Serving Brunch in TO since 2009
The first Porridge for Parkinson’s breakfast in Toronto was held in 2009, and together, we have raised over $1 million in net proceeds, thanks to hundreds of sponsors, donors, guests, volunteers, and of course, our chefs!
2022
A new twist on Porridge for Parkinson’s, the brunch pantry package, was a hot item! Committee members personally delivered over 100 packages across the GTA on Sunday, November 6, 2022.
We remain committed to raising funds for Parkinson’s research and hope to hold an in-person brunch event in 2023.
Support for our “Fund a Fellow” program has been very encouraging – since 2019, we have raised $465,391.93. As Dr. Lang says, “[fellows are] the future of our field, they’re the future of the care we provide, and they’re the future of the research.” Thank you to everyone who contributed to this goal.
Many thanks to our sponsors, donors, brunch purchasers, brunch partners and the supportive team at the UHN Foundation.
Missed this year’s fundraiser? Support Parkinson’s research at UHN at any time via the donate button at the top of the page.
Dollars Raised
2021
Porridge for Parkinson’s 2021 was a delicious success! Four different menus, delivered directly to over 200 homes every Sunday in November. We had many happy moments and encouraging notes and photographs. We’ve shared a lot of these on the @porridgeforparkinsons Instagram account.
We raised over $133,460.14 for Parkinson’s research and enough to fund one Fellow at Edmond J. Safra Program in PD at the Morton and Gloria Shulman Movement Disorders Clinic, Toronto Western Hospital, UHN, led by Dr. Anthony Lang. We are grateful to our sponsors, donors, brunch purchasers, and brunch partners who participated this year.
Dollars Raised
2019
The Porridge for Parkinson’s 2019 brunch was held on Sunday, November 3, 2019 in the fabulous new Locomotive Hall at the Roundhouse. The event featured celebrity chefs and special guests from media and medicine.
The proceeds supported the Parkinson’s Research Excellence Fund at the Edmond J Safra Program, at Krembil Brain Institute, Toronto Western Hospital, UHN run by Dr. Anthony Lang, a rock star in PD Research.
Dollars Raised
2019 Sponsors
Presenting Sponsor
The Cerny Family, in Honour of Isabel M. Cerny
Fellowship Sponsors
Anonymous
Marsha and Aubrey Baillie
Fran and David Brown
Monica and Bradley Martin
Dr Anthony Lang Research Fund Sponsor
The Hopscotch Foundation, in Honour of Isabel M. Cerny
Venue Sponsor
BMO Financial Group
Chef Sponsor
The Purpleville Foundation
Setting the Table Sponsor
Jenny Ginder and John Todd
Feature Family Sponsor
The Glazer Family
Guest Speaker Sponsor
Gluskin Sheff + Associates Inc
Bistro Sponsor
Robert and Fay Kruzel
Brunch Sponsors
Arkin Furrow Estate Law LLP; Esther and Jonathan Dostrovsky
Genova Private Management, Inc.
Bill and Catherine Graham
Deb Voorheis
Porridge Sponsor
Apple and Chris Jackson
Morning Glory Sponsor
Jeanne Armstrong
Wendy and Stephen Cole
Geoff Cornish
Jean Hackett
Donald K. Johnson
LiUNA Local 183
Harry McMurtry
Print Sponsor
The Printing House Limited
2017
Our 10th Anniversary Porridge for Parkinson’s brunch was a huge success! On Sunday, November 12 2017 guests enjoyed a delicious brunch prepared by our wonderful chefs: Jamie Kennedy, Joanne Yolles, Donna Dooher, Joshna Maharaj, Jen Cerny, Noni Castonguay and Sandra Katsiou.
Supporter Robert Fisher emceed the event and Evan Siddall was our inspiring special guest speaker.
Chef Joshna Maharaj
2015
Porridge for Parkinson’s 2015 was held at the Vaughan Estate. The event was sold out and 300 guests enjoyed fabulous breakfast cuisine prepared by our wonderful chefs.
Longtime Porridge for Parkinson’s friend Jeanne Beker was again our emcee and our special guest Harry McMurtry delivered an inspiring speech titled “Things Can be Better”.
Thanks to our generous donors and supporters our net proceeds far exceeded our target of $200,000.
