Two Asheville residents have been named as semi-finalists in Mutual of Omaha’s recent “Aha Moment” contest — Patti Digh and Adelaide Key were chosen from more than 1,000 entrants in the insurance giant’s search for “real people with real stories” to feature in national TV commercial spots that will air next fall. Alison Storm drove up to Asheville from her home in Greenville, S.C. to participate in the event as well. The loss of Digh’s stepfather made her realize how precious life is. Key built the Rathbun Center, a house for patients undergoing treatment for cancer and their families; and after using a journal to stay connected to her long-distance friends, Alison Storm started a business to help others do the same.
“I just wanted to say thank you to Mutual of Omaha for allowing the Rathbun Center to have more visibility and let more people become aware of what we do,” said Key. “And all the good works that happen there.”
Digh, for her part, expressed surprise at the win and the happiness which the contest brought her: “I really enjoyed doing it. I’m really involved in the idea of ‘story’ and there are some fantastic stories on there that really mean a lot to me,” she told Xpress. Digh also maintains a blog, 37 Days.
The three are among 75 semi-finalists comprising the first round of voting — three from each of the 25 cities that the “Aha Moment” Tour visited over the summer. The top 25 will be chosen to enter second round of voting by online poll at the company’s “Aha Moment” site. The top 25 can be from any city and will be ranked by the moments receiving the most votes overall. The top 25 will be announced on Oct. 15 and the final ten “Aha Moments” will appear in Mutual of Omaha’s national television commercials, according to Brittany Thoms, the official representative of the “Aha Moment” Tour. Those ten will be announced in early November.
To watch Patti Digh’s video, “37 Days,” click here.
To watch Adelaide Key’s vide, “Hospitality House,” click here.
To watch Alison Storm’s video, “The Traveling Journal,” click here.
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