Jog for Jim 5K
"Outpacing Parkinson's"

About Jim Warsaw

Jim Warsaw is recognized around the world for his pioneering efforts in the sports business industry. Before founding the Warsaw Sports Marketing Center at the University of Oregon’s Lundquist College of Business, Jim was the president of Sports Specialties Corporation. The company was the world’s largest licensed sports headwear company until 1993, when Nike acquired the company. Upon completion of the sale, Sporting Goods Magazine recognized Jim as on the Top 75 sports executives in the country.

In late 1993, Jim was diagnosed with Parkinson’s disease. The diagnoses brought a new focus to his already full life. For the last 13 years Jim has worked diligently to increase funding for Parkinson’s research. He has spoken eloquently before senators and congressmen, advocating increased financial support for National Institutes of Health Research on Parkinson’s.

As one of the founding Board members for the Parkinson’s Alliance, Jim lobbied in Washington D.C. to pass a bi-partisan bill, The Mo Udall Parkinson’s Research and Education Act of 1997, working closely with Senator Paul Wellstone and Senator John McCain, to create the increased development of Parkinson’s research nationwide.

Jim is also the founder of the James H. Warsaw Foundation to Cure Parkinson’s disease and a large supporter of the Michael J Fox Foundation. The mission of each foundation is to aggressively pursue a cure for Parkinson’s disease. Based on reports from the National Institute of Health, it is anticipated that a cure can be found within 3 – 5 years. The Foundation’s efforts in finding a cure for Parkinson’s will be met by providing funds to doctors, scientists, and researchers to support their efforts.

Recognizing the power of collaboration, the Foundation to Cure Parkinson's disease will also strive to work with other organizations whose mission is to eradicate this disease.

Jim also sits on the California Parkinson’s Leadership Caucus Board in Sacramento, which was instrumental in the passage of Prop 71 in California. At the University of California, Irvine, he is not only a longtime supporter of its basketball and baseball programs, but he is also a board member of the UCI Athletic Director’s Advisory Board. Beyond athletics Jim is also a member of the Chancellor’s Club, the UCI College of Medicine’s NeuroScience Board, and a founding member of the UCI Parkinson’s disease Task Force. UCI’s nationally renowned Brain Imaging Center awarded Jim the prestigious Silver Ribbon Award for his outspoken advocacy and increased research to cure Parkinson’s disease.

In the Pacific Northwest, Jim is a member of the Neuroscience committee at Oregon Health Science University in Portland. Jim has participated in extensive research with Dr. Jay Nutt at the Parkinson’s Center of Oregon, whish has benefited CPP. Jim also has works with the Northwest Parkinson’s Foundation in Seattle.

Jim also works closely with the Michael J Fox Foundation and its Team Fox iniatiative. Michael J. Fox, who also suffers from Parkinson's disease, recently said, "The war on Parkinson's is a war we will win in the near future and I am going to be a part of that victory." Partnering with Fox and leading scientists, Jim is hopeful that we will accelerate the cure through collaboration.

Jim and his wife of 28 years, Ellyne, have three sons Bryan, Zak, and Kyle who are the pride of their family. His family resides in Newport Beach, California.