2013
The 4th Biennial Porridge for Parkinson’s Toronto was held on Sunday, November 3, 2013, at the elegant Vaughan Estate in Toronto. The fabulous food included delicious wild blueberry pancakes from Donna Dooher, Jamie Kennedy’s famous porridge, Joanne Yolles’s delectable fruit parfaits, Derek Bendig’s yummy cheese omelettes, and tasty treats from StirCrazy catering. Our online sale, silent auction, and the live auction were sold out. Thanks to all the chefs, Emcee Jeanne Beker, our many patrons and donors and everyone who attended.
We would like to also thank our guest speaker Dr. Edward Fon, Associate Professor Neurology and Neurosurgery, and Director of the McGill Parkinson Program at McGill University. Dr. Fon was our guest speaker and spoke about his impressive work. His work in identifying a particular type of enzyme which affects Parkinson Disease inspired all those in attendance. Dr. Fon was the recipient of the 2012 Porridge for Parkinson’s (Toronto) Pilot Project Grant.
The 2015 event raised over $150,000 to support research programs at Parkinson Canada.
2011
The 3rd Biennial Porridge for Parkinson’s Toronto in November 2011 was a huge success raising over $92,000. Our 300 guests feasted on delicious breakfast delicacies including Jamie Kennedy’s porridge, Joanne Yolles’s breakfast parfaits, Martin Kouprie and Derek Bendig’s cheese omelettes and Mildred Pierce Group’s pancakes with blueberry sauce.
Emcee Robert Fisher of CBC Radio One, 99.1 introduced guest speaker Dr Michael Schlossmacher, recipient of the first Porridge for Parkinson’s (Toronto) Pilot Project Grant (2009), through Parkinson Society Central and Northern Ontario. Martha Johnson of “Martha and the Muffins” sang “Echo Beach,” and “Moon River” and some more contemporary hits including “Life’s too Short to Long for Something Else.”
The committee’s goal was to double our 2009 earnings of $45,000. This goal was handily achieved with over $92,000 to support research programs at Parkinson Canada.
Chef Jamie Kennedy
2009
The first Toronto Porridge for Parkinson’s event was held in 2009 and has been held biennially since. Featuring local celebrity chefs and special guests from media and medicine, Porridge for Parkinson’s Toronto has raised over $1-million for Parkinson’s research.
Chefs Joanne Yolles and Jamie Kennedy
Speakers & Chefs
Chef Spotlight: Paula Navarette
Paula Navarette is a chef, food aficionado, and chocolatier. 2023 is her first year on the P4P chef team.
Chef Spotlight: Anthony Rose
Chef Anthony Rose gets rave reviews in the culinary community.
Emcee Extraordinare: Jeanne Beker
Jeanne Beker is Porridge for Parkinson’s 2023 emcee extraordinaire.
Special Guest: Harry Forestell
Porridge for Parkinson’s welcomes Harry Forestell as our special guest speaker this November.
Brunch is Back
Porridge for Parkinson’s is thrilled to announce that our fundraising brunch is back—and it’s shaping up to be the biggest yet!
Chocolatier Extraordinaire: Kata Ambrus
In 2020, Kata Ambrus opened Chocolat de Kat in the St. Clair West neighbourhood. Each bonbon is like a tiny piece of edible art.
Chef Spotlight: Chef John Horne
Chef John Horne, District Executive Chef, at Oliver & Bonacini. In his role at O&B, John oversees the culinary direction of the company’s portfolio, including Canoe, Biff’s Bistro, and Auberge du Pommier.
Restaurant Profile: Parallel Bros
This month marks the fourth anniversary of Parallel, a popular middle-eastern restaurant in the Junction neighbourhood that showcases sesame butter or tahini in its many delicious forms.
Chef Spotlight: Yoni Kamil
This November, Chef Yoni Kamil, the owner of Lev Bakery, will be deliciously satisfying our cravings with his decadent babka.
Chef Spotlight: Donna Dooher
Donna Dooher has been a prominent part of Toronto’s restaurant scene since she opened the Mildred Pierce Restaurant in 1989. Today, Mildred’s Temple Kitchen, is a showcase for her passion for locally sourced, seasonal ingredients.
Chef Spotlight: Joanne Yolles
Joanne Yolles has been an active member of Porridge for Parkinson’s since 2007. She was well known for her amazing desserts at Scaramouche and Pangaea before becoming an instructor at George Brown Chef School.
Ben Stecher: 2019 Guest Speaker
Ben Stecher is a writer, speaker, advocate and consultant on neurodegenerative diseases; he was diagnosed with Parkinson’s at age 29.