Meet 4 Volunteers Making Life Better for People with Parkinson’s
Each year, the Parkinson’s Foundation proudly recognizes four volunteers who have gone above and beyond to make life better for people living with Parkinson’s disease.
Their stories are powerful reminders of how passion, creativity and dedication can drive real change in our community.
✨ Take a look at this year’s 2025 National Volunteer Award winners and watch this video to hear what inspires them to take action!
Vikas Chinnan – California Chapter Paul Oreffice Volunteer of the Year
This is our highest honor, recognizing a volunteer whose leadership and dedication have made a broad, lasting impact — both locally and nationally.
“Being a resource is one of the most rewarding things I’ve had the opportunity to do. I’m glad I found the Foundation when I did because it provided a lifeline to me and I’d like to pay it forward.”
Holly Bloom – South Central Chapter Rising Star
Awarded to a new volunteer who made an immediate and powerful impact in their first year.
“Without all the resources that are available, I think I would struggle to find what was right for my husband. This cause is so important to me because it gives me hope and it allows me to be actively involved so that I don’t feel hopeless.”
Susan Brown – Georgia Chapter Top Fundraiser
This award honors the individual who raised the highest total in donations over the past fiscal year.
“If you are thinking about volunteering, don’t underestimate what you can bring to the cause and to even just another person. You can volunteer in big ways and in small.”
Rose Lang – Florida Chapter Community Service Award
Recognizing the volunteer who logged the most service hours in the past year.
“I’ve been an Ambassador now for about five years and my focus has always been to educate and empower members of our community, and to provide the resources and access to those resources that will help others, especially with an emphasis on safety when hospitalized.”
There are many ways to make a difference and support the Parkinson’s Foundation. Get started with our How You Can Help page. This page will give you options for volunteering, starting your own DIY Fundraiser, or even just donating to the cause.
You can also fill out a volunteer interest form to chat with our volunteer engagement team about how we can best put your skills to use. Help us bring life-saving information and resources to the hands of those who need them most.
La diversidad de datos —es decir, tener información genética acerca de la EP de personas de todo el mundo— crea una base sólida para impulsar los avances en la investigación. Sin embargo, los miembros hispanos y latinos de la comunidad de la EP a menudo enfrentan barreras significativas tanto para vivir bien con la enfermedad de Parkinson como para participar en la investigación. Con esto en mente, la Parkinson’s Foundation se ha asociado con el Consorcio Latinoamericano de Investigación sobre la Genética de la Enfermedad de Parkinson (LARGE-PD, por sus siglas en inglés) para llevar el estudio PD GENEration a nuevos países.
Esta expansión no sólo fortalece la base de datos genéticos de la EP para uso de los investigadores, sino que también fomenta el objetivo del estudio de proporcionar pruebas y consejería genética a todas las personas diagnosticadas con la EP, sin importar en qué parte del mundo se encuentren.
Preparar una expansión exitosa
Expandir un estudio a nuevos países requiere tiempo, esfuerzo y planificación para que todo salga bien. Para ayudar a dicha expansión, PD GENEration colabora estrechamente con LARGE-PD, un estudio genético de la EP que se desarrolla en Latinoamérica desde 2006.
"Realizamos encuestas para entender el modelo de los sistemas de salud, que varían según el país y la institución, y la mejor manera de integrar los dos estudios para obtener los datos de mayor impacto", dijo Rebeca De León, directora de investigación clínica de la Parkinson's Foundation.
En 2024, se eligieron cinco centros LARGE-PD para comenzar a ofrecer pruebas y consejería genética de PD GENEration en Colombia, Chile, México, Perú y El Salvador. En colaboración con Indiana University School of Medicine, se diseñaron e implementaron programas de formación especializada en estos centros para garantizar que los resultados genéticos se devolvieran a los participantes. En tan sólo unos meses, estos centros inscribieron a 1,015 nuevos participantes y certificaron a 26 médicos para que devolvieran los resultados de las pruebas genéticas.
"El acceso a las pruebas y la consejería genética ha sido una laguna importante en LATAM", dijo el Dr. Ignacio Mata, coordinador de LARGE-PD y profesor de la Cleveland Clinic. "PD GENEration es un gran paso hacia la medicina de precisión, ya que proporciona a médicos y pacientes la información genética necesaria para ofrecer el mejor tratamiento posible a cada individuo".
Mantener el impulso
La Parkinson's Foundation está entusiasmada por continuar esta exitosa colaboración en América Latina, trabajando para proporcionar pruebas genéticas y asesoramiento a más personas con la enfermedad de Parkinson. Próximamente, PD GENEration incorporará nuevos centros en Argentina, Brasil, Honduras y Uruguay, ampliando así el acceso al estudio a un número aún mayor de países.
"Hemos establecido una sólida red de colaboración con centros de investigación y especialistas locales, facilitando enormemente la integración del estudio en cada país", dijo Anny Coral-Zambrano, gerente senior de Investigación Clínica de la Parkinson's Foundation. "Hoy, el proceso funciona sin problemas gracias a las soluciones innovadoras que hemos implementado".
Las campañas de divulgación en los alrededores de los sitios existentes también están ayudando a informar del estudio a las comunidades locales de la EP. "Para apoyar el reclutamiento, hemos estado llevando a cabo eventos educativos acerca de la investigación en los que ofrecemos el estudio", dijo Rebeca. "Algunos centros incluso se desplazan a zonas remotas para prestar servicios médicos y ofrecer el estudio a quienes no pueden llegar a los centros".
El primer evento de PD GENEration en la Ciudad de México atrajo a más de 200 asistentes, de los cuales 82 se inscribieron al estudio en el evento. El evento contó con paneles acerca del Parkinson, la cognición, el ejercicio y la investigación y con la participación de más de 20 médicos. Un evento inaugural similar en Cali (Colombia) contó con 215 asistentes y ofreció una clase de zumba, actividades de estimulación cognitiva y un panel de expertos en genética.
