Jo Rosen, Founder and President of Parkinson’s Resource Organization (PRO), is stepping aside as leader of the organization she founded 34 years ago.
“It’s time,” says Rosen “I want to expand my humanitarian efforts in different directions but the organization you know and love will endure; I am leaving it in the capable hands of our new Executive Director, Eileen Lynch.”
“When I started Parkinson’s Resource Organization 34 years ago, I knew next to nothing about Parkinson’s or neurological diseases and I needed to know in order to help my mother, who was diagnosed in 1984, and my then-fiancé who was diagnosed in 1989. At that time, doctors, scientists, and others ‘in the know’ that I reached out to for help and information — wouldn’t give me the time of day. To them, I was ‘just a caregiver.’”
Although her journey building PRO has been long and difficult, Rosen knew that people and organizations responded to titles, so she gave herself the title of President and created Parkinson’s Resource Organization (PRO). It worked! Sadly, Rosen lost her mother to Parkinson’s in 1992 and her beloved husband Alan died of Parkinson’s in 2007. Then in 2008, the recession brought Parkinson’s Resource Organization to the brink of ruin.
Despite these challenges, Parkinson’s Resource Organization has survived and thrived – today PRO serves tens of thousands of families across the country and across the world. Currently PRO runs 20+ support groups a month for Parkinson’s caregivers and families including Mindfulness, Grief, and Movement practices. In addition, a robust Wellness Village Resource Directory connects today’s Parkinson’s families with services and providers.
“During all my years at the helm of PRO,” states Rosen, “I have fielded phone calls from people on the brink of bankruptcy, on the brink of suicide, battling homelessness, battling pain, battling loneliness, and even those who were financially successful but had no idea where to turn for help. At the same time, I watched billions of dollars diverted to as-yet-unrealized research for a cure, while direct human service endeavors like ours scrape by on pennies.”
“So why keep PRO going?” Says Rosen. “It’s simple. because the scourge of Parkinson’s keeps on growing. Just last week, a constituent called with a question about an app we recommended in our Newsworthy Notes Newsletter (incidentally, the longest-running monthly newsletter for the Parkinson’s community). Before she hung up, she said, “By the way, you saved my life.” Sadly, she’s not alone.”
“’I’m moving on to new challenges while retaining my association with PRO and will continue to serve the Parkinson’s community,” says Rosen. “My place will be taken by Eileen Lynch who is already a tremendous asset to PRO.”
“Jo has been a passionate and powerful mentor,” says Lynch. “Because of her creativity and leadership, we at Parkinson’s Resource Organization have an incredible base to build on.”
Visit the organization’s website at www.parkinsonsresource.org.
