The Parkinson Council located in the Philadelphia region, is a Chapter of the National Parkinson Foundation. The Parkinson Council provides financial support to local nonprofits and institutions dedicated to improving the quality of life for Parkinson's disease patients, their families and caregivers.

1. TOUCHING A LIFE EVERY DAY…

2. PARKINSON’S DISEASE
www.theparkinsoncouncil.org

3. ABOUTPARKINSON’SDISEASE
Parkinson's disease was first described in England in 1817 by Dr. James
Parkinson. The disease most often develops after age 50. It is the second most
common nervous system disorder of the elderly. Sometimes Parkinson's
disease occurs in younger adults, but is rarely seen in children. It affects both
men and women.
Parkinson’s disease affects 1.6 million people in the U.S. and, according to the
National Institutes of Health, about 50,000 new cases are reported
annually. This number will rise dramatically with the aging of the “Baby
Boomer” generation.
Symptoms of Parkinson’s disease range from tremors, slowness of movement,
rigidity, difficulty walking and poor balance to difficulty in speech and
swallowing, depression and memory loss. It is a chronic neurodegenerative
illness with variable progression over time, usually leading to disability and
death within 10-15 years of diagnosis. Each person diagnosed with
Parkinson's will experience symptoms differently.
We do not know what causes Parkinson’s disease and, as yet, there is no
known cure.

4. IMPACT
Parkinson’s Disease affects more people than Leukemia, MS, and ALS
combined
Disease # US Patients
Leukemia & Lymphoma 900,000
Multiple Sclerosis 400,000
ALS (Lou Gehrig’s Disease) 30,000
Parkinson’s Disease 1.5 million

5. NATIONALPARKINSONORGANIZATIONS
Michael J.
Fox
Foundation
National
Parkinson
Foundation
American
Parkinson
Disease
Association
Parkinson
Action
Network
NPF
Chapters
Davis
Phinney,
etc.
With several national organizations dedicated to research and quality of life
issues for Parkinson’s patients, this often leads to inefficiencies. It is also
difficult to determine their impact on local communities.
Parkinson
Disease
Foundation
Parkinson
Disease
Foundation
National Organizations that Focus on Parkinson’s Research, Services and Education
The Parkinson
Council

6. THE PARKINSON COUNCIL
www.theparkinsoncouncil.org

7. WHOWEARE
About The Parkinson Council
The Parkinson Council is the premier local organization dedicated to improving the quality of
life for patients, caregivers, and their families impacted by Parkinson’s disease.
We invest in research, education and programs provided by world-renowned institutions, and
innovative service organizations in the greater Philadelphia area.
We strengthen our role in the Parkinson’s community by increasing the number of lives we
touch every year.
Our Mission
The mission of The Parkinson Council is to raise funds to provide financial support and grants
to locally based nonprofits dedicated to improving the quality of life for Parkinson’s disease
patients, caregivers and families.
The Parkinson Council, an affiliated chapter of the National Parkinson Foundation (NPF), raises
funds to provide resources and services to people with Parkinson’s disease living within the
Delaware Valley region.
Our Values and Vision
www.theparkinsoncouncil.org
giving@theparkinsoncouncil.org

8. OURPEOPLE
Board of Directors
The Council recognizes that an important aspect of our work is cultivation of community
advocates and leaders. Our volunteer Board consists of experts in law, healthcare, research,
nonprofit management and business development. With our volunteers and staff, The
Council is able to grant financial resources to local providers of high quality services and
resources to people with Parkinson’s and their families in the region.
Executive Committee
Jeffrey Keefer, President
Jo-Ann Zoll, Vice President
Mark Wilkin, Treasurer
Ryan Haaz, Secretary
Erika Aaron
Geraldine Aaron
Jan Albert
Stephanie Lim Capello
Vito Cosmo, Jr.
Lisa Fiorito
Dan Forman
Donald Garfinkel
Judi Guinan
Arlene Halpern
Herb Hopkins
Lorraine Iacovitti
Carol Leiper
Marie Molchen
William Quinlan
Suzanne Reichwein
Kristen Young
Wendy R. Lewis, Executive Director
Rebecca J. Elias, Development Officer
www.theparkinsoncouncil.org
giving@theparkinsoncouncil.org

