Foundations Team up to Take on Parkinson’s

everybody vs parkinson's save the date gala event

The Kirk Gibson Foundation for Parkinson's today announced a partnership with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and the Michigan Parkinson Foundation. The support was inspiring and the attendees were fabulous! We'd like to thank everyone again for helping us put on such a wonderful event for such a positive purpose!

FOUNDATIONS TEAM UP TO TAKE ON PARKINSON'S

The Kirk Gibson Foundation for Parkinson's today announced a partnership with Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan and the Michigan Parkinson Foundation.

** Update **
The support was inspiring and the attendees were fabulous! We’d like to thank everyone again for helping us put on such a wonderful event for such a positive purpose!

For those interested, we have included some links to coverage of the gala below.
From C&G News

venue for Everybody vs Parkinson's @motorcitycasino
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The partnership aims to increase awareness of Parkinson’s Disease (PD) and fund clinical research seeking to find a cure for PD through a unique approach – collaboration, cooperation, and teamwork.

Detroit Tigers great, Kirk Gibson, was diagnosed with early onset PD nearly three years ago and has dedicated his boundless energy to the cause ever since. “It’s like a hand in a glove, the way the Foundations fit together”, described Gibson, referring to the alliance between his Foundation and its newest teammates. “It’s my dream team. My dream? Defeat Parkinson’s. Together, we can do it.”

The partnership encompasses a year-long campaign and series of events that will bring awareness and support to the PD community. Last year, over 1.2 million dollars of funding, raised under a similar collaborative effort, was shared with Michigan hospitals and research laboratories.

The Michigan Parkinson Foundation (MPF), founded 36 years ago, directs its resources to caring for the 30,000 Parkinson’s patients and their families here in Michigan. Educational initiatives for families and caregivers, financial aid for medical assistance, subsidies for in-home respite care, organizing seminars for the medical community and facilitating 700+ support group meetings at 74 locations in Michigan represent some of MPF’s ongoing programs.

Michigan Parkinson Foundation’s chairman and Detroit auto dealer Jeff Laethem experienced the work of the MPF first hand, when his father, Ray, was diagnosed with early onset Parkinson’s. The Foundation’s work on behalf of his dad and the family haven’t been forgotten.

“What an opportunity this represents for the two Foundations to work together as one,” said Laethem. “I call them Team Cure and Team Care. We are one team. We have one goal.”

Serving as Executive Chairs for this fall’s fundraiser—the culmination of the Foundation’s partnership — “Everybody versus Parkinson’s” are Dan and Amy Loepp. Mr. Loepp is President and Chief Executive Officer of Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan.

Like Gibson and Laethem, Mr. Loepp has also experienced the reality of Parkinson’s in his life. Five years ago, his father, Robert, died from complications from Parkinson’s.

“Amy and I are proud to support these two extraordinary Foundations and bring awareness to Parkinson’s, a devastating disease that has impacted so many families, including mine,” said Loepp.

The Gala “Everybody versus Parkinson’s” supports the efforts of both The Kirk Gibson Foundation for Parkinson’s and the Michigan Parkinson Foundation.

The Gala evening is planned for October 19, 2019, at the Motor City Casino. More details will be announced as plans are finalized.

Kirk Gibson and Jeff Laethem are available for an interview. For more information or to arrange an interview please contact:

Sandy Kempa, The Kirk Gibson Foundation for Parkinson’s: (313) 331-0330, sandy@stage.kirkgibsonfoundation.org

Pam Yanis, The Kirk Gibson Foundation for Parkinson’s: (313) 530-5448, pam@stage.kirkgibsonfoundation.org

Mary Sue Lanigan, Michigan Parkinson Foundation (MPF): (248)-433-1011, marysuel@parkinsonsmi.org

To view the foundation’s profiles visit:
The Kirk Gibson Foundation for Parkinson’s Profile
Michigan Parkinson Foundation Profile
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan

Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan, a nonprofit mutual insurance company, is an independent licensee of the Blue Cross and Blue Shield Association. BCBSM provides and administers health benefits to more than 4.6 million members residing in Michigan in addition to employees of Michigan-headquartered companies who reside outside the state. In 2018, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan received the J.D. Power Award for “Highest Member Satisfaction Among Commercial Health Plans in Michigan.” For more company information, visit bcbsm.com and MiBluesPerspectives.com.

Update on big for life, loud for life pilot program

The Kirk Gibson Foundation for Parkinson’s approach is based on impact through teamwork and collaboration. Empowering teamwork in the community between caregivers, individuals with Parkinson’s Disease (PD), therapists and loved ones is core to our mission.

In June 2018, we talked about two critical members of Kirk’s team, Kerri and Lea (pictured with Kirk). At that time, 

UPDATE ON BIG FOR LIFE, LOUD FOR LIFE PILOT PROGRAM

The Kirk Gibson Foundation for Parkinson’s approach is based on impact through teamwork and collaboration. Empowering teamwork in the community between caregivers, individuals with Parkinson’s Disease (PD), therapists and loved ones is core to our mission.

In June 2018, we talked about two critical members of Kirk’s team, Kerri and Lea (pictured with Kirk). At that time, we highlighted the Foundation’s contribution to expanding the BIG for Life, LOUD for Life program supported by Kerri and Lea through Foundation partner, Spectrum Health. The program is based on the    Lee Silverman Voice Treatments (LSVT) model, an innovative and clinically-proven method for improving communication and movement in individuals with Parkinson disease. Prior to the Foundation’s involvement, continuity following participation in the program was not available and many participants were losing the gains they had made during active treatment. In conjunction with Spectrum, the Kirk Gibson Foundation for Parkinson’s intervened to provide funding for a “graduate” program that creates community and provides motivation for participants to continue the lessons learned in BIG and LOUD. We’re very happy to report that the Foundation’s investment in this program has had considerable impact and is poised for future expansion!

Here are some quotes from participants in the BIG for Life, LOUD for Life pilot:

“It gives me hope that I can keep doing something to fight PD.”

“It helps to know I’m not the only one out there with PD.”

“I like seeing how other people are doing their program—it gives me some ideas for things I can do too.”

“The groups are fabulous! I go out feeling better than when I came in.”

Relationships and connections are forming within the group along with spouses and family members of the group members. This graduate group provides another link in the chain of living well with PD, with caregivers noting how nice it is to have someone understand what it is like to have a loved one with PD.

Our team member, Spectrum Health, has carefully monitored the funds you’ve entrusted to them and have poured their time and energy into planning and implementing the pilot program. Based on our success in the last half of 2018, the pilot program likely will:

  • Expand the program from bi-weekly to weekly
  • Train two additional therapists to provide opportunity to have four groups (doubling the impact)
  • Purchase three software and microphone packages for a patient to take home for a limited time to practice their speech volume and articulation
  • Offer a class for people with Young-Onset PD to accommodate working adults. It would be huge to keep them employed and feeling successful.
  • Add an additional site at the Spectrum Health Hospital in Fremont, Michigan