El futuro de PD GENEration en América Latina
Con PD GENEration ahora activo en varios países de América Latina y llegando a más comunidades tradicionalmente desatendidas por la investigación de la EP, más personas que viven con esta enfermedad pueden obtener información valiosa acerca de su enfermedad a través de las pruebas y consejería genética. A medida que aumente la diversidad de la información genética en la base de datos de PD GENEration, también lo hará la comprensión de la enfermedad por parte del campo de investigación de la EP, lo que permitirá impulsar avances significativos en su tratamiento.
En el proceso de expansión, los líderes de PD GENEration en la región han adquirido aprendizajes clave sobre cómo interactuar con poblaciones diversas, lecciones que fortalecerán las estrategias de divulgación e impacto del estudio en el futuro.
Las colaboraciones con consorcios como LARGE-PD permiten que la comunidad avance unida hacia un futuro en el que las personas con EP puedan vivir mejor gracias a mejoras continuas en la atención médica y en la investigación científica.
Join the University of Utah, together with the Parkinson’s Foundation, for the "Idaho Falls Parkinson's Disease Symposium," an educational symposium for people with Parkinson's disease (PD) and care partners.
Hear from University of Utah and Parkinson's Foundation speakers about dysfunction in the autonomic nervous system (dysautonomia), non-motor symptoms, and staying safe in the hospital with Parkinson's.
Registration is required and seating is limited.
In partnership with the University of Utah Movement Disorder Division, a Parkinson's Foundation Center of Excellence.
Get out and move with your community! Every dollar raised supports the Parkinson’s Foundation mission to make life better for people affected by Parkinson’s disease (PD). At Moving Day Community Walks across the country, we’re fighting Parkinson’s and celebrating movement — proven to help manage Parkinson’s symptoms — and we’re doing it together. The Moving Day Community Walk Program is a complement to the Parkinson’s Foundation Moving Day, A Walk for Parkinson’s. These walks are family-friendly and help the Foundation make life better for people with PD.
The Community Walk program offers volunteers an opportunity to organize a walk in their own community that does not have a Moving Day event. The program leverages the personal experiences and community leadership of passionate volunteers to promote Parkinson’s awareness and raise funds for the Parkinson’s Foundation.
Check-in & Resource Fair* begins at 10:00 a.m. and the program starts at 11:00 a.m.
There are many non-motor challenges associated with Parkinson’s disease that may not always be easy to discuss. With a focus on diet, choking and swallowing, this program will provide strategies for coping and talking about it with healthcare providers or loved ones. A discussion will take place addressing diet and swallowing issues associated with Parkinson’s disease.
*The Resource Fair will feature local Community Partners that provide services and support for the Parkinson’s Community.
Speakers
Mandy Katz MS, RD, CSP, LDN
Registered Dietitian
Director of Healthy Living – Giant Food
Ianessa A. Humbert, PhD, SLP
"Swallowologist"
CEO – Swallowing Wellness
Lucy Bowen
Founding Artistic Director, Bowen McCauley Dance Company
Director, Dance for PD – Mid-Atlantic
Lunch will be served.
Free Valet parking available onsite in addition to Dupont Circle Metro Access.
There is no charge to attend, but registration is required. This program is open to people with Parkinson's, their family, friends, and the community.
After many years of good symptom management, Parkinson’s disease may become more challenging. Learn how Parkinson’s symptoms may change over time and new strategies available for managing them.
There is no charge to attend, but registration is required. This program is open to people with Parkinson's, their family, friends, and the community.
Learn about our Community Partners in Parkinson’s Care, a program designed to educate and prepare care staff to provide optimal care for people with Parkinson’s disease (PD) living in care communities. Learn tips about caring for your residents and clients living with Parkinson’s.
Speakers
Joan Gardner, RN, BSN & Rose Wichmann, PT
Community Partners National Co-Directors
This program is designed for staff at skilled nursing homes, assisted living communities, in-patient rehabilitation centers, and home care/hospice agencies across the country.
There is no charge to attend, but registration is required.
Some non-motor symptoms of Parkinson's disease may not be easy to discuss. With a focus on mental and emotional health, this program will provide an overview of common concerns, how to talk about them with healthcare providers or loved ones, and strategies for coping including music therapy.
There is no charge to attend, but registration is required. This program is open to people with Parkinson's, their family, friends, and the community.
Parkinson’s disease can create many challenges to getting a good night’s sleep. This program provides information on how Parkinson's disease affects sleep quality and addresses ways you can get a better night's sleep while living with PD.
Speakers
Cynthia S. Reed, MD, Parkinson's Wellness Clinic
Dev Ashish, PhD, Banner Health
There is no charge to attend, but registration is required. This program is open to people with Parkinson's, their family, friends, and the community.
Check-in & Resource Fair* begins at 10:00 a.m. and the program starts at 11:00 a.m.
Most people with Parkinson’s disease will experience changes in speech, voice and swallowing at some point during the course of the disease. Learn tools and exercises to help you better understand and manage speech, swallowing and communication problems in PD.
*The Resource Fair will feature local Community Partners that provide services and support for the Parkinson’s Community.
Speakers
Meka S. Benson, MCD, CCC-SLP
Speech Language Pathologist
ChristianaCare
Sarah Burton-Romero, MS, CCC-SLP
Speech Language Pathologist
Widener University Speech-Language Pathology Clinic
Mindy Myers, MA, CCC-SLP
Speech Language Pathologist
University of Delaware Speech-Language-Hearing Clinic
On-site parking is available. Lunch will be served.
