Gibson will receive the award Nov. 21 in St. Louis. His Farmington Hills center reported more than 1,200 participants by October 2026 as a $30 million expansion campaign continued.
The Kirk Gibson Center for Parkinson's Wellness opened in Farmington Hills in October 2025. Gibson will receive the Musial Award for Extraordinary Character on Nov. 21, 2026, for his work supporting people with Parkinson's disease.
By October 2026, participation had already passed the center's first-year target.
The center reported more than 1,200 participants, above an earlier projection of 800 by year-end. In October, it launched the Inspiring Hope campaign with a $30 million goal. At the time of the announcement, $15.5 million had been raised. The campaign is intended to expand wellness programming built around movement and cognitive health, while adding educational resources and support for families.
The center is at 31440 Northwestern Highway in Farmington Hills. The organization calls it Michigan's first specialized center of its kind to offer these programs free of charge. Residents seeking local civic information about the site can consult the City of Farmington Hills and Oakland County government portals.
Gibson was diagnosed with Parkinson's disease in 2015. The Kirk Gibson Foundation for Parkinson's was established afterward to improve quality of life through programs based on physical activity. The center offers free programming and services for people with Parkinson's. It opened a multipurpose gymnasium in 2026. Earlier projections cited in the original announcement anticipated further membership growth; the October update reported that participation had surpassed the initial year-end target.
Recent seven-figure gifts to the campaign include $1 million from Rocket Companies executive Jay Farner. The broader fundraising effort is meant to support the center's growth and expand services for people with Parkinson's and their families.
Gibson, 69, grew up in Waterford and played football and baseball at Michigan State. He played in the major leagues from 1979 to 1995, winning two World Series titles. He also received an MVP award and a Silver Slugger, and helped the Tigers win the 1984 championship.
His best-known moment came four years later with the Los Angeles Dodgers. Hobbling to the plate as a pinch-hitter in Game 1 of the 1988 World Series, he hit a walk-off home run against Oakland A's closer Dennis Eckersley. It was Gibson's only at-bat in that series.
The Musial Awards announced Gibson's honor on Oct. 12. The ceremony at Stifel Theatre in St. Louis will also recognize tennis trailblazer Billie Jean King with the Stan Musial Lifetime Achievement Award. Maryville University presents the awards, which are endorsed by the Musial family. A one-hour television special is scheduled to air on CBS on Dec. 26.
Gibson later managed teams. He also coached and worked as a broadcaster. His current work includes a direct support network for people in the region living with Parkinson's, with programs aimed at helping participants maintain independence and improve their quality of life.
