Phi-lan-thro-pist (fi-lan-thruh-pist): -noun
Derives from Ancient Greek, meaning “to love people.”

If you’ve always wanted to host an event and raise funds in support of the Epilepsy Therapy Project, now, it’s easier than ever with www.firstgiving.com!

Firstgiving is an online system that allows people to fundraise for their favorite organization. Creating an online fundraising page takes 5 minutes — that’s it!

As the host, you can personalize a campaign by writing about your event or share your story. You can even add photos and videos! Celebrate birthdays, weddings, or host an event to honor that someone special. Or, organize a marathon, a walkathon, or even a golf or softball tournament! If you like to bake, organize a bake sale. Be creative! It’s your event, and you are in charge.

Here are some ideas for ways to raise money using your Firstgiving webpage.

Ideas for adults

• Taxi for Epilepsy. Drive friends or family to the airport or store and ask them to pay you by making a donation through your Firstgiving page.
• Bike Ride for Epilepsy. Setup a race or just set a goal for yourself and ask friends and family to sponsor you for however many miles you want to ride. For example, ask them each to make a $25 contribution for you to ride 25 miles.
• Hold a Virtual Bakesale. Ask people to save the calories and buy virtual foods through your Firstgiving website.
• Run or Walk for Epilepsy. Hold a local walk for epilepsy in your community. Use Firstgiving to setup teams for friends, family and the community to sponsor.
• Personal Occasions for Epilepsy. Ask your friends and family to make a donation through your Firstgiving webpage in your honor for birthdays, weddings, anniversaries, graduations, holidays -- any day.
• Honor Someone You Love. You can ask friends and family to make a donation through your Firstgiving webpage in honor of someone you love who is here or who you have lost that made an impact on your life.

Ideas for young adults

• Babysit for Epilepsy. Babysit for someone and ask them to make a donation in the amount of the cost for your services through your Firstgiving page.
• Read for Epilepsy. Have your family members make a contribution for each book you read.
• Personal Occasions for Epilepsy. Ask your friends and family to make a donation through your Firstgiving webpage in your honor for birthdays, graduations, or a holiday.

Use your imagination and think up something new. Be innovative. Take advantage of how easy it is to share with people via email and over the Web.

After you create your own page, add a Firstgiving widget to your story or blog here on epilepsy.com.

Donations can be made from friends and family and colleagues by credit card. They can leave personal messages for you on the campaign page too! Each time a donation is made, the host is notified, and an automatic customizable thank you email is sent. It’s quick, easy and secure. It’s great fun too.

All donations are sent to the Epilepsy Therapy Project, minus a small transaction fee. Ready to get started? Visit:

http://www.firstgiving.com/epilepsy