As we celebrate the incredible milestone of 10 years since the first PFP class was taught in Austin, it seems only fitting to share more about how this beloved organisation was brought to life and to spotlight our incredible co-founder, Susan Stahl!! Hearing all about PFP’s journey and growth from Susan highlights just how much love forms the foundation of Power for Parkinson’s and continues to propel this organisation forward as it gains more and more momentum each year.

Susan and Nina have been friends for close to 30 years, since their children were two years old!! Early on in their friendship, Susan’s dad, who lived in Dallas at the time, was diagnosed with Parkinson’s. As his PD progressed, they decided it would be best for him to move to Austin to be closer to Susan and her family. As Susan watched her father’s condition decline, she would often ask herself how she could slow this process down as he had previously been a very active man prior to his Parkinson’s diagnosis. Susan’s father informed everything that PFP initially was, and she still thinks of him now every time she sits down to work on a PFP project, imagining what an avid participant he would be in the community if he were still with us. Just a month after Susan’s father passed, in early 2012, she and Nina were meeting up to explore their idea of how to fill the gap of providing regular, targeted movement for people with Parkinson’s in the Austin area.

Since the early days of PFP, where three classes were offered in three different parts of the city under the umbrella of Capital Area Parkinson’s Society (CAPS), the model of our organisation has changed very little. Susan & Nina always wanted PFP classes to be inclusive to all; to bring the classes to where people are rather than making them travel great distances; to involve caregivers; and to always be free of charge. This model has shaped the growth of PFP right to this day and now even includes bringing classes to participants virtually!! Soon after beginning PFP classes, Susan and Nina very quickly knew that they were going to be successful, as people would come to one class and immediately become hooked!! Participants shared that they loved how inclusive classes were and the sense of belonging that they immediately felt from the community!!

After two years of operating under CAPS, Susan and Nina had bigger dreams for PFP, so they started their own non-profit, formed a board, hired more instructors, and added more classes to the schedule. From that point on, there was no stopping PFP!! Susan reflects that while she knew PFP would be extremely helpful for people physically, she didn’t anticipate or appreciate how valuable the sense of community that came as the organisation grew would be. This is part of what makes PFP so special, the support that participants receive as well as the comfort family members experience knowing that their loved ones are a part of such a wonderful community!!

In the early days of PFP, both Susan and Nina wore a million different hats as Executive Directors. Neither of them had any experience in the nonprofit world, but they had great mentors and a whole heap of passion and drive. Susan feels so blessed to have created PFP alongside Nina and feels their friendship has only grown as PFP has gone from strength to strength!! In 2017 Susan made the decision to move away from the day-to-day operations of PFP and moved into the role of Board Chair, where she now endeavours to support PFP in growing strategically to fulfil its mission. Looking ahead in 2023, Susan’s focus is to continue to grow PFP to be the best program to enhance the lives of people with PD. She sees her role as keeping the organisation focused on aligning with its mission as we grow and also to support Nina and the office staff in any way that she can. She is so excited for this year’s 10 year Birthday Bash and is looking forward to celebrating all that PFP has achieved and accomplished in the last 10 years, something that she knows deeply that her father would be so proud of. 

There is no doubt that PFP plays a huge role in Susan’s life, but when she is not focussing on all things Power for Parkinson’s, she loves exercising, cooking, and eating out and has decided that 2023 will be the year that she learns how to play the piano!! She also volunteers twice a week at the Jewish Community Centre in Austin, working in the infant room of their daycare centre.

Susan’s passion and commitment to Power for Parkinson’s just radiate out of her when she reflects on how this idea, born over coffee with her good friend Nina, has expanded to now serving people across the country and the world!! She works not only for our current participants, but also for future participants that have not even been diagnosed yet, striving to create a program that will support and serve people for many many more years to come. To have maintained such drive and dedication to the organisation for 10 years now is absolutely awe-inspiring Susan and we are just so grateful for all that you and Nina have poured into PFP!! Thank you!!