February 2026

From the Board

At the successful completion of our Annual Appeal, we would like to take a moment to thank our monthly donors, those who make a commitment to support PD Active all year long through a regular monthly contribution. The support of monthly contributors enables us to offer all of our exercise classes, groups and activities without fees, making them accessible to all.

By becoming a monthly contributor, you provide a reliable source of income that supports all of PD Active’s work in the community. Please consider becoming a monthly supporter. Click here to donate.

The Board wishes to recognize and thank Chad Zucker, a PD Active Board member from 2018-2025 and past Board President. Chad was instrumental in forming the Young Onset YOPD group. Being an avid tennis and Pickleball player, Chad started and ran the popular Pickleball meet ups for PD Active. Additionally, He managed PD Active’s annual Member Survey, and served on the Finance and Program committees. Thank you, Chad, for all you have done for PD Active.

Program and Events

How ‘Magic Mushrooms’ Could Help Parkinson’s Disease Patients

Date: Saturday, February 14, 2026

Time: 10:30am

Location: Berkeley Methodist United Church

1710 Carleton St, Berkeley, CA 94703

More information here.

Register here.

Dr. Bradley is UCSF Assistant Professor, Department of Psychiatry and Behavioral Sciences 

Psilocybin, one of the hallucinogenic compounds found in "magic mushrooms" has shown early promise in treating depression and anxiety that has especially proved resistant to conventional antidepressants. A recent pilot study led by Dr. Ellen Bradley at UCSF found early evidence that psilocybin therapy has a strong safety profile for people with early to moderate Parkinson's disease and that it may improve mood, cognition, and possibly motor symptoms. In this talk, Dr. Bradley will share some of the salient findings from that study and ongoing efforts to advance the research around psychedelic drugs to benefit the PD community.

Connecting Through Art

Date: Saturday, February 21, 2026 (note date change)

Time: 10:30am

Location: Berkeley

Registration for each session is required. To register, email Noah Siddiqui.

More information here.

Connecting Through Art is a creative arts program that offers people with PD the space and ability to express feelings, emotions, and daily concerns through drawing and painting. This program provides a supportive and therapeutic environment that encourages participants’ reflection as they engage in art activities that helps strengthen fine motor movements. 

Co-sponsored by Stanford Parkinson’s Community Outreach, APDA, and PD Active. Open to any adult who has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease and their care partners. 

YOPD Hike

Date: Friday, February 27, 2026

Time: 4:00pm

Email Kerrie for details and location.

AALP - African Americans Living with Parkinson's

Walk in the Woods in Oakland

Date: Friday, 6

Time: 10:30am

Meeting in Person in Oakland

Date: Friday, February 13

Time: 10:30am

Email AALP@pdactive.org for details and location.

We Need You!

PD Active is run by volunteers. Can you offer your skills or time to help our organization thrive? We are certain that within our community we have members with financial or business experience for our Finance Committee, and people with marketing or communications experience for our Communications Committee.

We also need help setting up the popular Speaker Forums and events, and organizing exercise classes and programs, and assisting with support groups.

Please let us know if you can help. 

Email Evangeline at operations@pdactive.org.

PD Active depends on donations to bring programs like these to our members. We remain grateful for your contributions.

Save the Date

PD Active Annual Community Meeting

Date: Saturday, March 14, 2026

Time: 10:30am

Location: BMUC, 1710 Carleton St, Berkeley, CA 94703

Gather in-person to meet the PD Active Board of Directors, give feedback on PD Active priorities, hear about PD Active plans, and find out how you can be involved. There will be light refreshments and an opportunity to visit with the Board and members of our community.

Access all our past events on our website.

Community

Samuel Merritt University

Physical Therapy and Occupational Therapy Labs

Location: Samuel Merritt’s new City Center campus, 525 12th Street, Oakland. 

Physical Therapy Community Lab

Dates: Tuesdays, March 3 – March 31, 2026

This is a 5-week program of free, individual sessions in which two Doctor of Physical Therapy students and one licensed, supervising PT faculty member focus on your specific needs related to exercise, mobility, and function. It includes a personalized program of physical activity and exercise. Participants should be independent or nearly independent in community mobility such as walking or wheeling.

Enroll here.

Occupational Therapy Community Lab 

Dates: Monday afternoons, beginning February 23, 2026. 

Focus is on improving daily life functions and participation in personal occupations. 

