The Kirk Gibson Foundation will host its "Everybody vs. Parkinson's 2" gala on Saturday, April 10, 2027, at Saint John's Resort in Plymouth, aiming to raise money that could help replicate the Farmington Hills wellness center model in communities across Michigan and beyond.
The fundraiser, reported by ClickOnDetroit, will run from 5 p.m. to 11:30 p.m. and feature dinner, an auction, live entertainment from the Jerry Ross Band and stories from people whose lives the foundation's programming has touched. Individual tickets are $500, with sponsorship packages also available through kirkgibsonfoundation.org.
University of Michigan alumni and identical twin comedians Randy and Jason Sklar will host the evening. The St. Louis-born duo developed their act while students in Ann Arbor and have appeared on Comedy Central, Curb Your Enthusiasm and Better Call Saul.
The gala is a sequel to the original "Everybody versus Parkinson's" event held Oct. 19, 2019, at Motor City Casino, which co-benefited the Kirk Gibson Foundation and the Michigan Parkinson Foundation. The 2027 announcement does not list a co-beneficiary.
Proceeds will fund four areas: advocacy for expanded access to care and research funding, scientific research on exercise and nutrition, replication of the Farmington Hills center in other communities, and expanded programming at the existing facility.
A growing Farmington Hills footprint
The Kirk Gibson Center for Parkinson's Wellness, a 32,000-square-foot facility at 31440 Northwestern Highway, opened in October 2025 as the first of its kind in Michigan. All programs are free. The center now serves more than 1,000 active members participating in boxing, tai chi, dance, adaptive yoga and other movement-based classes, far exceeding its original projection of 800 members by the end of 2026.
About a week before the gala announcement, the center cut the ribbon Aug. 7 on a new 2,700-square-foot gymnasium funded by a $1 million gift from the Daniel J. Loepp Family Foundation, according to SocialHouseNews. The gym is named for Robert A. Loepp Sr., Dan Loepp's late father who lived with Parkinson's for more than a decade.
"This new multipurpose gymnasium will allow us to meet the needs of our rapidly growing membership, and I am grateful for Amy and Dan's generosity which made this opening possible," Gibson said at the Aug. 7 ribbon-cutting.
Gibson, a former Detroit Tigers star, was diagnosed with Parkinson's in 2015 and founded the organization to deliver activity-based programs to people living with the disease. He calls center participants "teammates," and the words "Movement Matters" are painted in large orange cursive letters on the facility's wall.
Upcoming events
- Monday, Aug. 17 — 10th Anniversary Kirk Gibson Foundation Golf Classic
- Saturday, April 10, 2027 — Everybody vs. Parkinson's 2 Gala, 5–11:30 p.m., Saint John's Resort, Plymouth ($500/person; sponsorships available at kirkgibsonfoundation.org)
