Read donors' thoughts on why they support the Foundation.

Click here to read what researchers say about working with MJFF.

Robin Ross
Deerfield, Illinois

My father Ronald Ross had early-onset Parkinson’s disease and passed away at 70 from a hemorrhagic stroke. He founded the Consolidated Anti-Aging Foundation to fund Parkinson’s research that might not receive government funding. His mandate to my sister and me was to continue the effort until PD is cured. We did extensive research to determine where to direct our funds, and came across The Michael J. Fox Foundation.

My sister and I are tremendously impressed by the way the Foundation has influenced research in this field. This is the one organization that really pushes researchers to develop clear, specific timelines and objectives, to collaborate with others, and to take a common-sense approach to PD research.  Hopefully, one day, research in all areas will be similarly influenced.

As a family touched by PD, we are grateful that Michael J. Fox was willing and insightful enough to put these changes in place. His Foundation has truly impacted the PD community.

Judy Miller
Louisville, Kentucky

I am the president and executive director of The Miller Family Foundation and my foundation has been supporting MJFF since 2002. My step-mom, Irene, was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease 22 years ago and since then our family has been interested in the work being done to find a cure for PD.

Our family does not typically fund medical research, but we had a change of heart after we discovered MJFF. We were struck by how the Foundation brings together researchers from all around the world who would not normally work together. It convenes experts from so many different fields who all have one goal in common — to cure Parkinson’s. The Foundation is an organization doing what it set out to do and doing it in a smart way.

My family and I are optimistic about the future for Parkinson’s patients and we are hopeful that through its extraordinary work, the Foundation will find a cure for this disease.

Larry Davis
Melbourne, Florida

I was an entrepreneur, and for many years my focus was on growing and selling companies. My focus changed when I was diagnosed with Parkinson’s in March 2002. I now devote my available time to understanding this disease and supporting research to find a cure.

I don’t have unlimited funds, but I’ve chosen to direct what I do have all to one place: The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research. I give to MJFF because I believe that this organization has what it takes to achieve its goal and to make a difference in the lives of the millions of people living with PD.

The strong and effective leadership of Michael J. Fox coupled with the intelligence, enthusiasm and care that I have observed in the Foundation’s staff lead me to believe that my money is going to research where it will have the strongest impact. The Foundation is consistently pursuing research that can impact patients' quality of life and I am confident that the cure is just ahead.

Gene Gurkoff
New York, New York

My grandfather has Parkinson's, and ever since his diagnosis I have been involved in raising money for Parkinson’s disease research. I have supported many PD organizations, but I principally support The Michael J. Fox Foundation because I believe that it is the most aggressive organization in this field. I was first introduced to the Foundation by a Board member who is a friend of my grandfather’s. I was inspired by MJFF’s commitment to find a cure for PD in this lifetime.

Fundraising possibilities are endless when an organization, like the Foundation, provides you with the tools you need and is open to unique ways to raise funds for Parkinson’s research. I’ve played in BREAKING PARkinson’s, the Foundation’s golf outing; hosted a party; and run the New York City Marathon as a member of Team Fox. 

I'm especially proud to be a part of Team Fox — it coordinates the efforts of people like me who want to raise money for Parkinson’s and it raises awareness of the disease. Team Fox brings people together as a unified group to work toward one goal, and as a participant you feel excited and optimistic every step of the way.

Rick Schwartz
Denver, Colorado

As president of the Board of Parkinson’s Association of the Rockies (PAR), it was very easy for me to convince my board of directors that we should give the Foundation all of our income that is designated to research. At PAR, our focus is on ensuring a better quality of life for patients and caregivers. Directing our funds to MJFF will help us to do so. We allocate our resources to MJFF because the quality of its efforts would be impossible for any organization to replicate and like the Foundation, we hope that we will one day be put out of business.

As a person with Parkinson’s, I know how PD impacts people’s lives. Before I was diagnosed, I had the ability to travel around the country and chase my dreams. I played professional baseball, was a teacher, an actor and eventually a sportscaster. The two things I loved the most were being able to think quickly on my feet and to play sports. Ironically, these are two things that have been taken away from me with my diagnosis of PD.

But from the first day I learned about MJFF and all the work it is doing, I gained something back: a sense of hope that someday I will be able to do these things again. This hope keeps me going.

Michael J. Fox’s leadership, the dedication of the Foundation’s staff and the research being funded there make me to feel confident every day that PAR’s funding, and my future, are in good hands.