Spokespersons
August Maturo
FAACT Celebrity Spokesperson
August Maturo to help raise awareness of life-threatening food allergies and the importance of having an action plan
Frank Dicopoulos
FAACT Celebrity Spokesperson
Actor Frank Dicopoulos knows first-hand about the seriousness of food allergies and the challenges of managing them on a daily basis. Best known for his 22 years on the long-running daytime drama The Guiding Light, Frank is allergic to shrimp. So are his wife and daughter.
“I had my first food allergy [reaction] on a date when I first met my wife,” Frank says, describing the symptoms that occurred after he ate some shrimp. “Years later, my wife and daughter had the same reaction to shrimp! It's terrifying watching a loved one going through [a] reaction.”
Now the entire Dicopoulos family engages in safe food allergy practices, avoiding their allergens and carrying their medications with them wherever they go. Given his personal experience, Frank can relate to the anxiety shared by the millions of Americans affected by food allergies. “I honestly believe that educating and bringing awareness to the public of this epidemic is a strong start,” he says.
As a spokesperson for FAACT, Frank will be a featured speaker at FAACT events, as well as our education and outreach activities. He firmly believes that his visibility as an actor provides him with an opportunity to get the message out about this potentially life-threatening medical condition because “this is a cause that has hit very close to home.”
Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino
FAACT Celebrity Spokesperson
Elizabeth Hamilton-Guarino, Hay House author and Best Ever You Network CEO, lives her daily life with allergies to peanuts, tree nuts, fish, and shellfish. In 1998, Elizabeth nearly lost her life due to an allergic reaction to almonds. In 1999, she had a second near-fatal allergic reaction while pregnant with her third son, after which she was hospitalized for more than a week.
Elizabeth turned these challenges into a mission to help people living with allergies thrive and be their very best. She founded the Best Ever You Network, which is a leading multimedia provider of lifestyle and self-help content. With Brian Hom, she co-founded the Food Allergy Zone to find a cure and the cause of food allergies. Elizabeth hosts “The Best Ever You Show” on BlogTalkRadio, which has over one million global listeners.
Now she adds “author” to her resume. In Percolate: Let Your Best Self Filter Through (April 2014), Elizabeth empowers readers to implement powerful, positive change to thrive in every aspect of your life.
Elizabeth has a degree in communications and broadcasting and also works as a life coach. She lives with her husband and four boys in Maine. Visit BestEverYou.com for more information about Elizabeth’s work and passions.
Kendall Renee
FAACT Ambassador
Kendall Renee is a Singer/Songwriter/Recording Artist from Southern California. Kendall knows about food allergies all too well. She is anaphylactic to 95 percent of all foods and must use a feeding tube in her stomach to receive nutrition. She is also severely allergic to airborne particles of all nuts. Kendall carries auto-injectable epinephrine with her at all times – and has used it to save her life eight times to date.
None of this has stopped Kendall from pursuing her dreams and career. Kendall released her first album “Original” in 2016, dedicating its message to individuals with different disabilities. Alongside her career as a songwriter and artist, Kendall travels around sharing her songs and story in the hopes of inspiring others going through their own medical struggles. She believes that disabilities can be turned into “superpowers” as she likes to call them, and can be used to do great things in this world. Aside from her music career, Kendall was also a highly competitive US Figure Skater for 13 years. She is currently working on a project to showcase the stories of different individuals with disabilities. Kendall has partnered with Aerie by American Eagle Outfitters as a changemaker to create a music video showcasing the stories of individuals with special needs. The song and video will focus on bringing hope and inspiration to others worldwide!
Kendall is a very active food allergy awareness advocate, working to educate the public about food allergies. She has been a fierce voice within the food allergy community for many years. Kendall has shared her story in the media on several occasions as an advocate including: Good Morning America, The Young Icons, ABC7, KTLA, Ability Magazine, The Press-Telegram, Allergic-Living Magazine, Aerie, Coastal Canine Magazine, National Geographic Channel, Long Beach Local News, The Balancing Act, and more.
As FAACT’s Ambassador, Kendall presents and is a teen leader at FAACT’s Teen Retreat and helps develop FAACT’s teen-focused educational programs. She has also been a camp counselor at Camp TAG, California.
“I believe that food allergies should never get in the way of living your life to the fullest and accomplishing your dreams,” Kendall says. Her motto is “It’s okay to be different, there is nothing wrong with Original”.
To learn more about Kendall Renee, visit her website or follow her on social media on Facebook and Instagram.
To hear Kendall’s music, visit Spotify and Apple Music.
