The Parkinson Association of Alabama hosted its second annual Tulip Gala Thursday evening, drawing roughly 500 guests to the private event that included a keynote address from former NFL star and Heisman trophy winner, Tim Tebow.
The Tulip Gala helps fund the the Parkinson Association of Alabama’s Care Navigation program – personalized care sessions to answer questions and offer guidance for those just diagnosed with Parkinson’s – with a silent auction adding to the evening’s fundraising.
When Tebow took the stage, he mentioned how personal Parkinson’s is for him – his father passed away from the disease a few months prior, but he didn’t lean on his personal ties during his address. He spoke about faith, purpose and hope, reiterating that everyone in the room needs to be on the same team for the things that really matter.
“I guess my question tonight would be, would we really be on the same side for all those individuals that are dealing with this horrible, tragic, terrible disease?” Tebow said.
“And I don’t mean it that we would say that with lip service. I mean, would we actually really believe we’re on the same side to be able to help them, support them, love them, and care for them? And I love PAA’s mission of care, of community, and of purity. But if we really, actually believe that, if we really want to live that, how do we actually do that? In my opinion, like most things, it starts very clearly with hope, that we would bring that hope to so many.”
This year’s gala honoree was Jane Stephens Comer, a philanthropist, entrepreneur and GirlSpring co-founder diagnosed with Parkinson’s in 2011. The Parkinson Association said Comer “exemplifies the mission and values of the Parkinson Association of Alabama, and her impact will be felt for generations to come.”
Comer quietly made one of the largest individual gifts in the history of UAB’s Department of Neurology – a $2 million anonymous donation she only recently went public with – helping build UAB into one of the leading Parkinson’s research centers in the world. UAB has received more than $74 million in NIH funding tied to Parkinson’s research since Comer’s 2013 commitment, according to David Standaert, chair of UAB’s Department of Neurology.
PAA was founded in 1978 and since then, its mission has stayed the same – improve the quality of life for people with Parkinson’s and their families in the state of Alabama.
Evy Gallagher is the managing editor for Yellowhammer News. You can contact her at [email protected]
