NEW YORK & MIAMI (September 4, 2024) – The Parkinson’s Foundation announced the recipients of more than $1 million in community grants for Parkinson’s disease (PD) programs across the U.S. The Foundation invests in community programs that impact local communities and help people live better with PD by supporting health, wellness, and educational needs. The Jewish Community Center of Greater Buffalo was awarded $9,000 for its Rock Steady Boxing program. This program is a non-contact Parkinson’s disease boxing fitness program consisting of balance training, agility work, hand-eye coordination drills, strength training, and endurance work. Exercises are intended to extend the capability of every program participant.
“Community grants help people with PD live better lives today,” said Parkinson’s Foundation President and CEO John L. Lehr. “These investments reflect the Foundation’s continued commitment to meeting unmet needs in the Parkinson’s community.”
Community grants range from a minimum of $9,000 to a maximum of $25,000 per recipient. The 2024 grant cycle funds programs that educate and deliver exercise to reach PD care partners and address the mental health needs of people with PD. Selected organizations operate locally and demonstrate a commitment to diversity, equity, and inclusion.
“This grant from the Parkinson’s Foundation will help continue to grow our Rock Steady Boxing program, which continues to be incredibly popular and beneficial to people in our community with Parkinson’s disease,” said Alexander Eadie, Senior Director of Advancement at the JCC of Greater Buffalo. “Partnerships with a national organization like the Parkinson’s Foundation show that the JCC is committed to a standard of excellence in our programming. We are excited to see this grant's impact as we continue to grow our program.”
Since 2011, the Foundation has invested more than $11.5 million in 879 community-based programs. To see the full list of the 2024 community grant recipients, visit Parkinson.org/CommunityGrants.
About the Parkinson’s Foundation
The Parkinson’s Foundation improves life 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 $449 million in Parkinson’s research and clinical care. Connect with us on Parkinson.org, Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram, or call 1-800-4PD-INFO (1-800-473-4636).
About Parkinson’s Disease
Affecting an estimated one million Americans, Parkinson’s disease is the second-most common neurodegenerative disease after Alzheimer’s and is the 14th-leading cause of death in the U.S. 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 nearly 90,000 new cases are diagnosed each year in the U.S.