The Parkinson’s Foundation makes life better for people with Parkinson’s disease (PD) by improving care and advancing research toward a cure. In everything we do, we build on the energy, experience and passion of our global Parkinson’s community.
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 individuals in the United States, 10 million worldwide, who are living with Parkinson’s.
Heartland is home to two of 48 worldwide Parkinson’s Foundation Centers of Excellence, the most respected and sought after designation in the field of movement disorders:
- University of Kansas Medical Center
- University of Iowa Hospitals and Clinics
History
The Parkinson Association of Kansas City was founded in 1981 to raise awareness of Parkinson’s disease (PD); to help find its cause and cure; and to provide education and support to people with PD, their families and care partners. Initially, the Association focused on raising money in support of a cure and for clinical services.
Much of this funding supported the KU Parkinson's Disease and Movement Disorder Center, a designated Parkinson's Foundation Center of Excellence.
In 2003, the Association became a nonprofit organization and improved patient services and programs. The mission was expanded to include a wider geographic presence in Kansas, and Missouri and its name changed to Parkinson Foundation of the Heartland.
In 2013, Heartland unified with the Foundation, officially becoming part of the highly regarded organization that makes life better for people with Parkinson's. In 2016, we changed our name to Parkinson’s Foundation Heartland, and the Heartland region expanded into Nebraska.
