Thank You For Another WONDERFUL Taste Of Love!!

Lights, Camera, Action!

The Epilepsy Foundation of Georgia celebrated the 20th anniversary of the Taste of Love gala on Saturday, March 23, 2024, at the Grand Hyatt Atlanta in Buckhead. The event was certainly star studded with EFGA superstars from past, present, and future! Attendees enjoyed the EFGA Walk of Fame, filled with those who have long supported the organization and this event.

With a fabulous silent auction with goods donated by many businesses from throughout the metro area, attendees mingled enjoying signature Hollywood themed cocktails, delectable hors d’oeuvres accompanied by the sounds of Michael Magno & Company!

The grand ballroom was transformed to Hollywood glam, complete with a red carpet, and welcomed guests for an evening of entertainment. Magno & Company played all the hits while everyone mingled and enjoyed the gourmet dinner provided by Chef Chris Darnell.

During the evening we honored the stars of the past 20 years, our current stars and touched on the stars of tomorrow. Our current star, AJ Taylor, shared his experience in school as a child and the fear he experienced that lead to the driving force behind his efforts to bring a Seizure Safe Schools law to Georgia. AJ was successful in 2023 in bringing his idea to reality and has since been working alongside EFGA to ensure that all public-school students are cared for and the school faculty has completed seizure first aid training, and more, to ensure the safety of students living with seizures.

After a thrilling live auction attendees were treated to a premier of Under The Lights, a short film that is currently in production to become a full-length feature film, complete with popcorn and movie snacks! This touching and impactful story of a teenage boy, who simply wanted to attend prom, and the struggles he faced just wanting to experience this rite of passage had the room in chills — proving the importance of this film and the impact that it will have on the stigma that still surrounds epilepsy.

The evening ended as any Hollywood party should — with a vibrant after party! Guests danced the night away with the sounds of Monochrome and enjoyed late night snacks!

The Epilepsy Foundation of Georgia is so grateful for such wonderful supporters to share this milestone event with. We want to thank our sponsors for helping to make this event another success — presenting sponsor UCB Pharmaceuticals; bronze sponsors Jazz Pharmaceuticals, SK LifeScience, Neurelis, LocumTenens, Anita and Jim Patterson, Patricia Bowman Terwilliger Family Foundation and James and Malinda Hlavenka; and the patron sponsors Marnius and Lisa Millard. We look forward to seeing you all in 2025 – stay tuned for the official date!


We look forward to seeing you in 2025!

LEARN MORE ABOUT THE TASTE OF LOVE GALA WITH OUR STARS!

Bonnie Meshad, Board Chair Emeritus

Dedicated to ensuring others never feel alone, Bonnie Meshad generously served our community for over 20 years as part of the Epilepsy Foundation of Georgia! Her commitment over these years helped to transform our Foundation into the organization we are today with a focus on connecting our community and building a supportive village of advocates to drive awareness and empathy across our community.

Joining in 2004 after her son’s diagnosis, Bonnie graciously contributed and elevated our community for over two decades, ultimately serving on our Executive Board and Chair of the Board between 2014 and 2016. Bonnie was instrumental in building out our Medication Assistance Fund, our EF Works employment program, and helping to get Medical Marijuana legalized for the treatment of seizure disorders in 2015. Bonnie also brought her creativity and incredible party planning skills to the Foundation and elevated our Taste of Love Gala into the major fundraiser that it is today. After all these years, Bonnie continues to donate her time to the Foundation when required to ensure we continue bringing support and connection to families like her own throughout Georgia. Thank you, Bonnie!

Tom Affleck, Board Chair Emeritus

Passionate about helping others as the founding partner of his law firm, Tom became interested in the mission of the Epilepsy Foundation of Georgia after helping many clients over the years who lived with epilepsy. After joining the Foundation, Tom spent many years on the Board and ultimately served as Chair of the Board of Directors. Working with the Epilepsy Foundation was “one of the best experiences of my life,” Tom says. Now, he has passed the torch to his daughter, Allison Affleck, who currently serves on the Board.

During his tenure with the Foundation, Tom, along with others, was successful in changing the driving laws in Georgia for individuals with epilepsy, reducing the time a person must be seizure-free to six months. Tom also instrumental in organizing the first Taste of Love fundraising gala, then-known as the Jefferson Dinner, where individuals and friends of individuals involved in the Foundation gathered to raise funds to support people living with epilepsy within Georgia. The Jefferson Dinner was a huge success and now, 20 years later, has transformed into the Taste of Love Gala. Thank you, Tom!

WE LOOK FORWARD TO CELEBRATING 20 YEARS OF TASTE OF LOVE WITH YOU IN 2024!

TASTE OF LOVE SUPPORT IS CRITICAL TO YEAR-ROUND EFFORTS

The Taste of Love, an elegant black tie event at the Grand Hyatt Atlanta in Buckhead, features gourmet dining, premium wine parings, live entertainment, a top-notch silent and live auction and the chance to dance the night away. All proceeds from the event benefit the Epilepsy Foundation of Georgia.

The Epilepsy Foundation of Georgia is a charitable non-profit, volunteer and professional organization committed to the prevention and control of epilepsy, and to helping improve the lives of people who have epilepsy.

EFGA is a statewide voluntary health organization dedicated to the prevention and cure of seizure disorders, the alleviation of its effects and the promotion of independence and optimal quality of life for the people who have these disorders.

Through its community involvement with employers, teachers, law enforcement officials, health care professionals and individuals with epilepsy and their families, the foundation is active in a broad range of programs. These programs include information and education, advocacy, camp scholarships, and the delivery of specialized services.