When disaster strikes, we don't wait. Following the devastating wildfires that swept through Pacific Palisades, Altadena, and the Eaton communities in January 2025, Drive Toward a Cure immediately reactivated our Special Assistance Fund — opening an emergency relief channel specifically for Parkinson's patients and their families affected by the fires.

We believe in the power to both give and receive — and with your support, we can continue reaching those who need us most.

WHO WE'RE HELPING

The fires displaced thousands of people across Southern California. Among them are members of our Parkinson's community — individuals managing a complex, progressive disease who suddenly found themselves without medications, without caregivers, without stability, and without a home.

Our goal is simple: find them, support them, and help ease the road ahead. Because living with Parkinson's is hard enough — no one should face it in the aftermath of a disaster, alone and without resources. #HelpUsHelpOthers

WHAT WE'VE DONE — OUR INITIAL IMPACT

In the immediate aftermath of the fires, Drive Toward a Cure provided financial support to patients from these local Parkinson’s-affiliated organizations on the front lines of recovery:

• Ciela — The Parkinson's Program in Pacific Palisades Highlands A full care community that enriches the lives of residents living with Parkinson's through its Vitality Center, offering health and wellness programming, mobility classes, and compassionate daily support.
• Parkinson's Community Los Angeles (PCLA) A vital local resource that connects, inspires, and educates those living with Parkinson's disease throughout Southern California — now more essential than ever as displaced patients seek continuity of care and community.
• Keck Medicine of USC — Parkinson Foundation Center of Excellence A nationally recognized center with specialized expertise in diagnosing and treating Parkinson's disease and movement disorders, serving patients across the region who lost access to their care.

WHAT WE'RE DOING NOW — THE PACIFIC PALISADES MOTOR CLASSIC

Drive Toward a Cure is proud to be participating in the inaugural Pacific Palisades Motor Classic — and we're putting that platform to work for the community.

Our presence at the show directly supports the rebuilding of the Lowe Family YMCA in Pacific Palisades. Funds raised through our involvement will go toward scholarship memberships for local Parkinson's patients, providing access to the fitness, nutrition, and wellness programs they need to maintain their health and quality of life as the community rebuilds around them.

It's exactly the kind of tangible, community-rooted support that defines what we do.

OUR HISTORY OF RESPONDING WHEN IT MATTERS

The Drive Toward a Cure Special Assistance Fund was established in 2018 in the wake of the disastrous Paradise Fires in Northern California. Since then, it has grown to support Parkinson's patients impacted by hurricanes, tornadoes, wildfires, and other catastrophic events across the country.

Since 2016, Drive Toward a Cure has raised more than $1.5 million for Parkinson's disease research and patient care — distributed through direct grants and directed programs to those who need it most.

With your help, we can do exponentially more for those who cannot help themselves during a crisis.

Every dollar counts. Every dollar reaches a patient in need.

ARE YOU A PARKINSON'S PATIENT AFFECTED BY THE FIRES?

We want to help. Grants are still available through the Drive Toward a Cure Special Assistance Fund.

Apply here: www.drivetowardacure.org/special-assistance-fund

To be eligible, applicants must:

• Have a confirmed Parkinson's disease diagnosis (please include the name of your Movement Disorder Specialist and your most recent appointment date)
• Have been directly affected by the Southern California wildfires (please include your permanent address)
• Demonstrate financial hardship as a result of the fires (please describe your situation)

All applications are reviewed with care, compassion, and confidentiality.

Drive Toward a Cure is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization raising funds and awareness for Parkinson's disease research and patient care. Together, we drive toward a better tomorrow — for every person living with Parkinson's.