About Us

Who we are?

We are a 501(3)c non-profit organization, co-founded by Karen Barbour, The Barbour Group and W. Lee Gaines, Gaines & Company, Inc., to raise funds at oure annual Party For A Cure to benefit individuals living in Maryland with muscular dystrophy, ALS and related life threatening diseases that limit strength and mobility. Together, we can help free kids and adults from the harm of these muscle debilitating diseases by funding research breakthroughs across diseases, caring for individuals from day one, and empowering family with services and support in our hometowns.

PFAC was initially hosted by the Muscular Dystrophy of Baltimore from 2008 until 2017 when PFAC incorporated as a non-profit organization. Since the gala’s inception in 2008, we have raised over $1,200,000 thanks to all our loyal supporters. Our volunteer board makes certain that we directly give back to Maryland families in need, as well as support research and summer camp activities for MDA of Baltimore. We have used proceeds to make major renovations to homes for accessibility and for structural stability, repaired and provided for new medical equipment, enabled children to attend summer camp, and fund vital research to find treatments and cures.

From 2008 to 2017, Jennifer Fox of Fox45 news was our Mistress of Ceremonies. In 2018, Bruce Cunningham of Fox 45 News stepped in for Jennifer. In 2019, Denise Koch of WJZ TV happily assumed the role of Mistress of Ceremonies. Please see bios of our gracious emcees – Click Here.

Party For A Cure was co-founded by Karen Barbour, The Barbour Group, LLC and by W. Lee Gaines, Gaines and Co., Inc. Lee Gaines retired from the board in 2016 at our 8th annual event. Since 2016, Joe Laney of M.T. Laney Company, Inc., and John Vardavas of Value Point Valuations, Inc. joined as board members to help carry on our mission and advocacy.

Party For A Cure is proud to support Darren Guest, member and artist extraordinaire.  Darren was featured on the WJZ News in MD by Denise Koch, avid supporter of Party For A Cure.

Darren Guest of DarrenGuestStudios is a visual artist. Native to Baltimore, Maryland, Guest has had an unending passion for art and is no stranger to adversity and overcoming. Having been in a motorized wheelchair since the age of six, with Muscular Dystrophy (MD)—the disease that weakens the muscles that make the human body move—Guest’s spirit is anything but weakened. And in his words, he does not consider himself as having a disability. He simply has a different ability.