Friday, July 15, 2011

The Foundation for Angelman Syndrome Therapeutics (FAST) Finalist in $250,000 Online Contest

Vivint Gives Back Project Lets Voters Chose Favorite Non-profits FAST, One of 100 Regional Finalists; Encourages Supporters to Vote Now


July 8, 2011—The Foundation for Angelman Syndrome Therapeutics (FAST) is a regional finalist, and currently in 1st place, in the 2011 Vivint Gives Back Project, a national online campaign that will award $250,000 to the winning non-profit organization, and $100,000 to five regional charities throughout the United States and Canada. 
Vivint, one of the largest home automation companies in North America, is hosting the second annual campaign, which lets voters nominate, endorse and donate to their favorite local causes. 

During Phase One of the contest, which ran from April 25 to June 11, fans of Vivint’s Facebook page nominated and endorsed their favorite charities. Participants nominated 2,382 charities during the initial phase—a ten-fold increase over the 2011 inaugural contest—and cast 303,081 votes. 
The top 20 charities in each of four U.S. regions and Canada (100 total) during this phase were named regional finalists and moved onto Phase Two, which started on June 14 and will run through 11:59 p.m. EST on August 27, 2011. 

Vote Now! 
Supporters of FAST can cast their votes for the organization at http://www.vivint.com/givesbackproject. In addition to voting, supporters can also make online donations. On select days during Phase Two, Vivint will match these donations dollar-for-dollar up to $50 per donor, and $2,500 per charity. Participants can vote for one finalist per day. 

About FAST

The Foundation for Angelman Syndrome Therapeutics (FAST) is an all volunteer organization dedicated to finding a cure for Angelman Syndrome, a rare neuro-genetic disorder that causes severe intellectual and developmental delays. Individuals with Angelman Syndrome cannot speak. Many cannot walk. Almost all of them have debilitating seizures and all require life-long 24/7 care. Individuals with Angelman Syndrome tend to have a happy demeanor and are known for their fantastic smiles. Research has established that Angelman Syndrome is caused by the loss of function of a single gene. Scientists have already succeeded in reversing the effects of Angelman Syndrome in a mouse. This suggests that a cure for Angelman Syndrome is not only possible, but imminent. Curing Angelman Syndrome would open a gateway for curing other neurological disorders including autism and Alzheimer's disease. Join us now to be part of a miracle. Visit http://www.HelpSaveTheAngels.com for info on how to vote, click on First Time Voters Click Here. If you experience any problems in the voting process, click on contact us for quick response. 

Angelman syndrome, which affects 1 in 15,000 live births. This genetic condition is seen in people around the world and there are almost no known risk factors. Known for their great laughs and tight hugs, individuals who have Angelman syndrome are almost entirely non-verbal, face severe delays in gross and fine motor skills and often experience debilitating and resistant seizures. Individuals with Angelman syndrome struggle on a daily basis to learn skills that come to others easily and require 24/7 care and attention throughout their lives. Recently, Angelman syndrome received nationwide attention because actor Colin Farrell revealed that his 7 year-old son has Angelman syndrome. FAST is committed to assisting individuals living with Angelman syndrome to realize their full potential and achieve the best possible quality of life. 

About Vivint Gives Back

The Vivint Gives Back Project is a program of Vivint’s philanthropic initiative, Vivint Gives Back, which was created to focus the efforts of the employees at Vivint on banding together to alleviate hardship and restore hope for people in need. Vivint employees have the opportunity to contribute time and resources to service projects ranging from clean-up efforts in the aftermath of the Joplin, Missouri tornado, to providing meals at a Ronald McDonald House and adopting a local elementary school where our employees mentor and tutor students at risk in a long term relationship. 

About Vivint 
Vivint, Inc. is one of the largest home automation companies in North America. Operating throughout the United States and Canada, the company retains more than 5,000 employees and services close to 500,000 customers. With award-winning customer service and smart technology, Vivint is dedicated to enhancing security, increasing energy efficiency, and creating simple, affordable home automation solutions for its customers. For more information, visit www.vivint.com.