WELCOME!

Making a Difference in Parkinson’s Disease

Learn about our passionate team,
and how you can help!

LIBBY’S STORY

After being diagnosed with Parkinson’s Disease (PD) in 2004, Elizabeth Woodbury, nicknamed Libby, experienced, first-hand, the need for an organization to provide support and services to those diagnosed with the disease. With that in mind, she formed a committee to raise monies through annual fundraising Style Shows, starting in 2005. In 2012, NWI Parkinson’s, Inc., was officially designated by the IRS as a 501(c)(3) Charitable Organization and incorporated in the State of Indiana.

Libby’s entrepreneurial spirit began in 1997, when she opened Elizabeth’s Fashions*, an upscale women’s boutique, offering designer style for women, with locations in Dyer, Chesterton and Schererville, Indiana. Elizabeth’s Fashions is now part of NWI Parkinson’s, and ALL proceeds go to fund the organization’s activities for Parkinson patients.

As demand for PD services grew, Libby and the NWI Parkinsons’ Board of Directors saw the need for the group to have its own building to better serve individuals and their families.  The corporation building, located at 2927 Jewett Avenue in Highland, Indiana, was purchased in 2017, and has grown to serve over 2,000 individuals afflicted with PD annually.

Research has proven that exercise, such as Dance, Yoga and Boxing, can help individuals with PD achieve improved mobility and slows the progression of the disease. NWI Parkinson’s provides a multitude of FREE services to these individuals and their caregivers.  FREE classes are offered weekly and include Dance for PD, Boxing, Yoga, Full-Body Workouts,  Cardio Drumming Class, LSVT-BIG Class and a NEW  Communication Class!  Other FREE services include weekly Discussion Groups, led by a nurse, Support Groups and monthly Pearls of Wisdom educational seminars, given by experts in their field on various topics, including Medication Management, Nutrition, and the latest PD Research, to name a few.

Annual fundraising events to support the mission of NWI Parkinson’s, include a Dinner Dance, an Educational Symposium, providing the latest information and research on PD, and a Style Show, featuring women’s styles from her store, and men’s fashions from John Cicco’s Menswear in Merrillville, Indiana.

NWI Parkinson’s Mission Statement is, “To give Parkinson patients HOPE, to know that they are not alone, and that we are bringing them together for exercise, companionship and to find ways to improve their quality of life.” 

Elizabeth’s Boutique now has additional space across the atrium upstairs  on the 2nd Floor, which also became the new Social Room when there isn’t a Trunk Show. There is also a new game room, with a ping pong table, next to it.   Come visit the remodeled boutique, as well as the atrium walkway, the new Social Room, new
Ping-Pong Room, the brand new Reiki Room and Elizabeth’s new office!
And, as of this writing, and due to the Town of Highland Redevelopment Commission, the Jayne Willis Memorial 3 person lift in the northwest corner of the building has become a reality.  In order to accomplish that, we had to move the west wall of the kitchen 5″ to the east to make room for the lift housing. Thanks to members of our Parkinson family, we had the kitchen remodeled to make room for the housing.  Stop in and see our new kitchen and Jayne Willis Memorial Lift!


Our Team

Our amazing team of
volunteers is committed
to helping others.
Think you would be a good fit?
Contact us: 219-237-2342

 


Our Services

Our services are offered free
of charge to Parkinson
patients, thanks to all the
helping hands of this
amazing community.

 


Our Mission
To give Parkinson patients HOPE,
to know that they are not alone,
and that we are bringing them together
for exercise, companionship and to
find ways to improve their quality of life.     

                          

   Our Board of Directors:

 2024 OFFICERS:
Chairman – Elizabeth Woodbury
1st Vice-Chairman – Donald Nagdeman
2nd Vice-Chairman – Dr. Daniel Dunn
Secretary – Lori Plesha
Treasurer – Thomas Woodbury
BOARD MEMBERS:
Dr. Ender Akan, Anna Beamer, Andrea Dance, Sharon Englert, Cyril Huerter,
 Dr. Jennifer Pallone, Sandra Qualls, Dr. Aisha Shareef,
Deborah VanCleef, Kathleen Willman & Madeline Wilson

        

 

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We look forward to hopefully being chosen again to participate in this year’s Check Out Challenge!

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WATCH FOR THE 2025 PARKINSON SUPPORT GROUP SCHEDULE AT

COMMUNITY HOSPITAL & METHODIST HOSPITAL SOUTHLAKE CAMPUS

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and join us THURSDAY, February 20th as:

 

 

 

 

 
 
 
 
 
 

 

SAVE THE DATES:

Thursday, February 20th – Pearls of Wisdom Seminar with Supernus

Thursday, March 20th – Pearls of Wisdom Seminar

Saturday, April 12th – Annual Educational Symposium at Lincoln Center

Saturday, May 17th – Annual Dinner Dance at

The Center for Visual Arts in Munster with the Musical Band, “Together”

 


NEW ACTIVITY ROOM CLASS SCHEDULE AS OF January 13, 2025

MONDAYS    10:00 to 11:00 a.m.

&

12:00 Noon to 1:00 P.M.
FULL BODY WORKOUT
with Bob Difiglio

11:15 to 11:45 p.m.

CARDIO DRUMMING
with Don Nagdeman

TUESDAYS   12:30 p.m. to 1:30 p.m.
CHAIR YOGA for PARKINSONS
with Joanne Sypudt

EVERY OTHER TUESDAY   
11:00 A.M.
DISCUSSION GROUP
with Brunch provided by Anna Toledo

WEDNESDAYS   12:00 Noon—1:00 p.m.
DANCE FOR PARKINSON’S
with Louise Boyd

WEDNESDAYS 1:15 p.m. – 2:15 p.m. 
(resuming in November 2024)
LSVT – BIG
with Kelsey Mulder

WEDNESDAYS   5:30 p.m.—6:30 p.m.
KICK-BOXING  for PARKINSON’S

with Lori Plesha

THURSDAYS 9:45 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
CARDIO DRUMMING
with Don Nagdeman

THURSDAYS 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m.
FULL BODY WORKOUT

with Bob Difiglio

THURSDAYS   12:00 Noon to 1:00 p.m.
MAT YOGA for PARKINSON’S
with Joanne Sypudt

FRIDAYS  11:30 a.m. -12:00 Noon
SPEAK OUT THERAPY
with Anna Toledo

FRIDAYS  12:00 Noon—1:00 p.m.
DANCE FOR PARKINSON’S
with Louise Boyd



 
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