Producer Jenifer Westphal Announces Parkinson’s Diagnosis, $1M Donation to Michael J. Fox Foundation

Jenifer Westphal, founder and CEO of production studio Wavelength, has been diagnosed with Parkinson’s, and is using the moment to support research into the disease.

The producer — who has been behind projects including 2018’s Won’t You Be My Neighbor? and the upcoming On Swift Horses, as well as Broadway hits like The Outsiders and Burlesque — received her diagnosis on Aug. 15, 2024 and is going public now, while also donating $1 million to The Michael J. Fox Foundation for Parkinson’s Research.

The gift, announced during Parkinson’s Disease Awareness Month, will support research that advances more precise and personalized treatments, including efforts to develop a simple diagnostic test for early detection. Westphal, whose career has been focused on supporting underrepresented storytellers, is also drawing attention to the impact Parkinson’s has on women — approximately 40 percent of people living with the disease are women and their experiences are typically quite different from men.

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“Women are often overlooked when it comes to being diagnosed, and in their own awareness of the risks and symptoms of the disease,” Westphal said in a statement. “By partnering with the Michael J. Fox Foundation, which does incredible work driving resources and awareness to Parkinson’s, we can hopefully reach more people and bring us closer to the ultimate goal of finding a cure.”

Westphal has long been involved in the philanthropic space, with her family’s foundation investing millions in education initiatives; she has also been a supporter of organizations that empower neurodiverse people, as well as of community impact projects, land conservation efforts and mental health advocacy. And the Michael J. Fox Foundation, now in its 25th year, is a leader in Parkinson’s research, funding over $2 billion in studies and accelerating 19 new treatments to market.

“Thanks to the generosity of our supporters like Jenifer, the Michael J. Fox Foundation is closer than ever to improved treatments and a cure for the millions of people and families living with Parkinson’s,” said Lisa Boudreau, MJFF chief development officer. “With Jenifer’s tremendous gift, remarkable storytelling and shared vision for what’s possible when we work together, we’re seizing on today’s Parkinson’s research momentum and pipeline with urgency and optimism.”