An interview with Casey Corley Antol, Associate Regional Director, Southeast from the Parkinson’s Foundation on July 20, 2023 by George Ackerman, Ph.D, J.D.
Biography
Casey Antol brings over 18 years of non-profit fundraising experience, holding previous leadership roles in nationally recognized non-profits and medical institutions. She currently works as the Associate Director for the Southeast Region of the Parkinson’s Foundation. Over the course of her career, she is proud to have led and worked alongside teams that have collectively raised $12mil to fund medical research initiatives and critical community educational tools.
Casey received her degree in Public Relations from Georgia Southern University and is actively engaged in the Charleston Chamber and Lowcountry Senior Network. She lives in Charleston, SC with her husband, Matt, and has one fur-baby, Riley.
Please tell me a little about your background.
I’ve worked in the non-profit industry for over 18 years and working at the Parkinson’s Foundation (PF) allows me to be a part of a specific mission that directly, tangibly, and positively impacts people’s lives. I’ve had the opportunity to join alongside many people diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease (PD), their care partners, their families, and friends, who have been positively impacted by programs, research and community outreach directly related to the work of PF. It is truly rewarding to know the hard work that we do every day directly impacts individuals to make their lives better.
Can you tell me more about the Parkinson’s Foundation?
The Parkinson’s Foundation makes life better for people with PD by improving care and advancing research toward a cure. In everything we do, we build on the energy, experience, and passion of our global Parkinson’s community. As a national organization with a local presence and impact, the Parkinson’s Foundation brings help and hope to the estimated one million individuals in the United States, 10 million worldwide, who are living with Parkinson’s.
What is your passion and how did you get involved in Parkinson’s awareness and hope for a cure?
I have a history of neurological diseases in my family, so for me it is personal. I am a firm believer in research and that it is the key to unlocking its causes, developing life-changing treatments and ultimately, discovering a cure. The Parkinson’s Foundation works to solve Parkinson’s through taking a big-picture approach to research, closing the gaps in knowledge about this disease. While our annual research grants and global genetics study make progress toward understanding the biology of Parkinson’s, there remains a shortage in the development of new drugs for Parkinson’s. It is an expensive and a high-risk endeavor for pharmaceutical companies to pursue this critical research.
What type of training and how long are the programs?
PF has a robust offering of resources, educational tools, and programs. We have a newly launched Learning Lab, which is a virtual learning community dedicated to advancing knowledge about PD. The Learning Lab offers a variety of online courses for healthcare professional. People living with or caring for someone with PD, volunteers working closely with the PD community and more! Through these courses, individuals can further their knowledge of Parkinson’s, its symptoms and best practices rooted in evidence-based research, aimed to help make life better for people with Parkinson’s. Take a course at your pace, view a webinar, earn continuing education credits, and participate in a live program — all just a click away!
We have a newly launched Parkinson’s Foundation Ambassador program that has allowed us to tap into new markets and serve new constituents. We rely on the energy, skill, and passion of volunteers to make life better for people with Parkinson’s disease (PD). We are looking for individuals who are passionate about our mission and who want to advance research toward a cure. https://www.parkinson.org/how-to-help/volunteer
What effect can the Parkinson’s Foundation have on an individual with Parkinson’s?
Our robust programmatic offerings allow us to enhance all the Foundation’s mission core efforts, including research, care, and education. Each piece, working in concert with the others, brings us closer to solving the puzzle that is PD. Through these resources, we invite individuals to further their knowledge of Parkinson’s, its symptoms and best practices rooted in evidence-based research, aimed to help make life better for people with Parkinson’s.
What would you like to see as a future goal for the Parkinson’s Foundation?
We understand that one million people with Parkinson’s here in the U.S. are counting on us to create a broad and compassionate community of support while we tirelessly search for the causes and the cure. Every day, the community that relies upon us is at the center of our work. The overarching goal of our mission is that one day, we will reach a time when all the symptoms of PD are not only treatable but also preventable. Until then, know that we are working every single day to improve the lives of people living with Parkinson’s.
What events do you participate in?
I work throughout the Southeast Region, which is composed of 9 states and 5 Chapters, so I participate in many events ranging from Moving Day, Parkinson’s Revolution, educational programs, and local fundraisers hosted in specific markets. A full list of all of our upcoming events can be found at Parkinson.org
How does the Parkinson’s Foundation also assist the caregivers?
For support
Living well with Parkinson’s disease (PD) means getting the support you need — from tools that help you work alongside your care team to resources that empower you. The Parkinson’s Foundation is your trusted ally for information that can help you navigate every stage of this disease. We offer resources that provide life-changing support to people with PD, care partners, family members and healthcare professionals.
For more info: https://www.parkinson.org/resources-support
How can someone get in touch? What is your website?
To learn about volunteer opportunities and how you can get involved in your local market, contact Sadie at: volunteer@parkinson.org or call 305-503-6122
If you had one final statement or quote you could leave for the Parkinson’s community, what would it be?
Know that you are not alone. The Parkinson’s Foundation is your trusted ally for information that can help you navigate every stage of this disease. We offer resources that provide life-changing support to people with PD, care partners, family members and healthcare professionals.
Reference
Parkinson’s Foundation (2023). Resources & Support. Retrieved from https://www.parkinson.org/resources-support