Meet Julie Hutchison | President, Co-Founder and Chelsea’s Mother

We had the good fortune of connecting with Julie Hutchison and we’ve shared our conversation below.

Hi Julie, we’d love to hear more about how you thought about starting your own business?
The Chelsea Hutchison Foundation came into existence in 2009 following the sudden and devastating loss of our beloved 16-year-old daughter. Chelsea’s passing was a result of SUDEP (Sudden Unexpected Death in Epilepsy), a condition that caught us completely off guard. Chelsea held a special place in our hearts, and in the wake of her tragic departure, we felt compelled to establish a foundation to honor her memory and continue her legacy alive.

The Chelsea Hutchison Foundation grants comfort and hope to those affected by epilepsy through providing tangible monitoring resources, vital information, and a safe haven for conversation and community.
Our main goal is to raise awareness of SUDEP and to make a positive difference in the lives of individuals and families living with epilepsy.
We raise funds to provide education about SUDEP and to provide seizure response dog grants, (what we believe to be) lifesaving movement monitors that help to protect against SUDEP and grant wish trips to Epilepsy Awareness Day and Expo at Disneyland and Purple Day Expo at Disney World.
We stay up-to-date on current trends in medical technology in order to be able to provide the most effective devices as they become available.
We respect the value and quality of life of every person living with epilepsy.
We are dedicated to providing opportunities that allow individuals and families greater independence, increased confidence, ability to enjoy social environments, and community understanding.

Alright, so let’s move onto what keeps you busy professionally?
Besides being the first SUDEP awareness organization to provide seizure response dogs, CHF is a leader in epilepsy support and SUDEP awareness, placing an emphasis on empowering patients and their families. We focus first and foremost on supporting patients in becoming their own advocates through education, support and resources, rather than on fighting the existing system. While acknowledging the importance of changes at the medical level, the foundation operates on the belief that informing and empowering people at the grassroots level can create immense change very quickly. When patients are informed, they’re going to be talking to their doctors, who will hopefully be motivated to update their own education and assess their handling of SUDEP until this point. Our goal is not to fight the system, but rather to raise awareness, create community and provide comfort and support to those living with epilepsy. CHF ensures that ALL in need will be served by helping people on a first-come first-served basis rather than case-by-case, assuring that anyone who feels they need help – and may not qualify elsewhere – receives the help they need. CHF recognizes that SUDEP can happen during any seizure, even those experienced relatively infrequently, and seeks to provide those individuals and families with the same level of care and support they provide to all families. CHF is a leader in providing grants for seizure response dogs and in placing monitoring equipment in the home, allowing families throughout the country access to a service they may otherwise miss. CHF was the first organization in the United States to provide grants for seizure response dogs, and continues today to provide the highest level of funding amongst other organizations.)

We host many fun events through the year to create community and raise funds, i.e., two bingo sessions weekly, Spring Gala,  Epilepsy Awareness Day at Elitches and the Purple Duck Chase and STOMP, Shining Light on  Epilepsy and SUDEP.

If you had a friend visiting you, what are some of the local spots you’d want to take them around to?
at CHF we believe in paying it forward to businesses who support our cause.

The Shoutout series is all about recognizing that our success and where we are in life is at least somewhat thanks to the efforts, support, mentorship, love and encouragement of others. So is there someone that you want to dedicate your shoutout to?
We owe an immeasurable debt of gratitude to our family and the incredible volunteers and donors who stand by us week after week, month after month, and year after year. Their unwavering support sustains us and fuels our efforts to make a difference in the lives of those affected by epilepsy.

Website: ChelseaHutchisonFoundation.org

Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chelseahutchisonfoundation/

Linkedin: https://www.linkedin.com/in/julie-hutchison-55b02255/

Twitter: https://twitter.com/ChelseasLegacy

Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thechelseahutchisonfoundation

Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCDXo8fuv-TFOneMxAzXMexw