
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, there are plans in the works to install a 3 person lift in the northwest corner of the building. In order to accomplish that, we had to move the west wall of the kitchen 6″ to the east to make room for the “ELEVATOR” 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!
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:
2023 OFFICERS:
Chairman – Elizabeth Woodbury
1st Vice-Chairman – Donald Nagdeman
2nd Vice-Chairman – Dr. Daniel Dunn
Secretary – Lori Plesha
Treasurer – Thomas Woodbury
BOARD MEMBERS:
Andrea Dance, Helen Garrison,
Julie Markowitz, Dr. Jennifer Pallone, Sandra Qualls, Dr. Aisha Shareef,
Deborah VanCleef, Kathleen Willman and Madeline Wilson
DECEMBER 2023 EVENTS
______________________________________________
NWI Parkinson’s monthly Support Group Meetings
______________________________________________________________________________
ZOOM CLASSES WITH JULIE
Join our Zoom Class with Nurse Julie Markowitz on Tuesday, December 12th, at 11:00 a.m.
TOPIC:
TBD
https://us02web.zoom.us/j/3752202437?pwd=d2RSN1BvcmhCamRYMWdLODRvcVE1QT09
Meeting ID: 375 220 2437
Passcode: 4p19Q3
One tap mobile
+13126266799,,3752202437#,,,,*554861# US (Chicago)
Dial by your location
+1 312 626 6799 US (Chicago)
+1 346 248 7799 US (Houston)
Meeting ID: 375 220 2437
Passcode: 554861
Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kqARtvSrI
To Join the Meeting, HIGHLIGHT THE BLUE LINE above and hit ENTER.
If that doesn’t work, COPY & PASTE that same line to your URL.
If that still doesn’t work, call us here at the office: 219-237-2342, or Don’s cell phone: 219-805-2009.
We will be watching the monitor to let you in.
SAVE THE DATES:
Friday, December 29th:
Our Annual Holiday Wellness Party
in our Headquarters Building.
Check our Flyer above!!!
NEW ACTIVITY ROOM CLASS SCHEDULE AS OF October 9, 2023:
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
MONDAYS
1:00 p.m. – 2:00 p.m.
COMMUNICATION SKILLS
with Dr. Daniel Dunn
WEDNESDAYS 5:30 p.m.—6:30 p.m.
KICK-BOXING for PARKINSON’S
with Lori Plesha
TUESDAYS 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.
CHAIR YOGA for PARKINSONS
with Joanne Sypudt
EVERY OTHER TUESDAY
11:00 p.m. to 12:15 p.m.
DISCUSSION GROUP
“Ask Nurse Julie” with Julie Markowitz RN
WEDNESDAYS 12:00 Noon—1:00 p.m.
DANCE FOR PARKINSON’S
with Louise Boyd
WEDNESDAYS 1:15 p.m. – 2:15 p.m.
LSVT – BIG
with Kelsey Mulder
WEDNESDAYS 5:30 p.m.—6:30 p.m.
KICK-BOXING for PARKINSON’S
with Lori Plesha
THURSDAYS 9:15 a.m. to 10:15 a.m.
MAT YOGA for PARKINSON’S
with Joanne Sypudt
THURSDAYS 10:30 a.m. to 11:30 a.m..
FULL BODY WORKOUT
with Bob Difiglio
FRIDAYS 12:00 Noon—1:00 p.m.
DANCE FOR PARKINSON’S
with Louise Boyd
Note:
All classes are located in our main building Activities’ Room at 2927 Jewett Ave. Highland, IN
(unless otherwise indicated.)