Parkinson’s Foundation Funds $450,000 for Local Parkinson’s Programs in Seven Cities Across the Country

NEW YORK & MIAMI (July 23, 2018) — The Parkinson's Foundation today announced it will fund nearly $450,000 to local community grants in seven cities that hosted the Foundation's annual fundraiser, Moving Day, A Walk for Parkinson's, in 2017. These grants will further the health, wellness and education of people with Parkinson's disease (PD). Since 2011, the Parkinson's Foundation has funded more than $17 million in community-based education and outreach programs that make life better for people living with PD.

The Parkinson's Foundation will fund a total of 30 local community grants across Atlanta, GA, Boston, MA, Chicago, IL, Dallas, TX, Los Angeles, CA, Miami, FL, and North Carolina.

"At every Moving Day walk across the country, we see the impact this event has on the local Parkinson's community. We are excited to expand our commitment to strengthen and build new programs and resources for the Parkinson's community in these seven areas and beyond," said John Lehr, president and CEO of the Parkinson's Foundation.

The Parkinson's Foundation 2018 community grants will address unmet needs in the Parkinson's community, including services for underserved populations, support for clinical trial participation by under-represented populations and initiatives that address financial barriers to care. 2018 community grants also help expand successful programs into new areas, as well as develop new programs for people with Parkinson's.

In Atlanta, GA, Parkinson's Foundation community grants will fund:

• Year-round, free Parkinson's-centered educational symposiums and ongoing health and wellness programs at the Marcus Jewish Community Center of Atlanta.
• An outreach event where participants engage with scientists, learn the latest in PD research and clinical trials through the Emory University's Morris K. Udall Center of Excellence for Parkinson's Disease Research.
• The unmet needs and clinical trial recruitment in underserved PD populations through the Emory University Center for Health in Aging.

In Boston, MA, Parkinson's Foundation community grants will fund:

• Expansion of Rock Steady Boxing classes offered by Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, a Parkinson's Foundation Center of Excellence.
• Delivering medically tailored meals to low-income, food insecure people living with Parkinson's in Boston and 19 neighboring cities through Community Servings, Inc.
• Expanding existing and successful exercise programs, classes and support groups for people PD and caregivers into a new geography through 110 Fitness.
• An educational video to help movement disorder centers reach more people with Parkinson's through art based on the "Calling All Artists" program at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center, a Parkinson's Foundation Center of Excellence.

In Chicago, IL, Parkinson's Foundation community grants will fund:

• A comprehensive PD-specific wellness program at Northwestern University Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorders Center, a Parkinson's Foundation Center of Excellence.
• Eight interactive workshops for people with PD and caregivers that highlight custom exercise and educational solutions by UnCorked Adventures.
• The development and implementation of a testing model to show real-world benefits of exercise for participants of Shirley Ryan AbilityLab Adaptive Fitness Center PD exercise classes.
• Educating the Chicago PD community about non-motor symptoms through support groups at Rush University Medical Center, a Parkinson's Foundation Center of Excellence.

In Dallas, TX, Parkinson's Foundation community grants will fund:

• Sustaining the only Parkinson's-specific non-contact boxing exercise class in the Dallas area offered through University of Texas Southwestern.
• The launch of a new program that will connect people with PD to health professionals, offer weekly exercise programs and educational seminars at no cost through the Texas Christian University, Davies School of Communication Sciences & Disorders.

In Los Angeles, CA, Parkinson's Foundation community grants will fund:

• The launch of a 5K training team for people with Parkinson's and caregivers through the University of Southern California, a Parkinson's Foundation Center of Excellence.
• A new Dance for Parkinson's program for the Los Angeles PD community through the USA Dance Antelope Valley Chapter.
• Expanding Re+active Physical Therapy and Wellness classes to Torrance, CA.

In Miami, FL, Parkinson's Foundation community grants will fund:

• Expanding Rock Steady Boxing program into new and underserved areas through the Michael-Ann Russell Jewish Community Center.
• Growing Parkinson's yoga therapy program to reach more people, provide yoga therapist visits and train yoga practitioners though Aum Home Shala.
• Reaching more people in the underserved local PD population through the Memorial Foundation's "Dancing for Parkinson's" program.
• The launch of a new PD program that includes innovative exercise class called TheraQi®, yoga and educational series through The Neuroscience Centers of Florida Foundation.
• Enhancing and expanding existing wellness, exercise, and dance programs for people with PD through the David Posnack Jewish Community Center.
• Weekly yoga class for those living with PD, early-onset Parkinson's and their caregivers at Floyo Coral Gables to help participants build strength, power and flexibility.
• An exercise program for people with early-onset PD and the newly diagnosed, providing high-intensity exercise classes at the Miami Beach Jewish Community Center.

In North Carolina, Parkinson's Foundation community grants will fund:

• Parkinson's Pilates and dance classes through the American Dance Festival's Parkinson's Movement Initiative.
• Access to occupational, speech and physical therapy through the Nash Day Hospital.
• A new, weekly exercise program for people with Parkinson's who have completed physical therapy through the Carolinas HealthCare Foundation.
• The new Partnering, Optimizing, Empowering Women (POE) Women for PD program through POE Wellness Solutions that will provide health and wellness coaching to women with Parkinson's.
• A new PD-tailored group class program that will teach Alexander Technique, a self-management approach to movement and posture, through The Poise Project.
• A new program that draws from theater exercises, voice and physical therapy techniques to help with PD symptoms, that will culminate in a public performance promoting PD awareness hosted by UNC Healthcare.

Moving Day raised more than $3.9 million in its 2017 season. Funds raised through Moving Day support the Parkinson's Foundation national mission by delivering expert care to more than 100,000 people living with Parkinson's, funding cutting-edge research to advance a cure, and providing free resources for people living with Parkinson's and their families, in addition to helping support important local initiatives.

Moving Day has united communities across the country in the fight against Parkinson's disease. To learn more about Moving Day please visit MovingDayWalk.org.