Bonnie and Derek explore the site of The Bandeen Center, still under construction! |
| Dear friends,
Warm greetings from a chilly New York City. We’re getting ready to celebrate Thanksgiving with our children, their spouses, and best of all, our nine-month old granddaughter, BB. During this period of giving thanks, we notice especially how lucky we are for the people in our lives. We wish you a wonderful week with family and friends.
It’s also an exciting time for the Parkinson’s Wellness Foundation. As of next week, construction on our flagship facility in Midtown Manhattan, The Bandeen Center, will be complete. Our fitness and wellness programs will be in full swing from early 2026, and we can’t wait for you to visit. What started as a hint of a dream less than two years ago to empower those affected by Parkinson’s to live their fullest lives has now become a mission we can realize, thanks to the belief, generosity, and remarkable support of so many. We couldn’t be more astounded or grateful to be here.
If you’re in New York in December, please consider dropping by one of our upcoming open houses to visit The Bandeen Center and learn more about the community and connection we hope to build there. No matter when our paths next cross, please know our Center doors will always be open, so you can see for yourself what you have helped make possible. On behalf of our family, we wish you a warm and wonderful Thanksgiving. Sincerely, Bonnie & Derek |
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Coming Soon to NYC: The Bandeen Center! |
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Officially opening in February 2026, The Bandeen Center is the first-of-its-kind fitness and wellness facility especially for the Parkinson’s community in New York City. With state-of-the-art studios for signature fitness classes focused on improving mobility and slowing progression for people with PD, the Center also includes a cafe for meet-ups and support groups, varied programs for voice, music, and art, as well as lectures and events. Here, members can be empowered to live their fullest lives with Parkinson’s—in a community that supports them every step of the way.
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| Come visit us! 133 East 58th Street (at Lexington Ave.) New York, NY 10022 |
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You’re Invited! Upcoming Open Houses at The Bandeen Center |
Gather your friends and family this festive season and join us some hopeful cheer at our open house events this December. Admission is free, and all guests will receive a Day Pass to redeem in the new year. Register now to reserve your spot on our nice list. 🙂 Email Libby Jones to register for one of the events below.
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Introducing the PWF staff who can’t wait to meet you! |
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Program & Operations Associate |
Raised in Albuquerque, NM, Penny recently made NYC’s Lower East Side her new home. A graduate of Georgetown, she previously interned at the Smithsonian Center as well as the National Endowment for the Humanities before coming aboard PWF this July. Outside of work, you can find Penny crocheting, out with friends, or trying out a new recipe. What’s her favorite part of her new job? “Getting to dive into the fitness space head first!” |
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At the helm of PWF, Catherine brings her wealth of leadership and CEO experience to her job. A New Yorker with three grown kids, she founded Exceed Gym and is an impassioned children’s welfare advocate who has served on numerous nonprofit boards to support mothers and children in need. What gets Catherine out of bed in the morning? “The chance to honor my late mom’s legacy, who was a true PD warrior and deserved a place like The Bandeen Center to improve her quality of life.”
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| Development & Communications Manager
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Libby is the newest member of the PWF team and is thrilled to be supporting the nonprofit’s fundraising and marketing initiatives while collaborating with her terrific coworkers to fulfill PWF’s mission. Previously, Libby worked in independent school development and was the alumni director of the American School in London for 12 years. The best thing about PWF? “The people who make this work so meaningful.” |
| Senior Manager of Programs & Operations |
Fitness instructor, web/graphic designer, hyper-organizer, contractor whisperer—Bridgette does it all! She joined PWF in June 2024 and has project managed The Bandeen Center development, from helping to design the space and fitness program to recruiting trainers and measuring every inch of our 6,800 square-foot facility. What most excites Bridgette about her role at PWF? “I’m pinching myself that I get to help bring this vision to life and get people moving!” |
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Become a Member of The Bandeen Center! |
Whether you want to try it out for a day, work out for a month, or commit to a year, you can find the right fit for you at The Bandeen Center. Membership includes unlimited fitness classes, free attendance to our events, and more. Sign up in December and enjoy the full benefits of your membership when we officially open February 1. |
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Highlights from the PWF community |
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| Ask an Expert: Dr. José Cabassa, Founder of Moving Brains Neurological Care
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At PWF, we are so fortunate to have a network of healthcare and fitness professionals who support our mission to empower those affected by Parkinson’s to live their fullest lives. One such person is Dr. José Cabassa, a neurologist and Parkinson’s and Movement Disorders specialist who also serves on our Fitness Advisory Committee.
Dr. Cabassa has treated hundreds of patients from all walks of life in his Harlem-based Movement Disorders practice. In 2019, he founded the Moving Brains Foundation, an intensive fitness program for people with Parkinson’s. For our debut “Ask an Expert” feature, we call on Dr. Cabassa to weigh in on the wonders of exercise when it comes to fighting PD.
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| PWF Represents at the 2025 Parkinson’s Policy Forum
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In September, Co-Founders Bonnie and Derek Bandeen traveled to Washington, D.C. to join more than 250 Parkinson’s advocates from 45 states at the 2025 Parkinson’s Policy Forum. This remarkable nonpartisan event brought together dozens of patients, families, care partners, researchers and clinicians to push for critical federal action on Parkinson’s disease. |
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| Thank you to our Volunteers!
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On November 10, staff and volunteers who started as the original visionaries, worker bees, and tireless advocates of the Parkinson’s Wellness Foundation gathered at the site of The Bandeen Center to celebrate all they have accomplished in the past year and a half. Somehow, a fledgling idea sprouted an incorporated nonprofit, which yielded a pioneering center for Parkinson’s wellness in the heart of New York City. None of this would have been possible without the generous support of our donors or the steadfast leadership of PWF’s Working Committee. With the utmost gratitude, we share our profound thanks to Debbie Cohen, Rose Gallagher, Catherine Goodwin, Jeff Krantz, Jon Nathanson, Kevin Neznek, David Steinberger, and David Strand. And where would we be without our indefatigable Fitness Advisor, Jinger Gotschall, or our volunteer barista, David Cohen? We’re lucky to have started this journey with all of you! Now let’s keep going.
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The Bandeen Center 133 East 58th Street (at Lexington Ave.) New York, NY 10022 (212) 831-3476
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