Parkinson’s Foundation Georgia makes life better for people with Parkinson’s disease (PD) by improving care and advancing research towards a cure. Whether you are newly diagnosed with PD or have been managing it for years, are a care partner, family member or friend of someone with PD, we are here to help you.
We are leaders in ensuring expert Parkinson’s care, educating and empowering the Parkinson’s community and driving the understanding of Parkinson’s through research. As a national organization with local presence and impact, we bring help and hope to the estimated one million people in the U.S., 10 million worldwide, who are living with Parkinson’s.
Our Impact
Your support of the Parkinson’s Foundation Georgia Chapter makes a big impact on the quality of life for people with Parkinson’s disease (PD) right here in your community, as well as across the country and around the world!
The Hospital Safety Guide contains useful tools and information to help a person with Parkinson’s during their next planned or unplanned hospital visit.
The Helpline answers more than 20,000 calls a year
Call our Helpline at 1-800-4PD-INFO (473-4636) to find your nearest PD specialist or local resources and get answers to your PD and caregiving questions.
The Parkinson’s Foundation Community Grants program supports programs that further the health, wellness and education of the Parkinson’s community. We help people with Parkinson’s live better lives, today.
In the 2021 grant cycle, we awarded four local grants to community programs. These Community Grants are made possible through the support of donors.
Exercise and Education for Persons with Parkinson’s and Care Partners, True Beginning Wellness Inc, Jasper, GA
Sole to SOUL-a walking program promoting exercise for Black families dealing with Parkinson’s through Faith based networking, Savannah Parkinson’s Support Group, Savannah, GA
Care for the Caregiver- Give-Me-A-Break, Center for Movement Challenges, Sandy Springs, GA
Punching Out Parkinson’s, Neu-Level Therapy and Wellness, LLC, Tyronne, GA
Movement is Medicine - Adaptive Exercise Program for Glynn County, Georgia, JAX HOPE INC, Glynn County, GA
Individual Sessions for Underserved Communities, Perfect Harmony Health, Roswell, GA
Our Chapter Board ensures our impact is community-based and community-led.
Board Members:
Marie Head, Board President
Dr. Jack Shen, Healthcare Partner Advisory Chair
Daniel Monahan, Fund Development Chair
Kayla Brennan, Fund Development Committee Member
Susan Brown, Fund Development Committee Member
Menandie Du Plessis, Fund Development Committee Member
Ali Eckerle, Fund Development Committee Member
Patrick Exley, Fund Development Committee Member
Alex Kennelly, Fund Development Committee Member
Sean Monahan, Fund Development Committee Member
Darrell Allers, Mission and Outreach Chair
Jessi Fields, Mission and Outreach Committee Member
Cindy Gibbs, Mission and Outreach Committee Member
Kelley Napier, Mission and Outreach Committee Member
Members
Marie Head, Board President
As a former housing finance professional, Marie has a long career helping others in need. She is passionate about raising funds to help with Parkinson’s disease (PD) care, as well as working to improve the quality of care and access to much needed resources within the state of Georgia. As a care partner for her husband who was diagnosed with PD in 2011, she is committed to helping others who battle Parkinson’s and their care partners to live better lives. Marie and Don have been involved with the Parkinson’s Foundation since 2013 and Marie has previously served on People with Parkinson’s Advisory Council.
Darrell Allers, Mission Development Chair
Darrell is the current Chair of the Georgia Chapter Mission & Outreach Committee, and is using his project management and information technology background to help plan, track, execute and complete chapter activities. Darrell has been living with Parkinson's disease (PD) for 30 years and is using his time in retirement to give back and is presenting information about PD in the community to raise awareness. He is also getting involved in research projects to help researchers find answers.
Kelley Napier, Board Development Chair
Kelley Napier is a partner at Georgia Estate & Elder Law in Atlanta. Kelley holds the Certified Elder Law Attorney (CELA) designation from the National Elder Law Foundation (NELF), the only organization approved by the American Bar Association to offer certification in elder law. She is a member of the National Academy of Elder Law Attorneys, where she currently serves as the President of the Georgia Chapter. Many of her clients live with Parkinson's. She is passionate about educating people about resources and estate planning.
Daniel Monahan, Fund Development Chair
Daniel Monahan is a partner at Robbins Alloy Belinfante Littlefield LLC. He became involved with the Parkinson's Foundation, Georgia Chapter because his father was diagnosed with Parkinson's in 2017. The disease has had a huge impact on his family and their quality of life. After participating in Moving Day Atlanta and donating locally to the organization, Dan was ready to take the next step in supporting the Foundation's mission of making life better for people with Parkinson's and their care partners. Dan's goal this year is to raise as much money as possible and help develop our book of corporate donors and sponsors in Georgia.
Dr. Jack Shen, Healthcare Partner Advisory Chair
Dr. Shen is a board-certified, fellowship-trained movement disorders neurologist with Wellstar Health System, where he serves as Medical Director of Movement Disorders. He attended the Wake Forest University School of Medicine before completing his neurology residency and movement disorders fellowship at the University of Cincinnati Medical Center. He is a member of the American Academy of Neurology and International Parkinson and Movement Disorder Society.
Cynthia Gibbs, Georgia Chapter Board Member
"My mother and grandmother had Parkinson's disease (PD). I saw firsthand how the disease's progress is unique to each individual. There are so many wonderful strides in the research, but there are still many people living with PD today. The information and support that the Parkinson's Foundation provides can make life easier for them. I want to help provide the resources for these people."
Jessi Fields, Georgia Chapter Board Member
Jessi Serves as the Manager of Growth and Engagement for the Fitness Centers within Wellstar Health System. Jessi has worked within the Metro-Atlanta area serving many community members diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease from her time as an Exercise Physiologist with Fox Rehabilitation (even doing Moving Day Atlanta Tai-Chi demos!) and is now able to expand in her passion for serving the Parkinson’s community in her role with Wellstar. Jessi has many ties with the Parkinson’s community through the Rock Steady Boxing program offered at Wellstar Health Place, a medically integrated fitness facility located in Marietta, GA. In her time at Wellstar, she has had the opportunity to work more closely with the Parkinson’s Foundation as a board member and promotor for all the incredible resources the Parkinson’s Foundation has to offer.