Around & About the Community

The Older...
Tom and Rita Hannum head a remarkable family business—Hannum’s Harley-Davidson Sales, Inc.—in two locations: Media and Chadds Ford, Pennsylvania. A fourth generation Harley-Davidson dealership may seem, to the unknowing eye, an unlikely place to find a bedrock of charitable giving. Those in the know, however, tell us that the Harley-Davidson organization is a giant in supporting events to fund charitable organizations, most notably, Multiple Sclerosis (MS).

The Hannum & DiPasquale Family L-R: Tom III, Rita & Tom Hannum, Jr. and Gianna, John & Tonda DiPasquale

The Hannum family has always supported the Harley-Davidson effort and has augmented their generosity with contributions to other charities like Downs Syndrome. Last spring, however, someone suggested that some fundraising should go for Parkinson’s research, especially since Tom Hannum, Jr. (the spearhead of the current Pennsylvania Harley-Davidson company) has had Parkinson’s for 30-plus years! The fact that the fundraising efforts of the family have not previously been in support of Parkinson’s research may seem strange. However, perhaps something Rita Hannum says on a regular basis will give the reader some insight: “I won’t let Tom have Parkinson’s. We simply do not have the time!”

The Hannum family — Tom Jr., & wife Rita; Tonda & John DiPasquale (daughter and husband); Tom III and wife Kim, and we must not forget grandchildren Gianna, Madison and soon to be born baby boy and girl DiPasquale—are a hard-working and fun-loving group. But their family does not stop there. The company employees, customers and neighbors are all treated like family as well. If fact, once you visit the Hannum store, you become an honorary member of the Hannum crew!

Proceeds from their recent fundraiser of $24,000 and counting were given to the PDF in honor of the Tom Hannum and DiPasquale families of Hannum’s Harley-Davidson. They have designated the funds to be used for research through the Parkinson’s Disease Foundation/National Parkinson Foundation Joint Research Grant Program.

The Younger...
What can a 15-year old boy do to help in the fight against Parkinson’s? Just ask Sean Stewart of Westport, Connecticut.

L-R: Sean Stewart & Robin Elliott (PDF Executive Director)

Sean, whose father, John Harold Stewart, has had Parkinson’s Plus for 7 some years, pondered this very question. He decided to write an appeal letter and send it to friends, family, and colleagues of his father’s. In the letter, he cited his reason for his action: “The suffering of my father and the millions of other people all over the world with Parkinson’s disease and other brain diseases has spurred my decision to act.” Sean decided to run a five kilometer “race for a cure” and asked for $20 donations from supporters. He told the recipients that the previous year (when he was in 8th grade) the Fairfield Country Day School raised funds for PDF by having a pancake breakfast. Sean set a goal to raise $5,000 for Parkinson’s research during the course of his four years in high school (he is currently a freshman) and raise awareness about the disease and how it affects human lives. Sean not only created an appeal letter but also a poster using the Stewart insignia and incorporated the Latin phrase for “race for the brain”—Cursus Cerebro—and made tee shirts as well. His fundraising and awareness project was a ‘one-man show’. He declined offers of assistance with his campaign with the exception of a little help from his mother on the artwork for the posters.

Sean successfully ran and finished the race on October 5. But his greatest success of all was that he raised more than $6,500 for Parkinson’s research with his very first fundraising effort, thereby exceeding his four-year goal of $5,000!

We are ALL proud of Sean for his determination, tenacity, creativeness, and action. We haven’t asked Sean what his NEW four-year goal is but we can bet that this young man won’t sit back on his laurels. He is in this “Cursus Cerebro” for the long haul and the ultimate goal: finding the cure.

and the Beautiful...
On Thursday evening, October 3, a very special debut took place at the flagship store of Saks Fifth Avenue here in little ol’ New York. The Parkinson’s Hope Pendant—so named because of the material it is made of as well as the message it sends—was presented to the public by its lovely creator, Leslie Greene, a well-known jewelry designer. The round pendant measures 3/8 inches across and glistens with diamonds both white and yellow (the yellow signify hope) set in white gold and yellow gold. The pendant can also be used as a pin. It is available exclusively at Saks Fifth Avenue stores throughout the country. Ms. Greene will donate a part of the proceeds from every sale of the pendant (the piece retails at $1,800) to The Parkinson’s Disease Foundation to support research into finding the cause and cure of Parkinson’s.

The Parkinson's Hope Pendant

Ms. Greene, a graduate of the Fashion Institute of Technology in New York City, decided to use her designing skills for Parkinson’s because a dear friend suffers from the disease. In her early career, she held a number of jobs in the fashion industry, but found that jewelry was her true calling. She has been creating unique jewelry for the last ten years. This is not the first time the family has made a major contribution to Parkinson’s research. Just last summer, Leslie’s husband, Bob Greenberg, organized a golf outing to benefit the work of the Parkinson Disease Foundation. He too did it in the spirit of love for the same close friend. We at PDF feel very fortunate to have such wonderful friends.

...Fight Parkinson’s !