History

Although Parkinson’s disease has affected people around the world for decades, Jewish Hospital founded the original Parkinson Disease (PD) Support Group in Louisville in the early 1990s. The group met at the Healthy Lifestyle Center in Oxmoor Mall and Jefferson Mall. This was the first organized attempt to reach the Louisville PD community, and it was the only public gathering place to receive information about the disease--a disease that most people attributed to old age.

When Gayle Zoeller was diagnosed with PD in 1994 at the age of 50, she and her husband Chet, natives of Louisville, became actively involved in several organizations to help learn more about the disease, as well as ways in which they could help raise money to find a cure. One of the events the Zoellers become involved with was the passing of the Udall Bill.

On the national level, The Morris K. Udall Parkinson's Research, Education and Assistance Act was introduced on April 6, 1995, by Senator Mark O. Hatfield (R-OR.) and Congressman Henry Waxen (D-CA). It was passed in a grassroots effort in 1997. Gayle and Chet became actively involved in this effort. The Udall Bill was the first legislative effort in history devoted to Parkinson's research. It authorized $100 million in annual funding to the federal Parkinson's research program administered by the National Institutes of Health (NIH)--up from the $26 million currently spent--and provided a focused program to structure and support research efforts the scientific community deems necessary to deliver breakthroughs and the cure.

After the Udall Bill was passed, Gayle continued to learn how they could help sponsor fundraising efforts closer to home. She became Kentucky’s representative for the Parkinson Action Network (PAN), and she attended many PAN meetings in Washington, D.C. Founded in 1991, PAN is the unified education and advocacy voice of the Parkinson’s community--more than one million Americans and their families. Through education and interaction with the Parkinson’s community, scientists, lawmakers, opinion leaders, and the public, PAN leads the fight to ease the burden and find a cure. PAN increases awareness about Parkinson’s disease, and seeks federal support for Parkinson’s research.

Around the same time, Gayle learned of the Parkinson Alliance and the Tuchman Foundation, and was attracted to their fundraising philosophy. Here, Gayle discovered a way to help raise money so that people in the Louisville area could take advantage of sorely needed educational material, medical advice and how to increase awareness of PD so that people knew they weren’t alone with this disease.

Gayle contacted key local political and corporate figures to discuss some sponsorship opportunities to raise money for PD in Louisville. Matched funds could go a long way, and the Tuchman Foundation and Parkinson Alliance were willing to help plan a glamorous event during the Kentucky Derby celebration to kick off this effort. Included in those talks were Mike Harreld, Tommy Kron, Diane Gordon, Judy Spencer, Jack Baach, Conrad Amenta, Tinker Zimmerman, Jim Corey of the Parkinson Alliance and Dr. Abraham Lieberman, Medical Director of the National Parkinson Foundation at that time.

A group, led by Gayle, met with Joanne Berryman, Keith Inman and Donna Kane at Jewish Hospital after learning of their plans to open a movement disorder clinic at Frazier Rehab, a wholly-owned affiliate of Jewish Hospital. It was hoped that a combination of efforts might lead to finding a way to raise money and reach the community to tell the story of Parkinson’s disease, the one disease that has been deemed curable by the National Institutes of Health, but only lacks adequate funding to achieve this goal.


Former Sec. of Labor, Elaine Chao, Senator Mitch McConnell (speaking), Dr. Clifford Kuhn and Gayle Zoeller at the 2004 Gala.

That’s how the idea of the Derby Eve Gala was born. Gayle and Chet approached a leading event planner, Stephan Phelps, to help steer the event. Stephan donated his services and the Gala took wing. Rick Jenkins--an interior designer, Mike Gaddie and Diana Lloyd of Lloyd’s Florist, and Amy Baach of Baach Creative Services additionally donated time and services to this premiere event.  In addition, 30 people with Parkinson's and their care partners joined together to create a powerful noise in the community that ushered in a new era in educating the public that Parkinson’s disease can affect anyone of any age.

After much hard work and planning, the first Derby Eve Gala raised $30,000, matched by the Tuchman Foundation for another $30,000. That money went to develop two seed grants by scientists trying to find a cure for PD. The publicity surrounding this grassroots extravaganza created such a stir that the decision was made to continue this fundraising event each year.

Each Gala outgrew the next. Parkinson Support Center of Kentuckiana (PSCKY), the power behind the Gala, was born. A very determined Judy Spencer, also a person with Parkinson's disease, led it and a strong group of support group members from the Jewish Hospital meeting. These people included the Gala committee, as well as Montgomery Shircliffe and C.D. Lucas, Jr. At that time, the PSCKY office was Judy Spencer’s dining room table. Judy spent countless hours initiating contacts, making phone calls and running a one-woman office to help PD patients and care partners. She accomplished an amazing amount of work dedicated to patient care, but after a short time, it was evident we needed a brick and mortar Parkinson Support Center to continue the good work.

Judy arranged for donated office space at the Atria on Hubbards Lane, and the office was filled with various chairs, couches and desks from caring people. More importantly, it was filled by committed volunteers with a strong dedication to building a Parkinson community that could help each other. A core group of people built this organization as a grassroots effort, and each individual contributed immeasurably in raising contributions from corporations and individuals.

Since 2004, PSCKY has been housed in the Jewish Hospital Neuroscience Center, and has raised over $650,000 for local, regional and national research, including matched funds. We continue to serve PD patients and their care partners. Today, you can support our annual fundraiser by attending the Denim and Diamonds Summer Celebration.

Email To A Friend

Print This Document