The Kirk Gibson Center for Parkinson’s Wellness Receives Gift from The Daniel J. Loepp Family Foundation

Photo Courtesy of the Kirk Gibson Foundation for Parkinson’s | Front entrance of the Kirk Gibson Center for Parkinson’s Wellness

$1 Million gift will fund a new gym facility, increased programming, and ongoing support through an endowment to meet growing demand for those living with Parkinson’s.

(FARMINGTON HILLS, MI)- The Kirk Gibson Center for Parkinson’s Wellness (“KGC”), is pleased to announce that they have received a transformational gift from the Daniel J. Loepp Family Foundation. The $1 million gift will fund an additional multipurpose gym within the existing facility allowing KGC to increase the number of classes and programs it offers for those living with Parkinson’s, particularly the PWR! Moves® (Parkinson Wellness Recovery) program. The program is a cornerstone of KGC’s evidence-based approach that focuses on improving mobility, balance, strength, and everyday movement through Parkinson’s-specific exercise. The gift will also ensure continued support through the establishment of an endowment.

KGC opened in October 2025,

and is dedicated to redefining what it means to live with Parkinson’s disease through evidence-based exercise, education, and community. KGC is the first of its kind in Michigan and is located at 31440 Northwestern Highway in Farmington Hills. The wellness center is a world-class facility where those impacted by Parkinson’s can access a range of activity-based programs, completely free of charge. These programs focus on exercise, learning, and social connection and underscore the mantra, “Movement Matters”.  The core programming is a series of activity-based programs that utilize the InMotion Approach^TM to provide an integrated, holistic system of wellness programs designed to counteract the symptoms of Parkinson’s and improve the quality of life of those living with the disease.

Since opening, KGC‘s activities and programs have been consistently at or near capacity, and this gift will support the growing demand and expand access to life-altering care, while empowering members to preserve mobility and confidence. KGC currently offers over 140 classes per week with 38 full- or part-time coaches and serves more than 1,000 members, with membership expected to double within the next twelve months. Through this gift, the center will be able to hire and train more coaches, and more than double the number of PWR! Moves® classes being offered each week to meet the needs of the thriving KGC community.

In addition to accommodating the expansion of the PWR!

Moves® program, the new gym will enable KGC to better meet demand by offering additional classes such as Tai Chi, Yoga, and Dance as membership continues to grow at a rapid pace.  A portion of the gift will also be used to establish an endowed fund to support ongoing coach training and recertification to ensure a consistently exceptional experience for each member.

“I am thankful to Amy and Dan for their continued support in the fight against Parkinson’s. Exercise and movement is crucial and being able to bring more opportunities and programs to the center because of their generosity is going to help so many in our Parkinson’s community,” said Kirk Gibson.

“My father lived with Parkinson’s for more than a decade, and there was no place like the Kirk Gibson Center for him. When Amy and I walked in and saw members and caregivers together with everything this center offers, it hit us personally. This gift is our family’s way of honoring my dad and helping ensure the Gibson Center can continue to grow and serve the thousands of people who live with Parkinson’s every day,” said Dan Loepp, President of The Daniel J. Loepp Family Foundation, a private philanthropic family foundation based in Detroit, established more than a decade ago.

Construction on the 2700 sq. ft. multipurpose gym, has recently begun and is expected to be open to members at the center in August 2026.

For more information about The Kirk Gibson Center for Parkinson’s Wellness, becoming a member or volunteer, or to support the mission, please visit: www.KirkGibsonCenter.org

Click here for video of classes – at the Kirk Gibson Center for Parkinson’s Wellness

ABOUT THE KIRK GIBSON CENTER FOR PARKINSON’S WELLNESS:

The Kirk Gibson Foundation for Parkinson’s was formed by former professional baseball player and iconic Detroit Tiger, Kirk Gibson, after his diagnosis with Parkinson’s disease in 2015. Gibson spends his time supporting his mission and vision of spreading awareness for Parkinson’s and providing inspiration and hope to others who are living with Parkinson’s.

The mission of the Kirk Gibson Foundation for Parkinson’s is to improve the quality of life of those living with Parkinson’s through the development and delivery of activity-based programs. Over the years and through fundraising events, the foundation has had the goal of opening a center focused on that mission.  This mission became a reality this past October when the Kirk Gibson Center for Parkinson’s Wellness officially opened.  It is the first of its kind in Michigan and is located at 31440 Northwestern Highway in Farmington Hills. The wellness center is a world-class facility where those impacted by Parkinson’s can access a range of activity-based programs, completely free of charge.

The Center provides a series of free evidence-based programs tailored for people with Parkinson’s disease. Movement matters in the fight against Parkinson’s the Kirk Gibson Center provides an integrated, holistic system of wellness programs designed to counteract the symptoms of the disease and to improve the quality of life of those people living with Parkinson’s disease here in Michigan. The Kirk Gibson Center is more than a facility, it is a center of hope.  It is where people with Parkinson’s discover they are not alone, where they find strength in numbers and they learn that while Parkinson’s may change their lives, it does not have to define them.  The center has become a place for education, empowerment, community, and connection and serves as a model for collaborative coalitions in support of people living with Parkinson’s.

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