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Foundation Updates

Women Leading the Way in Impact: MJFF CEO and Co-Founder Debi Brooks Named to Forbes “50 Over 50: Impact List”

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This month, Forbes released its inaugural class of “50 Women Over 50: Impact List” — a celebration of changemakers in politics, education, sports, law and social entrepreneurship who, after the age of 50, are achieving great accomplishments and leading the way in impact on society.

Honored as a woman creating social change at scale, Debi Brooks, CEO and Co-Founder of The Michael J. Fox Foundation (MJFF), is recognized not only for her vision and leadership in Parkinson’s research, but her persistence and wisdom in redefining life’s second acts to prove success has no age limit. With over 10,000 submissions for Forbes’ inaugural “50 Over 50” project, ForbesWomen editor Maggie McGrath shares why they expanded their list this summer to recognize an additional 50 women changing the world:

“Every person on this list has a pay-it-forward mindset and is working to solve some of society’s biggest issues, including healthcare access for all, food security, rights for the differently abled and much more.”

In a feature of her recognition, Debi discusses her career pivot — from a successful businesswoman at Goldman Sachs to co-founding the world’s largest nonprofit funder of Parkinson’s research. She explains that she’s okay that the Foundation isn’t called the “Debi Brooks Foundation for Parkinson’s Research”:

“I’m not doing it for me. I had a passion for moving the dial with philanthropy capital and doing whatever it took.”

The Foundation staff and our worldwide Parkinson’s community congratulate Debi on this honor!

Browse the entire “Impact” list of 50 women changing their communities and the world in ways big and small.

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