayesha Akhtar’s Health Equity Corner and ask yourself: what is my gold standard of treatment? Explore all our upcoming programs and events and remember EFGC’s promise to you: No one fights epilepsy alone.
In Service,
Alison Ruble
President & CEO
August 2025
How was your summer? Here at EFGC, we painted, biked, camped out, made new friends and forged new connections. We believe in boundless opportunities, strong communities and creative connections to help people living with epilepsy live their best lives every day.
Our Governance Board is a vital volunteer force that provides the backbone of leadership to support our way forward. After many years of devoted service, Nancy Iida transferred the leadership torch of Chairman of the EFGC Governance Board to Eric Weber on August 1st. We welcome Eric as our new Chairman and look forward to strengthening and expanding our mission with his vision and leadership.
This summer, partnerships helped us innovate our mission and spread our reach. Thanks to our friends at Hidden Truths Art Project, our Members got in touch with their creative side and made visual art pieces that will be displayed as part of a special project this fall. A special thank you to Beth and Hannah Ruark and the Hidden Truths Art Project for providing inspiration!
In this newsletter’s edition of Ayesha Akhtar’s Health Equity Corner, you can read all about our exciting new program that forges stronger connection to epilepsy resources, leveraging the support of Community Health Workers. Access to health care is fundamentally important to everyone, but especially to those living with epilepsy. We are expanding connections to epilepsy resources at the local and rural level by connecting Community Health Workers to people living with epilepsy and providing better access to care. We look forward to watching this exciting program evolve and magnify its impact.
But it is EFGC Board Member, Brad Serot, and his Yes We Can cycling team who show us we can move mountains—or at least ride over them! Thanks to Brad’s incredible leadership and generosity, his Yes We Can cycling team rode their bikes 118 miles over the grueling Colorado Rockies for the fifth year in a row to raise vital support for EFGC, the Cerebral Palsy Foundation, and Easterseals of Central and DuPage County. Thank you to Brad and his amazing team!
This past February, I wrote about our vision for increasing our mission reach and impact throughout our 44-county service area so that no one living with epilepsy lacks support, resources or access to medical care. We remain committed to that vision. To help inform our way forward, I’m excited to announce that we will soon launch EFGC’s Mapping the Journey, a needs assessment and feedback survey for our Illinois epilepsy community and supporters. We value your feedback. Be a part of helping us map our future. Stay tuned for more information and access to the survey. Here’s to the road ahead!
In Service,
Alison Ruble
President & CEO
Recently, on a brisk spring morning, I loaded up the car and took a scenic drive to central Illinois to EFGC Family Camp. As an urbanite, I wasn’t quite sure what to expect. But after miles of blue sky and green fields, my urban side melted away as I drove into camp. I had arrived at a very special place.
At EFGC’s annual Family Camp, the possibilities are endless. With a dedicated and caring staff, and a facility that provides rustic charm, comfortable accommodations and full accessibility, children living with epilepsy and their caregivers enjoy opportunities for boundless fun and recreation, but also moments to just relax, recharge and reconnect with one another. We receive incredibly positive feedback from camp-goers, including from one caregiver who shared that, thanks to the respite care provided at Family Camp, she was able to truly relax and have time for herself—the first time in a very long time–knowing that her child was in a safe space. When campers hop on the zipline, reel in a fish from the lake, make a colorful craft or simply take a much-needed nap—they’re free to be a kid, be a family, be at peace while making lasting memories.
At a time when so much is changing around us and cuts in federal initiatives threaten research and support for the epilepsy community, it’s moments like those at EFGC Family Camp which remind us just how vital our own voice, volunteerism and financial support can be for epilepsy awareness, education, research and advocacy. In fact, with this edition of eConnections we are proud to launch “Health Equity Corner,” a new, quarterly feature from Ayesha Akhtar, VP of Health, Equity, Education and Advocacy at EFGC, providing important updates and perspectives on equitable access to care, resources and education. Be sure to check it out–or write your elected official directly, here. To learn more about the work of EFGC and the impact we make, visit us at www.epilepsychicago.org today!
In Service,
Alison