|
|
|
Though Paul Ruby of Geneva lives each day with the effects of Parkinson’s disease, you’ll be hard-pressed to get him to lament about his condition.
Instead, the general manager for the Herrington Inn and Spa chooses to remain positive.
“I try to focus on what I can do (rather) than what I can’t do,” he said.
And Ruby has proven what he can do — with a little help from his friends — is quite a bit.
He and his wife, Linda, were the guests of honor at the second annual Michael J. Fox Most Valuable People Awards dinner May 2 in New York City for hosting the country’s largest fundraiser in 2007 for Team Fox, the Michael J. Fox Foundation’s community fundraising program.
Last year’s Paul Ruby Foundation Golf Outing and Concert for a Cure raised more than $70,000 for the foundation.
“We were hoping to raise about $50,000,” Ruby said. “But with the turnout and all the activities we had, we really exceeded our expectations.”
During the awards dinner, the Rubys were seated with Michael J. Fox, and photos from the Paul Ruby Foundation’s fundraiser were featured as part of the evening’s entertainment.
“We had absolutely no clue we were going to be the guests of honor,” Ruby said. “That caught us off-guard.”
Ruby describes Fox as “just how you’d expect.”
“He’s very warm and intelligent and witty, but also very down-to-earth,” he said.
In a press release from the Michael J. Fox Foundation, Fox thanked the Rubys for their fundraising efforts.
“Team Fox means so much to me and to everyone at MJFF,” he said. “It’s really at the heart of what we’re about — making a difference in the millions of lives touched by Parkinson’s disease. The Rubys’ dedication exemplifies that. We can’t thank them enough.”
Ruby was diagnosed in July of 2006 with early-onset Parkinson’s disease. He decided the best way for him to move forward was to create the Paul Ruby Foundation for Parkinson’s Research. The foundation’s mission is to increase awareness about the disease and to raise money for Parkinson’s research through the Michael J. Fox Foundation.
The golf outing and concert, held last August, was the first Paul Ruby Foundation fundraising event, which included the help of 120 volunteers, 144 golfers, 55 caddies, four bands and more than 500 concert-goers.
This year, the Paul Ruby Foundation is partnering with Northwestern Hospital and University for a golf outing in August at Tanna Farms Golf Court, and a concert in September, also at Tanna Farms.
For more information about the Paul Ruby Foundation for Parkinson’s Research or upcoming events, visit www.paulrubyfoundation.org.
Though Paul Ruby of Geneva lives each day with the effects of Parkinson’s disease, you’ll be hard-pressed to get him to lament about his condition.
Instead, the general manager for the Herrington Inn and Spa chooses to remain positive.
“I try to focus on what I can do (rather) than what I can’t do,” he said.
And Ruby has proven what he can do — with a little help from his friends — is quite a bit.
He and his wife, Linda, were the guests of honor at the second annual Michael J. Fox Most Valuable People Awards dinner May 2 in New York City for hosting the country’s largest fundraiser in 2007 for Team Fox, the Michael J. Fox Foundation’s community fundraising program.
Last year’s Paul Ruby Foundation Golf Outing and Concert for a Cure raised more than $70,000 for the foundation.
“We were hoping to raise about $50,000,” Ruby said. “But with the turnout and all the activities we had, we really exceeded our expectations.”
During the awards dinner, the Rubys were seated with Michael J. Fox, and photos from the Paul Ruby Foundation’s fundraiser were featured as part of the evening’s entertainment.
“We had absolutely no clue we were going to be the guests of honor,” Ruby said. “That caught us off-guard.”
Ruby describes Fox as “just how you’d expect.”
“He’s very warm and intelligent and witty, but also very down-to-earth,” he said.
In a press release from the Michael J. Fox Foundation, Fox thanked the Rubys for their fundraising efforts.
“Team Fox means so much to me and to everyone at MJFF,” he said. “It’s really at the heart of what we’re about — making a difference in the millions of lives touched by Parkinson’s disease. The Rubys’ dedication exemplifies that. We can’t thank them enough.”
Ruby was diagnosed in July of 2006 with early-onset Parkinson’s disease. He decided the best way for him to move forward was to create the Paul Ruby Foundation for Parkinson’s Research. The foundation’s mission is to increase awareness about the disease and to raise money for Parkinson’s research through the Michael J. Fox Foundation.
The golf outing and concert, held last August, was the first Paul Ruby Foundation fundraising event, which included the help of 120 volunteers, 144 golfers, 55 caddies, four bands and more than 500 concert-goers.
This year, the Paul Ruby Foundation is partnering with Northwestern Hospital and University for a golf outing in August at Tanna Farms Golf Court, and a concert in September, also at Tanna Farms.
For more information about the Paul Ruby Foundation for Parkinson’s Research or upcoming events, visit www.paulrubyfoundation.org.
