Mission Statement
“To improve the quality of life for those with Parkinson’s disease and other brain disorders, support student training in the neurosciences, provide educational help and life-skills advice, and increase awareness of neurodegenerative brain diseases.”
Goals of the Foundation
- Generate scholarships and fellowships for health care-directed students to participate in either clinical or basic research settings studying Parkinson’s.
- Offer guidance on exercise, nutrition, mind-body meditation, and Integrative Medicine and Health Therapy to help you best manage Parkinson’s.
- Provide education/support to enable you to understand Parkinson’s, and atypical Parkinsonian syndromes, better.
- Improve the quality-of-life for PwP, care-partners, and families.
Core Values
Our Core Values reflect the vital principles of (a) staying healthy, (b) maintaining a positive attitude, (c) remaining resilient, and (d) always caring.
Thus, our Core Values are described by using the word “HOPE,” which is used as an acronym for Health, Optimism, Perseverance, Empathy.
Parkinson’s Disease
Parkinson’s disease (PD) is a progressive degenerative nervous system disorder and is the second most common neurodegenerative disorder in the elderly population. The disease originates from the loss of dopamine-producing neurons in the substantia nigra in the brain, resulting in the unregulated activity of the basal ganglia. The etiology of PD is still evolvin; however, there is substantial evidence supporting the detrimental effects of neuroinflammation, environmental toxins, numerous genetic factors, changes in the cellular microenvironment (oxidative stress), innate and possibly adaptive immune systems, and advanced aging.
Life Changing Event
Your life changed when you heard these words, “You have Parkinson’s disease.”
For the rest of your life, you will be living with a chronic, progressing, and relentless neurodegenerative disorder. You are now a person-with-Parkinson’s (PwP).
Another Foundation?
- Parkinson’s disease is a complex disorder, underlain by both chronic and progressive neurodegenerative processes, that consists of an array of motor- and non-motor symptoms.
- We believe there are steps a PwP can follow to maintain the highest possible level of health and wellness. A PwP can take into measure the full spectrum of physical, mental, social, and emotional factors that impact a person’s day-to-day wellbeing or quality-of-life (QoL).
- We feel that our ideas related to Parkinson’s disease and helping PwP are both timely and innovative.
About Us
This Foundation was started by Frank C. Church, a person with Parkinson’s. He is also the author of the blog “Journey with Parkinson’s” (click here). As a long-time educator and scientist, he is committed to helping others learn more about Parkinson’s disease. Thus, starting a non-profit organization is the next step he is taking to educate and help others with a neurodegenerative disorder.
Get in Contact
frankcchurch.PD@gmail.com
(919) 418-3102
Frank C. Church Foundation for Parkinson’s Disease
1217 Village Crossing Drive
Chapel Hill, NC 27517 USA
Donations and Fundraisers
We are just beginning the Foundation, and are thinking of ways to start raising funds. As a federally-approved 501 (c) (3) non-profit organization, any donation made in the USA is a tax deduction for you and an amazing gift for us. For now, checks can be mailed in USD to the address on the left. Donations can be made and processed directly on the Foundation Description on GuideStar (Click here).
Additionally, if you are an Amazon.com shopper, you can use this AmazonSmile charity link and automatically be asked if you want to support the “Frank C Church Foundation for Parkinson’s Disease” (click here for this charity link).
Thanks!
Blog Posts (see all of the latest blog posts)
A New Beginning for Parkinson’s in a Non-Profit Organization
“Don’t be afraid of change, because it is leading you to a new beginning.” Joyce Meyer “The process of change is made up of subtraction and addition. Taking something off and then putting something on.” Creflo A. Dollar Introduction: The idea behind starting a non-profit organization began as a simple thought a few years ago. Clueless,…
Frank C. Church Foundation for Parkinson's Disease 