9. WHEREOURDOLLARSCOMEFROM
*Contributions to The Parkinson Council: 2010 - 2012
2012
$877,202*
2011
$622,867
2010
$565,000
*Includes special events, memorials, honorariums
SPRING SWING: Our 4nd annual Spring Swing cocktail party was held April 23, 2014 at the Pyramid Club to raise awareness
and funds in celebration of Parkinson’s Disease Awareness Month in April.
GOLF: Since 1999, The Parkinson Council has presented the Golf Classic tournament at highly renowned golf courses
throughout the Philadelphia region such as Saucon Valley, Philadelphia Cricket Club , and Philmont. In the event’s history, the
golf outing has raised over $3.6 million to benefit local research and services associated with Parkinson’s disease.
PARKINSON’S NIGHT AT CITIZEN’S BANK PARK: 2014 was our 9th year participating in the Phillies Phunraising Program,
where a percentage of tickets sold supports the mission of The Council. We are proud of this partnership with our local ball
club.
WALK: For 12 years, walkers of all ages joined together during our annual Stamp Out Parkinson’s Walk, the biggest grassroots
event in the Delaware Valley region devoted to raise awareness about Parkinson’s disease. To date, our walk has raised more
than $1.6 million to support Parkinson’s patients and their families. In 2014, The Parkinson Council will partner with the
National Parkinson Foundation to co-brand our walk on October 11th.
#GIVINGTUESDAY: #GivingTuesday is a call to action (globally and locally) that encourages personal philanthropy through
bigger, better and smarter charitable giving during the holiday season. As a returning #GivingTuesday partner, The Parkinson
Council is expanding movement classes in our region for people with Parkinson’s and their care partners.
In 2014, our goal is to increase the visibility of our
work, strengthen our partnerships, and diversify our
funding base.
Our Events in 2014
www.theparkinsoncouncil.org
giving@theparkinsoncouncil.org

10. OURWORKANDPRIORITIESIN2014
Funding Priorities: 2014Grants by Institution: 2010-2013
From 2013 through 2015:
 Grow its financial resources and expand our
donor base;
 Strengthen our board with specialized expertise
that will enhance our reach in the region and our
leadership depth;
 Touch more lives within underserved populations;
 Expand our programming to support the
Parkinson’s community more directly; and
 Build awareness of the disease and The Council’s
brand as the principal resource to address the
disease in the region.
Highlight of Our Work in 2013
Summary of Strategic Goals and Priorities
Invested in:
Improved access to physical therapy, social supports and
education for Parkinson’s patients, including traditionally
underserved populations, and their families.
 Mobility equipment to help Parkinson's patients with
financial hardships stay mobile and engaged.
 Innovative research to advance treatment therapies for
Parkinson’s patients.
 Integrated approach to services, including expansion of
home visits to patients with transportation and mobility
challenges.
 Dance, yoga and Pilates classes in Philadelphia,
Montgomery and Chester counties.
Penn,
$755,888
CNDR,
$108,000
GS/PP,
$53,077
Jefferson,
$408,500
MAPS,
$23,000
MossRehab,
$28,282
Arcadia,
$15,000
Bryn Mawr,
$1,000
Clinical and
Scientific
Research,
(29%)
Outreach
and
Education,
(27%)
Patient and
Caregiver
Services,
(44%)
www.theparkinsoncouncil.org
giving@theparkinsoncouncil.org

11. The Council is committed
to increasing its support
for People with
Parkinson’s by investing in
local institutions and
nonprofits.
JOINUS
Our Priorities: 2014
The Parkinson Council seeks to be the leader in investing funding resources for PD patients, caregivers,
researchers and educators in the Delaware Valley Region.
Your support ensures that local Parkinson’s patients, their families and caregivers have the needed resources
and tools to promote a high quality of life and exceptional care.
Your support makes it possible for local research institutions to continue their efforts to find the cause of and
a cure for Parkinson’s disease.
Your support is critical in helping us fulfill our vision of “touching a life every day.”
Fundraising
Messaging
& Outreach
Programs&
Services
Grants&
Support
Our Goal
What Your Support Will Do
www.theparkinsoncouncil.org
giving@theparkinsoncouncil.org