The Lighthouse was the scene for this year's annual Team Fox MVP Awards Dinner held in New York City on April 28. With members arriving from all over the United States -- and a few other countries around the world -- the evening was once again an exciting reunion for many and a cherished opportunity for members, new and old, to connect with peers, mentors and friends.
As the sun set beautifully over Chelsea Piers and guests looked out over the Hudson River, the evening featured an array of remarks from familiar faces including Foundation Co-Founders Michael J. Fox and Debi Brooks, who both reflected on the inspiration they glean from the Team Fox community.
Parkinson's 360 participant Jimmy Choi took the stage to share how his unexpected journey to become a Team Fox ultra-marathoner led to something more than countless finish line medals: a newfound support group and family. And keynote speaker Dr. Karen Jaffe moved the crowd to tears as she reflected on her journey with Parkinson's from initial diagnosis to now approaching the incredible $1 million fundraising mark through her family's Team Fox efforts. As she said best, "Tonight, there are no mountains to climb or races to run. There are no obstacles in our way. Tonight, we will celebrate each and every victory, and to stand as proof that a single person can and does make a difference."
It's always hard to fully capture the magic of our MVP Awards Dinner, but we hope the following video highlights some of the inspiration, love and support that truly thrives at the core of this unstoppable Team Fox community:
Another heartfelt thank you to all our Team Fox MVPs whose collective efforts in 2016 helped raised over $10.4 million for Parkinson's research. And congratulations again to our 19 top events who each surpassed the $100,000 mark, including Team VICE whose NYC Marathon efforts knocked all prior milestones out of the water with over $1.1.million raised in 2016 alone. Between all of our 330 guests in attendance, the evening was an incredible reminder for many of the power harnessed through optimism, community and an unwavering can-do spirit.
Many thanks to our friends at UCB for sponsoring the evening. And a very special thanks to the entire 4,200 Team Fox members whose unwavering dedication to helping speed a cure for Parkinson's made 2016 such a memorable year for Team Fox.
Inspired to join? Visit our Team Fox homepage to learn how you can participate in upcoming races, events and campaigns in your area. Or, check out tips to start your very own fundraiser!
