BIRMINGHAM – The Kirk Gibson Foundation for Parkinson’s proudly announced plans on Oct. 1 for the construction of The Kirk Gibson Center for Parkinson’s Wellness, the first of its kind facility serving the Parkinson’s community in Michigan. The center, which will be located at 31440 Northwestern Highway in Farmington Hills, Michigan, will be a world-class facility where those impacted by Parkinson’s can access a range of activity-based programs — completely free of charge.
Gibson and his Foundation have been fundraising with the goal of opening a wellness center for those living with Parkinson’s and their caregivers. As a result of a lead gift from Mrs. Marian Ilitch, the Foundation’s mission to provide direct activity-based programs to the Parkinson’s community in Michigan is now a reality, as he revealed during a press conference on Tuesday, October 1st from the new center’s location.
“Opening this Parkinson’s Center is more than just a building, it’s a center of hope for everyone fighting this battle with Parkinson’s. Every step forward, every breakthrough we make together, reflects the strength we find in each other. This journey is personal, but it’s also for all those who need to know they’re not alone.” – Kirk Gibson
The Center will provide a series of free programs many of which were developed by InMotion, a Cleveland based leader in the provision of evidence-based programs tailored for people with Parkinson’s disease. Movement matters in the fight against Parkinson’s and through leveraging the InMotion ApproachTM, the Kirk Gibson Center will provide an integrated, holistic system of wellness programs designed to counteract the symptoms of the disease and to improve the quality of life of those people living with Parkinson’s disease here in Michigan. Examples include.
- Programs that focus on strength, movement and balance such as boxing, active stretching, yoga, pilates, tai chi and dance will be offered both in-person and virtually to reach people around the world who are dealing with this degenerative neurological disease.
- Cognitive improvement exercises, speech therapy, music therapy, art programs and educational offerings such as fall safety, kitchen safety and nutrition.
- Addressing the needs of care partners and family members through a variety of support groups and classes.
Upon completion, the 30,000 sq.ft. facility will offer approximately 70 hours of weekly programming with initial capacity to provide 60,000 visitor hours per year and will ultimately serve as a model for collaborative coalitions in support of people living with Parkinson’s. The current building will be renovated in partnership with the Detroit based design team of well-regarded architects, Gensler.
Farmington Hills is strategically selected as location for The Center because it provides most convenient access to the greatest number of people living with Parkinson’s in the Metro Detroit area.
The Kirk Gibson Center for Parkinson’s Wellness is expected to open in mid-2025 and the Foundation will continue to raise funds to expand the range of free programs planned to be offered by the Center.
For more information, updates on The Kirk Gibson Center for Parkinson’s Wellness and learn about ways to continue to support, please visit: KirkGibsonFoundation.org
About the Kirk Gibson Foundation for Parkinson’s:
The Kirk Gibson Foundation was created in 1996 to provide college scholarships to both athletes and non- athletes at Waterford Kettering and Clarkston High Schools, where Kirk’s parents, Robert and Barbara, taught for many years. After being diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease in 2015, he expanded the mission of the Foundation to improve the quality of life of those living with Parkinson’s through the development and delivery of activity-based programs. Kirk’s vision is to provide inspiration, hope, and help to those living with Parkinson’s disease and their loved ones. Since that expansion, the Foundation has raised more than $3 million towards research grants and programs to support the Parkinson’s community.
Additionally, the Foundation wants to create awareness and understanding about Parkinson’s disease. Too many individuals are in denial about the disease or fear a stigma associated with Parkinson’s and delay seeking medical help. Early diagnosis and treatment can provide years that are virtually symptom-free. It’s imperative to know that life expectancy is about the same as for people without the disease. While life will change with a Parkinson’s diagnosis, many symptoms can be managed with proper medication and movement therapies, and patients can still live an active and enjoyable life. The Foundation will continue to fund and grow outreach programs as well as improve awareness through hosting special events and by increasing fundraising activities. For more information, please visit www.KirkGibsonFoundation.org
