>>Having said the above, I must grant the possibility that I have simply misinterpreted what M. Severance was trying to represent in his posting. Perhaps, I grant, it was all meant as an effort to spread some light-heartedness around -- which is an enviable goal -- and to do some good at the same time -- also an admirable goal. And if I've misunderstood what was conveyed in the above-mentioend posting, I apologize.<< Perhaps the following will help convey Dale's seriousness in trying to arrange financing for research. Dale does not need me to defend him, but I admire his efforts far too much to let there be any misunderstanding of his motives or sincerity. Joe Young [log in to unmask] GRASS ROOTS FUND RAISING On November 9, 1996 I placed an idea on the listserv which is in abbreviated form here. I am a person with Parkinson Disease diagnosed 4 years ago but manifesting PD symptoms for about 8 years. My work hours are reduced to about 3 hours per day and that may decrease in the near future. About 2 months ago I started searching for a project to help the PD community, to occupy my time and to maintain my optimistic outlook on life. Working on the premises that there are 1,500,000 PWP in North America and assuming we could collect $ 100 per person we could raise twice the money proposed in the Udall Bill. Thus was born the idea of starting with this group and branching out from here to try and connect with as many PWP, their friends and their CG’s to begin a grass roots fund raising drive. I also thought that a pledge of a monthly giving would generate greater participation with small monthly amounts adding up to a greater donation than an annual one shot deal. Since most of us pay a monthly server to be on the internet we could encourage ourselves to write a donation at the same time we pay our monthly server bill. The majority of comments from this original post were positive but an underlying theme was the suggestion that we concentrate our donations with 1 foundation or organization. Each suggestion had there own choice for a candidate to be the recipient of the funds. I soon realized that choosing one recipient would alienate a substantial number of the group’s members. (More later)_ At this point I would like to state that I am working in an individual capacity without affiliation with an other person or organization. I propose that we do not interrupt any gifting to Parkinson causes that you may currently have in place. But for those who have not made a contribution and to those who can donate more please consider the following: 1. Make a monthly contribution by check to the PD organization of your choice. 2. Send the check to me to tabulate the statistics on the donations. 3. I will then forward your check on to the institution named on the check.. I suggest that you indicate in the memo area on the check for “PD Research only.” If that is your intention. 4.. Your canceled check will be verification that the checks were forwarded to the respective organizations. My firm in 1996 will match donations received up to $ 25.00 per donation and for a gross total of $ 500.00 and will make another matching offer for 1997. 5. The PDF has offered to send an acknowledgment of any funds received for a two month period to assist in establishing my credibility.. I did not approach any other organizations with this request. Normally the cost of acknowledging a small donation is too great an expense for the large foundations. At no time must anybody be made to feel that they must make a donation to participate on Barbara Patterson’s listserv. All donations will remain confidential, and I will not disclose names or amounts without the expressed written permission of the donor. For non residents of the USA to contribute send your donations to me with the address of your organization until I make other arrangements.. At this time I would like to ask for volunteers in each country to contact me if you can act as the clearing agent for donations from your country and to then forward the results to me. I’m convinced we need to help ourselves in case Big Brother lets us down again. Send checks to Dale Severance 145 Hicks Street Brooklyn, New York 11241 Please consider making a contribution if only $1.00 a month. This list is projected to grow to 8,000 members within three years which could project to $ 8000 per month at the minimal amount of giving. Lets get started now. If anyone has questions I can be reached at 718-625 2300 9-12 Monday through Thursday or 718-8585893 after 12 Monday through Thursday or [log in to unmask] help me get this started because I have a lot more ideas to implement as soon as this gets off the ground. Thanks Dale Severance 55years old and a Parkie since age 47. The following organizations were recommended in your comments as worth recipients of your donations. The list is in no special order but merely represents the order I found them in my notes. I plan to solicit a summary from each institution explaining their operations, fundraising efforts and the method of distributing funds for research and what areas are they especially researching . As information is received I will highlight one institution each month. My original goal was to raise funds strictly for research with no cost to our group for the fund raising. Not withstanding that goal I have placed The Parkinson’s Action Network as the first organization on the list even though the focus of their drive is not research orientated. Their commitment is to politically motivate Congress to increase funding for Parkinson’s research and if successful will channel more funds to PD research than any other single project. 1. Parkinson’s Action Network 2. Parkinson’s Disease Foundation 3. Emory University Medical School 4. National Parkinson Foundation 5. Brown University Movement Disorder Clinic 6. American Parkinson’s Disease Association 7. Loma Linda University 8. John Hopkins Univ. Now called Univ. of Medicine and Dentistry of New Jersey 9.Univ. of California in San Francisco Institute of Brain Research 10. United Parkinson’s Foundation St. Luke’s Medical Center in Chicago 11. Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital This list represents a summary of institutions recommended by the listserv commentators and there order of listing has no signifance with exception of PAN’s listing