National Organizations

Founded in 1961, the APDA bills itself as “ the largest grassroots network dedicated to fighting Parkinson’s disease”. Its website says the organization’s chapters and centers daily “provide the support, education, and research that will help everyone impacted by Parkinson’s disease live life to the fullest”, help unlock the mysteries of Parkinson’s, and ultimately end PD.

Former Olympic bicyclist Davis Phinney began his foundation in 2004 to promote and fund research and create resources demonstrating the importance of exercise, speech and other elements critical to increasing a person with Parkinson’s quality of life. The foundation’s manual Every Victory Counts® reflects its mission: “We Help People with Parkinson’s Live Well Today.”

Established by actor Michael J. Fox in 2000, "The Michael J. Fox Foundation is dedicated to finding a cure for Parkinson's disease through an aggressively funded research agenda and to ensuring the development of improved therapies for those living with Parkinson's today." Its goal is ”to accelerate the next generation of Parkinson’s disease treatments.”

PMDA was founded in 2015. Its website says “What makes us different? We focus on you first then the disease. Whether a person with the disease, a care partner or friend—we know you have a full life to live. We don't want you to just exist, we want you to thrive.” Supports people “impacted by Parkinson’s disease, dystonia, essential tremor, PSP, and Huntington disease.”

Parkinson’s Foundation was created by the merger of National Parkinson Foundation and Parkinson’s Disease Foundation, both started in 1957. Its website describes it as “A community. An alliance. A movement. Where people living with Parkinson’s, families, caregivers, scientists, advocates, donors and volunteers join forces to improve lives and advance toward a cure.”