With Barbara Patterson's blessing, I forward this letter and the one that
follows on a separate e-mail, to fellow listmembers...
TAKE CHARGE AMERICA - CURE PARKINSON'S, INC.
3205 SE 7th Street Suite 107
Pompano Beach, Florida 33062
Tel: 954.785.0551 954.785.6541 E-Mail: [log in to unmask]
April 22, 2000
Mr. Robin Elliott, Executive Director
Parkinson's Disease Foundation, Inc.
710 West 168th Street
New York, New York 10032
Dear Mr. Elliott:
A letter recently sent to Steve Cohen, Vice President of the South
Florida Chapter of the American Parkinson Disease Association is attached
with his permission. It speaks of our first annual ON TRACK FOR THE CURE at
Gulfstream Park in Hallandale, Florida. Based on the number and content of
the phone calls and e-mails we received following the event, it was a success
in many ways.
Everyone enjoyed themselves and plans on returning next year. We raised
$8,000. We generated considerable publicity in South Florida and received
numerous phone calls. We definitely raised awareness. We did this with a
shoestring budget and lots of enthusiasm. We have contacts in place and a
plan that works. We are forwarding a $1,500 contribution to The Parkinson
Alliance and appreciate the matching funds component that will enable an
equal donation to be made to NPF and PDF for research. We are also making a
donation, as a gesture of our intentions, to the Parkinson Institute and the
Muhammad Ali Parkinson Research Center and PAN.
Nothing would please us more, than to share our vision with you about
making this into a landmark event, nationwide. We respectfully request your
support and suggestions about the most expedient way to arrange a meeting to
clarify and formally make known our desire to work together and clear the way
for discussion, a contract, strategic planning and action.
Our desire, from the time of my initial proposal that followed my
conversation on June 12, 1999, with Jim Cordy, at the suggestion of Bonnie
Cunningham from NPF, has been to work collaboratively with existing
organizations. Enhancing that proposal, I spoke with you and Joel Gerstel of
the racetrack idea at your offices in New York and Staten Island in September
of 1999. As you know, with seemingly no possibility of finding a "home" for
our fundraising ideas, we incorporated TAKE CHARGE AMERICA - CURE
PARKINSON'S, Inc., a 501 C 3 organization, in December of 1999. Two months
later, we held our Gulfstream event in February 2000. There is nothing we
would like more, than to work together collaboratively with other Parkinson's
organizations to make this event a huge success. Inclusion will bring results
we all seek, faster than exclusivity.
If APDA, NPF, and PDF and other groups were to endorse and sanction
Robin Elliott
April 22, 2000
Page 2
this event, channeling our efforts, strengths, and resources in a united
front,
research dollars raised will be considerable. Quoting Abraham Lincoln, "A
house divided against itself cannot stand." The synergy of us all working
together will raise significant funds that can systematically be collected
and distributed to those research organizations that choose to participate. A
percentage can be included for local programs to improve quality of life for
PWPs.
I understand you will be in South Florida April 26, 2000. I look forward
to our meeting. We have several original fundraising ideas that hold the
potential to raise substantial dollars. I would like to discuss collaborating
with other Parkinson's organizations. I realize it may not be possible for
everyone to attend, yet there are many relationships already forged which
will facilitate such a meeting to be productive, in any case.
My sister, Fran, age 46, and the People With Parkinson's we have met in
support groups and on the Internet, are counting on all of us to persevere in
keeping, "finding the cause, prevention and cure" on the forefront of our
nation's list of priorities. TAKE CHARGE AMERICA - CURE PARKINSON'S wishes to
be part of this effort.
I look forward to hearing your thoughts on this by telephone or email. If
those individuals listed below were to inform me of their interest by phone,
fax, or email, I will send pertinent information to their e-mail address. I
look forward to sharing information, including the contacts we have who are
in a position to facilitate the success of this project. If there are other
individuals or organizations you feel ought to be included, kindly let me
know.
Sincerely,
Alison Landes
President
cc:
Muhammad Ali David Levy
Bernard Baker Marc Lichtman
Lynne Brenes [log in to unmask]
Barbara Broxmeyer Gail Milhouse
Marvin Broxmeyer John Pillarella
Barbara Brown Susan Reese
Steven Cohen Carol Rowan
Gerald D. Fischbach Joan Samuelson
Michael J. Fox Nathan Slewett
Joel Gerstel Mark Stacy
Kathrynne Holden Ivan Suzman
Stuart Isaacson Carol Walton
Fran Landes Herbert Zemel
J. William Langston Margot Zobel
