Stephen Bittel Philanthropy and his Passion to Fight the Parkinson’s Disease
Stephen Bittel can be described as a visionary and a calculative businessman. He is a successful real estate developer in South Florida. He takes on projects aimed at improving the city’s landscape and prospects. Moreover, he is the founder and CEO of Terranova Corporation, which happens to be his latest venture.
However, his vision and love for people led him to donate the largest gift ever to the University of Miami’s Miller School of Medicine—$1 million dollars. With this generous donation, the university created a Division of Movement Disorders to research cures for Parkinson’s disease.
Parkinson’s disease is a degenerative neurological disorder that affects the central nervous system. It is characterized by tremors, rigidity in muscles, slow movements, impaired balance and coordination, and difficulty initiating movement. In addition to its physical symptoms, people with Parkinson’s may experience mental and emotional changes such as hallucinations, depression, anxiety, fatigue, and insomnia.
The Division of Movement Disorders at the University of Miami is one step closer to finding a cure for Parkinson’s. The division also provides education and training to its members, enabling them to maximize their potential in the search for treatment.
Stephen Bittel’s president, Mindy McIlroy, was diagnosed with the disease in 2014. This interested Stephen in the field and encouraged him to partner with the Parkinson’s Foundation. All this was in an attempt to save his president from the disease. Through the organization, they met one of the leading neurologists who helped them design a treatment plan for Mindy.
After getting the treatment plan, they worked to support the Parkinson’s Foundation. Mindy McIlroy was so involved in the organization that she became one of the board members.
During Stephen Bittel’s philanthropic journey, he has helped multiple Parkinson’s Foundation Centers of Excellence globally. To access the funding, these centers must fulfil his strict criteria for care, clinical research, professional training and education outreach.