Imagine going to a place where for the first time, fear does not consume you. “At Camp Blackhawk, epilepsy is the norm,” where kids and teens leave their daily worries and challenges of epilepsy behind and join a community of people that know exactly what they’re going through.
For its seventh year, Seize the Stage, a musical revue benefit concert, welcomed performers from across the Chicago area and beyond in support of the Epilepsy Foundation of Greater Chicago. The annual show raises critical funds for one of the many programs of the foundation, Camp Blackhawk. This weeklong overnight camp is designed for children and teens with mild to severe epilepsy to experience the friendships and joys of sleepaway camp, in a safe and medically monitored environment.
Seize the Stage has raised more than $20,000 to help send kids to camp at no cost to the parents. This year, nearly 300 guests attended the concert at the Community Arts Center of Buffalo Grove, raising $12,000 for the program.
Seize the Stage is produced by Sammi Gassel, Scott Spector, and Jacob Cohen. Rachel Zarkowsky, age 12, has joined the team as the new junior producer.
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Emily Stone is Associate Editor at Make It Better. She earned a degree in journalism from Elon University in North Carolina. Along with writing, Stone has a passion for digital storytelling and photography. Her work is published in Chicago Athlete Magazine. Stone is a supporter of St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital and the National Multiple Sclerosis Society. Stone is a fluent Spanish speaker who in her free time loves a good dance class.