The Kirk Gibson Center for Parkinson’s Wellness Receives Gift from The Jay Farner Family Foundation

Photo Courtesy of the Kirk Gibson Foundation for Parkinson’s. | Jay Farner and Nicole Vallianatos

$1 Million gift will support accelerated expansion to increase access to programs for those living with Parkinson’s.

The Kirk Gibson Center for Parkinson’s Wellness (“KGC”), is pleased to announce that they have received a transformational gift from the Jay Farner Family Foundation. The $1 million gift will be essential in funding the accelerated expansion to meet the unanticipated demand for exercise and wellness programs that have been proven to improve functional skills and everyday movements for those living with Parkinson’s. 

KGC, which opened in October 2025,

is dedicated to redefining what it means to live with Parkinson’s disease through evidence-based exercise, education, and community. As the first wellness center of its kind in Michigan, KGC is located at 31440 Northwestern Highway in Farmington Hills and provides a world-class facility where individuals living with Parkinson’s can access a comprehensive range of activity-based programs, completely free of charge. Centered on the belief that “Movement Matters,” KGC’s programs emphasize exercise, education, and meaningful social connection that empowers individuals and their care partners to live well and thrive.

Currently, KGC has more than 1,200 Members actively participating in classes which far exceeds the original projection of 800 registered Members by the end of 2026.  This unanticipated demand has prompted the Center to accelerate plans to expand capacity, and The Jay Farner Family Foundation’s gift will be essential to rapidly expanding the number and variety of high-impact exercise and cognitive wellness programs as well as strengthening the infrastructure, systems, and staffing necessary to support expansion capacity.

Jay Farner experienced Parkinson’s firsthand when his grandfather was diagnosed while he was in his 60’s.  

While watching his grandfather adapt to life with Parkinson’s, Jay was determined to find ways to support others confronting life-altering diagnoses.  After retiring from Rock Companies in 2023, he founded Ronin Capital Partners, an investment and management firm based in metro Detroit. Ronin focuses on providing capital and strategic support across diverse sectors, including real estate, finance, sports, hospitality, and technology. In 2025 Jay and his partner Nicole Vallianatos founded the Jay Farner Family Foundation on the belief that “kindness, research, and responsible care can transform lives.”  When Jay and Nicole learned about KGC’s mission to improve the lives of those living with Parkinson’s, they decided to support the expansion essential to meeting the overwhelming response from Members.  

“Nicole and I were beyond impressed with the remarkable care that Members receive at the Kirk Gibson Center for Parkinson’s Wellness,” says Jay Farner, “Our gift is in honor of my grandfather and other family members who have experienced life altering diagnoses.  We’re honored to support the Center’s expansion to provide proven exercise and wellness programs to a growing number of Members for years to come.” 

“I am grateful to Jay and Nicole for their support of our growth required to meet the need for Parkinson’s care in Michigan,” said Kirk Gibson.  “Because of their generosity, we will be able to quickly and responsibly scale our operations and help so many in our Parkinson’s community.”

Utilizing the gift from the Jay Farner Family Foundation,

the KGC is actively recruiting and developing additional specialized coaches while broadening class offerings to meet current demand and position the Center to sustainably serve a rapidly expanding community. 

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

 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.

Follow The Kirk Gibson Foundation for Parkinson’s social: 

Facebook and Instagram: @KirkGibsonFoundation

LinkedIn: @KirkGibsonFoundationForParkinson’s

X: @KirkGibsonFDN  

ABOUT THE JAY FARNER FAMILY FOUNDATION:

Jay Farner Family Foundation was created with a simple belief: compassion, when put into action, can change lives. Rooted in strong family values and a commitment to service, the foundation focuses on four core areas that have a profound and lasting impact. 

Its work supports research and care for neurodegenerative diseases, advances the fight against breast cancer, funds therapy dog programs that provide comfort and connection, helps end the practice of kill shelters by supporting humane, life-saving alternatives, and maintains a flexible giving fund dedicated to community needs and unexpected acts of generosity.

Each focus area reflects a commitment to protecting the vulnerable—whether that means families facing serious illness or animals in need of a second chance. The foundation partners with organizations that provide real solutions, real care, and real hope.

Guided by thoughtful giving and a hands-on approach, the Jay Farner Family Foundation strives to create a more compassionate future for people and animals alike.

https://www.jayfarnerfamilyfoundation.org/