22 Fox Focus | Community A Favorite Breakfast Inspires a Campus Tradition — and Supports Research
By Liv Newlon
One of Team Fox ’ s most popular and enduring fundraising events began with a college admissions essay written by a high school student hoping to gain a spot at the University of Virgina ( UVA ) in 2002 . When asked her favorite word , Mary Yonkman turned hers — pancake — into an essay discussing the importance of gathering the community and promising to host a pancake event for a good cause on UVA ’ s lawn if she was admitted .
When she was admitted and joined her class at UVA , Mary turned her promise into reality , organizing Pancakes for Parkinson ’ s ( P4P ), with funds raised going to The Michael J . Fox Foundation to support research . The first event in 2004 began inauspiciously , with a hurricane threatening its cancellation and fire safety regulations causing new griddles to be provided at the last minute . But sunshine and good will prevailed , and it came off without a hitch , with the community raising over $ 6,000 .
Now in its 20th year , P4P at UVA is a staple of the campus calendar , attracting thousands
Above : Serving pancakes on the lawn is a staple of UVA ’ s fall calendar .
Left : Daytime TV host Rachael Ray hosted P4P ’ s founder Mary Yonkman in 2007 — with a surprise visit from Michael J . Fox . ( Courtesy Rachael Ray Show )
of students and friends each year to enjoy pancakes on the lawn . It remains entirely student-run , with 50 to 100 students working at the event during homecoming weekend in October . By 2018 , it surpassed $ 100,000 in funds raised in a single year . To date , P4P has raised over $ 850,000 for Parkinson ’ s research .
Along the way , P4P has become a model for student-led participation in fundraising for PD research , with more than a dozen universities and communities across the U . S . following UVA ’ s example .
“ This event has been emblematic of what Team Fox is about , and I have always kept that kernel of magic with me as I tell new Team Fox members what they can make possible ,” says Liz Diemer , MJFF ’ s vice president of community fundraising and a UVA graduate .