Parkinson's Boxing

Business

Dean Eoannou and Casey Cefalu are the inspiring father-daughter duo behind a groundbreaking rehabilitation program for Parkinson’s and other neurological diseases. What began in the dark, dingy basement of an old gym has blossomed into an 8,500-square-foot facility and a growing movement that has transformed countless lives.

Dean, a seasoned boxing coach with a passion for people, and Casey, with her entrepreneurial spirit and compassionate heart, have fused the key principles of boxing—mobility, balance, and strength—into an effective method for alleviating symptoms.

“When we started, I didn’t know where to begin. But seeing the changes in our clients, like the people going from not being able to stand to running, changed everything for me. It’s been incredible to see the impact,” Dean said.

Today, Parkinson’s Boxing provides more than a regimen for hope; it is a place where miracles happen every day, and clients become fighters — fighting to reclaim their dignity and way of life.

Challenge

From the start, word quickly spread about the success and positive results coming out of Parkinson’s Boxing. While the growth was encouraging, rapid expansion posed significant business challenges for Dean and Casey. The basement of the old gym was difficult for clients to access, and the program’s increasing notoriety led to a surge in clients. In short, they were quickly running out of room. Dean and Casey needed substantial funding to expand and improve their operations.

However, to see their vision carried through, Dean and Casey needed more than financial backing; they needed a bank that believed in their mission and shared their commitment to impacting the community.

Solution

KeyBank provided the crucial support Dean and Casey needed to overcome their challenges. Bankers created a financial plan that included a commercial real estate loan and a line of credit, enabling the renovation of a brand-new facility. KeyBank offered financial backing and strategic guidance on business planning and community engagement.

One of the KeyBank team members remarked, “They had a phenomenal product. They were phenomenal people, and they had the finances that I could work with. This was not a cookie-cutter deal whatsoever.” Another team member who worked together with Dean and Casey from the beginning and visited the site multiple times to ensure everything was on track, added, “Their passion and commitment to their clients and community are inspiring, and we’re proud to support their success. Seeing their growth and the lives they’ve changed reaffirms why we do what we do.”

Results

With KeyBank’s support, Dean and Casey transformed their rehabilitation program from a small basement into a movement with national and even global momentum.

“KeyBank’s support has been instrumental in our growth. We went from 1,800 square feet to nearly 9,000 square feet,” Casey said.

Their new, state-of-the-art facility now boasts 30 coaches and serves hundreds of clients. Their methods are so effective that they’ve even published data showing an 87% reduction in falls within the first three months of their program, earning recognition from renowned neurologists and a $300,000 fundraising boost from broadcast journalist Leslie Stahl for the Michael J. Fox Foundation.