The post PAN Holds Successful Udall Awards Dinner appeared first on Parkinson's Action Network.
About 300 people joined the Parkinson’s Action Network (PAN) for its annual Morris K. Udall Awards Dinner on Thursday, October 1, 2015.
From L to R: PAN Board Member Morton Kondracke, Illinois State Director Roger Halleen, and PAN CEO Ted Thompson share the stage during the 2015 Morris K. Udall Awards Dinner on October 1.
The Morris K. Udall Award for Public Service, named after the late Congressman who had Parkinson’s disease, was given to three Members of Congress: U.S. Representatives Michael C. Burgess, MD (R-TX), Diana DeGette (D-CO), and Fred Upton (R-MI).
Illinois State Director Roger Halleen was awarded the Milly Kondracke Award for Outstanding Advocacy.
The attendees also heard a fascinating and entertaining discussion between PAN Board Member Morton Kondracke and Francis S. Collins, MD, PhD, director of the National Institutes of Health.
In addition to raising critical funds for PAN’s mission, attendees raised money for the 2016 Forum Scholarship Fund. PAN advocate, Brian Somma, of California gave an impassioned speech about the importance of the PAN Forum and how donating to the scholarship fund will ensure more advocates from more states can attend, meet their Members of Congress, and bring that information back to their communities.
PAN thanks the sponsors, attendees, and all the donors who made the night a success. With their generous gifts, PAN can chart a strong future for Parkinson’s advocacy in 2016, our 25th year, and beyond.