Contact OTlab@samuelmerritt.edu if interested.

Thank You to our Monthly Contributors

Thank You to Our Monthly Donors

Barbara and Mark Altenberg

Catherine Armsden

Gity and Robert Baxter

Grant Bennett

David Berks and Margot Crosman

Lonna Bloom

Kathy Bloomberg-Rissman

Bruce Bowen and Junona Jonas

Alicia Carter

Kathleen Colloton

Jerry Derblich and Alexis Milea

James Duff and Valerie Yasukochi

Susan Felter and Bill Mastin

Christopher Flores

April Gray

Wade and Beth Greene

Kathleen Guevara

Marianne and Eric Haesloop

Kristine Hafner

Barbara Hall

Kerrie and Mark Halmi

Lynne Henderson

Ella Hirst

Jane House

Nancy and Ralph Husari

Rosie Kaplan and Harvey Goldenberg

Richard Kleiner

Janet and Robert Kohne

Mitch Landy

Stanley Leibowitz and Paula Millman

Henry (Hank) Levy

Patricia Lopez

Kerri and Mark Lubin

Jean and Joe McKinley

Michael McKinnon

Donna Mickleson

Josie Mooney

Alden Mudge and Mari Loria

Barbara Phillips

Ronald Rioux and Marianne Glaspey

Susan Rood

Margaret Rossoff

Jay Schirmacher

Steve Schultz

Gary Semans and Terry Kulka

Maria Servin

Marjan Shomali

Cheryl Snow

Kathie Stein

Steven and Bess Sternberg

Marge Sussman

Rebecca Tarver and Julio Leiva-Masin

Gregory Thomas

Stephen Tobias and Alice Webber

Gary Turchin

Mona Lisa Valadez

Carolyn Yale

Lynn Zummo and Jan Miller

New Monthly Donors

Sam Blodgett

Donna Dahrouge

Ben Hong and Annette Floystrup

Thank You to our Recent Donors

Donors

Sarah Armstrong and Peter Haiman

Marilyn Becker

Alicia Benito

Gabriel Griego and Monique Buffler

Connie Burton

Chris Carmichael and Thad Shaffer

Richard Cohen

Amy Coty

Marcy Darnovsky

Dee Disomma and Kent Matsumoto

Becky Dowdakin and Flora McMartin

Lauren Eisele

Charmaine Eng

Robert Ferguson and Janet Nexon

Molly and Harrison Fraker

Harlan Grossman

Doug and Linda Hamilton

Herb Heinz

Lynne Henderson

Daniel Jarmel

Murthy Jarugumilli and Veena Achar

Michelle Johnston

Suzan Kaplan

Claudia Kawczynska

Aileen Kim

Gary Koeppel

Avis and Michael Kowalewski

Jody London and Michael Aronson

Susan Marinoff and Tom Schrag

Claire Max

Karen and Keith Miller

Suzanne Mounts

Rachel Phillips

Sandra Ponce

Priscilla Rice

Peter Roshko

Joanne Ruby and Bill Rehm

James Seward

Ellen Shaffer and Joseph Brenner

Renee Sheehan

Peter Smith

Paul Staley

Faye Straus

Mark Sullivan

Brad Thomas

Annie Yamashita

Anonymous

Donations in Honor Of

Nancy Baker – in honor of Catheryn Sproull

Howard Dratch – in honor of Gary Sue Goodman

Judith Justice – in honor of Suzanne Calpestri

Carol Justman – in honor of Risë Justman

Kathleen and John Macy – in honor of Renee Sheehan

Amy Neuburg – in honor of Herb Heinz

Dr. Carla Perissinotto – in honor of all my patients

Elizabeth (Wendy) Pulling – in honor of Karen Garrison

Richard and Idelle Roth – in honor of Petra Fibrichova

Carmen Thompson – in honor of Kerrie Halmi

Steven Tollefsrud – in honor of Lee Tollefsrud

Donations in Memory Of

Shireen Burns – in memory of Garth Burns

Candice Eggerss – in memory of Stanley Lubman

Mary and Stan Friedman – in memory of Stanley Lubman

Janet Hack – in memory of Richard Hack

Laura McNall – in memory of Frieda Dilloo

Adele Moss – in memory of Yoram Litwin

Devan Reiff – in memory of Mabel Weiss

Barbara Selman – in memory of Frieda Dilloo

Robert Stein and Jessica Pers – in memory of Stanley Lubman