Serving NC and SC
Set this as my local chapterParkinson’s Foundation Carolinas makes life better for people with Parkinson’s disease (PD) by improving care and advancing research towards a cure. Whether you are newly diagnosed with PD or have been managing it for years, are a care partner, family member or friend of someone with PD, we are here to help you.
We are leaders in ensuring expert Parkinson’s care, educating and empowering the Parkinson’s community and driving the understanding of Parkinson’s through research. As a national organization with local presence and impact, we bring help and hope to the estimated one million people in the U.S., 10 million worldwide, who are living with Parkinson’s.
Your support of the Parkinson’s Foundation Carolinas Chapter makes a big impact on the quality of life for people with Parkinson’s disease (PD) right here in your community, as well as across the country and around the world!
Read more about our impact in the Carolinas Chapter
Thanks to supporters like you, we are able to provide free resources and advance research toward a cure.
Find Expert Care
Access to care professionals, medications and services
Parkinson’s Foundation Global Care Network creates more opportunities for people with PD to access high-quality care.
Aware in Care Kit
Advocate for your best care
The Aware in Care Hospital Kit gives people with PD tools and information to share with hospital staff during a planned or emergency hospital visit.
Helpline
The Helpline answers more than 20,000 calls a year
Call our Helpline at 1-800-4PD-INFO (473-4636) to find your nearest PD specialist or local resources and get answers to your PD and caregiving questions.
PD Library
We are your trusted ally for information at every stage
We offer resources including videos, podcasts, webinars and other opportunities to learn about the many aspects of living well with PD.
Progress towards new medicines, better therapies and eventually a cure relies, almost exclusively, on innovative, high-quality research.
The Parkinson’s Foundation Community Grants program supports programs that further the health, wellness and education of the Parkinson’s community. We help people with Parkinson’s live better lives, today.
In the 2021 grant cycle, we awarded eight local grants to community programs. These Community Grants are made possible through the support of donors.
Learn more about the Parkinson’s Foundation Community Grants program, including application information, deadlines and more.
336-817-4190
Carolinas@Parkinson.org
Parkinson’s Foundation
ATTN: Carolinas
200 SE 1st Street, Suite 800
Miami, FL 33131
Our Advisory Board ensures our impact is community based and community lead.
Camille Jones (Winston-Salem, NC)
President
My dad was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in the mid 1990’s and from May 2002, when my mother died, until his death in late 2008, my brother and I were his caregivers. In addition, my sister-in-law currently has PD, and a dear friend was diagnosed with early onset at age 40, some 25 years ago. Because my father didn’t have the benefit of support groups, or exercise groups, or any other community services during the time of his illness, it’s important to me to support the Parkinson’s community in any way I can.
Jim Blackorby (Cary, NC)
Fund Development Chair
Diagnosed with PD on 2009; symptoms visible a couple of years earlier. My grandmother lived with Parkinson’s for 30+ years, and a cousin died of Parkinson's a couple years ago. My wife Shirley's sister progressed (or regressed) from Bell's Palsy, to Parkinson's to ALS and passed away seven years ago. So maybe all of the above played a role in my getting involved.
Jim and Shirley were part of our 2022 photo shoot.
Michael (Mike) Horak (Asheville, NC)
Reach Further Chair
Mike is Senior Associate Director of Philanthropy of the The Nature Conservancy where he has worked for 20 years. “I understand fundraising and what motivates people to give to non-profits. As a fundraiser I have a lot of connections to and experience working with people of wealth in the Carolinas. I also live in Western NC, traditionally an underserved area for health care services, including Parkinson’s.” He was diagnosed with early-onset PD in 2013 at age 48 and his 80-year-old father has had PD for 15 years, so Mike has a keen interest in genetics research.
Cynthia (Cindy) Karr (Charleston, SC)
Mission Outreach Chair
Although I was born and attended school in western New York, I’ve lived in Charleston, SC since 1974. I met my husband, Leonard, in Charleston and raised our family. Leonard was diagnosed with PD in 2008. For over 38 years, I worked at the Medical University of South Carolina as a Clinical Laboratory Sciences faculty member and then in the Office of Research Integrity as an administrator. Since 2013, I’ve applied my teaching and research skills in retirement endeavors.
Maryanne Shanahan (Burlington, NC)
Chapter Development Chair
My husband Bill was diagnosed with PD by Dr. Nina Browner at UNC, shortly after we moved from Maine to NC in July 2014. Our community in Alamance County did not have the resources we needed so, in 2017, we started Talking Parkinson’s, an Alamance Support Forum. I was in the healthcare field for over 35 years. After my nursing career I owned and operated the Hawthorn Inn in Mid-coast Maine for 13 years before retiring to NC.
Eric Arrington (Burlington, NC)
Member-At-Large
Eric is a U.S. Army Lieutenant Colonel, retired, after 28 years of service. He held a variety of senior staff positions with highest security levels and worked at the Pentagon on extended assignments. He is active in his church and also with Meals on Wheels. He brings skills in organizational design and management; human resources; research; planning, programming, budget and database management; networking; and ideas development. Eric was diagnosed with PD in 2010 at age 46. He is an active member of Talking Parkinson’s, an Alamance Support Forum, and participated in the recent, highly successful Veteran’s Symposium.
Jenny Boone (Charlotte, NC)
Fund Development Committee
Jenny has had an extensive career in finance and banking. She was the Executive Director, Healthcare and Insurance for JP MORGAN CHASE, Chicago, IL and Charlotte. In the fall of 2021, Jenny’s mother passed away from complications due to PD and her father, her mom’s primary caregiver, a short time later. She has said, “Parkinson’s takes and takes. I want to help develop ways to support those suffering from Parkinson’s and the primary caregivers, be that through educational programs, fundraisers, and general support, I want to do all that I can.”
Abby Coleman (Raleigh, NC)
Fund Development Committee
My father was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 2008 and passed away in 2018. I’m excited to continue working with the Parkinson’s Foundation as one way to exhibit my love for my father and honor his legacy. I have served as an event planner for over 15 years at various universities in North Carolina. I currently work at UNC Chapel Hill at the Arts & Sciences Foundation planning events and engagement opportunities. I find joy in the details of planning and collaborating with others. I’ve served on the Moving Day Triangle Planning Committee the past two years.
Alicia Flach (Columbia, SC)
Mission Outreach Committee
I am a physical therapist, Board-Certified in Neurologic Physical Therapy, and have been working with individuals with neurologic conditions and injuries for over 10 years. I began specializing in working with individuals with degenerative conditions in 2014 when I became faculty at Saint Louis University. I partnered with a movement disorders team and MS neurologist during my time there. This specialized area has continued to grow and now includes clinical practice, research, and service! I’m happy to be here!
Kim Gamble (Charlotte, NC)
Mission Outreach Committee
I'm passionate about connecting underserved people with resources, and I enjoy educating the community. I am a Program Coordinator for Movement Disorders at Atrium Health in Charlotte.
Scott Rider (Beaufort, SC)
Fund Development Committee
I have PD and decided early on that I could be a consumer and reap the benefits of others hard work or be a contributor and help to advance the cause. My goals related to Parkinson’s are simple: raise awareness regarding PD; encourage others and their care partners who are battling PD; and, raise funds for the Parkinson’s Foundation to help advance the cause.