Top Left: (From left) Laurie Gordon, Judy and Bernard (seated) Briskin and May and Richard Ziman. Top Right: (From left): Johnese Spisso, Dr. Kelsey C. Martin, Chancellor Gene D. Block, Steven and Laurie Gordon and Dr. John C. Mazziotta. Middle Left: (From left) Taylor Walpert, Stacey Gordon, Saree Solanki, Steven Gordon, Florence Gordon, Laurie Gordon and Charlie Gray. Middle Right: (From left) Meyer Luskin, Steven Gordon and Ralph Shapiro. Bottom Left: (From left) Shari and Garen Staglin. Bottom Right: (From left) Henry Gluck, Tracey Gluck, Arline Gluck and Candy Spelling. Photos: Jessie Cowan
On March 18, 2019, longtime UCLA friends Laurie and Steven Gordon were honored for their $25 million commitment to fight Parkinson’s disease. Held at the newly named UCLA Laurie and Steven C. Gordon Neuroscience Research Building, the celebratory event was attended by family, friends, loyal UCLA supporters and UCLA campus leadership — including UCLA Chancellor Gene D. Block; Dr. John C. Mazziotta (RES ’81, FEL ’83), vice chancellor of UCLA Health Sciences and CEO of UCLA Health; Dr. Kelsey C. Martin, dean of the David Geffen School of Medicine at UCLA and Gerald S. Levey, M.D., Endowed Chair; and Johnese Spisso, president of UCLA Health, CEO of the UCLA Hospital System and associate vice chancellor of UCLA Health Sciences.
“The Gordons are influential advocates for families affected by Parkinson’s disease, and we are grateful for their dedication to improving the lives and health of people suffering from the disease,” Dr. Mazziotta said.
This gift complements previous giving by the Gordons to support Parkinson’s research at UCLA. “I have seen Parkinson’s strike people I love and many more. This is a cause I am passionate about and proud to champion,” Steven Gordon said.
The contribution created the UCLA Laurie and Steven Gordon Commitment to Cure Parkinson’s Disease, which will accelerate research into the disorder that affects more than 10 million people around the world and fund essential imaging equipment. It also will establish five endowed chairs in fields related to Parkinson’s, bringing the couple’s total to six endowed chairs in this area.
The Gordons hope other philanthropists will join them in their quest to improve the understanding of Parkinson’s and develop new treatments. “One of the most fulfilling aspects of our philanthropy is its ability to inspire hope in families who have been affected by diseases of the brain,” Laurie Gordon said.
The Gordons are steadfast supporters of programs across the UCLA campus, including depression and neuroscience training and research.
For more information, contact Karen Colimore at: 310-267-0496
