Parkinson’s Wellness Program Awarded $21,000 Grant

The Parkinson’s Foundation recently announced the recipients of more than $2.2 million in community grants for Parkinson’s programs across the country. Community grants support local health, wellness and educational programs that address unmet needs in the Parkinson’s disease (PD) community. The Center for Balance Mobility and Wellness at Gordon College was awarded $21,000 for their Parkinson’s Wellness Program.

The CBMW’s Parkinson’s Program will launch a four-part speaker series addressing key areas of managing PD. The first event takes place this Saturday, November 13, 9-11a.m. at the CBMW located at 26R Hull St featuring two experts—Albert Hung, M.D., Ph.D., Neurologist and Center Director of the Massachusetts General Hospital Parkinson’s Foundation Center of Excellence, speaking on “Understanding Parkinson’s Disease: Information and recommendations particularly for those newly diagnosed,” and Timothy Nordahl, P.T., D.P.T., Clinical Research Physical Therapist for the Center for Neurorehabilitation at Boston University, speaking on, “Does Exercise Have Disease Modifying Effects in Parkinson’s Disease: Research Updates.” The series will be a hybrid event with in-person seating and via livestream at https://www.gordon.edu/balance/.

Funding from the grant will allow the CBMW to offer participation in a new FREE Parkinson’s exercise class—Parkinson Powerfit. The center will also provide a quarterly Parkinson’s newsletter, educational materials and resources, and community in-services.

“We are pleased to be able to provide these community grants and to expand programs and resources throughout the Parkinson’s community,” said John L. Lehr, Parkinson’s Foundation president and chief executive officer. “Every one of these grant recipients shares our commitment to making life better for people with Parkinson’s disease.”

The Parkinson’s Foundation awarded more than $2.2 million in community grants, ranging from a minimum of $5,000 to a maximum of $25,000 per grant application. This year’s grant cycle focused on three areas, including: programs that provide services for diverse and underserved populations, initiatives that reach the newly diagnosed and programs that address mental health and Parkinson’s. Of the $2.2 million being granted, $1.6 million will help fund essential programs that focus on diverse and underserved Parkinson’s communities.

Since 2011, the Parkinson's Foundation has funded more than 580 community-based programs that help address unmet needs for people with PD. To see the full list of the 2021 community grant recipients, visit Parkinson.org/CommunityGrants.

About Center for Balance, Mobility and Wellness

Since its inception in 2003, the CBMW has improved the mobility, health and well-being of over 12,000 aging adults on the North Shore, including those with Parkinson’s disease, through our expert physical therapy and wellness services. Given the rising number of individuals diagnosed each year with this disease and the growing evidence of exercise as a first -line defense at mitigating it’s progression, the Center is eager to empower individuals with Parkinson’s disease through education and exercise.

About the Parkinson’s Foundation

The Parkinson’s Foundation makes life better for people with Parkinson’s disease 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. Since 1957, the Parkinson’s Foundation has invested more than $368 million in Parkinson’s research and clinical care.

About Parkinson’s Disease

Affecting an estimated one million Americans and 10 million worldwide, Parkinson’s disease is the second-most common neurodegenerative disease after Alzheimer’s and is the 14th-leading cause of death in the United States. It is associated with a progressive loss of motor control (e.g., shaking or tremor at rest and lack of facial expression), as well as non-motor symptoms (e.g., depression and anxiety). There is no cure for Parkinson’s and 60,000 new cases are diagnosed each year in the United States alone.