OC500 2025: HAWKEN MILLER & DEBRA MILLER

HAWKEN MILLER 

CONTENT MARKETING SPECIALIST 

PERMOBIL 

DEBRA MILLER 

FOUNDER/CEO 

CUREDUCHENNE 

WHY: Hawken Miller is the son of Paul and Debra Miller, couple who started CureDuchenne in 2003 after Hawken was diagnosed with Duchenne muscular dystrophy. Newport Beach-based global nonprofit CureDuchenne uses the funds raised to drive groundbreaking research and essential care for other young men affected by Duchenne.  

IN THE NEWS: CureDuchenne raised more than $550K at 14th annual CureDuchenne Golf Shootout. Hawken spoke at the 11th Annual Napa at Pendry Newport Beach, which raised $1.1M to fund research and improve care for Duchenne muscular dystrophy, about his hopes for a future free from Duchenne. Opened CureDuchenne Clinic at the CHOC Center for Children’s Health in Irvine, which is backed by $1.5M grant by CureDuchenne over three years.  

NOTABLE: Millers have brought many firsts to the Duchenne community, including a Duchenne-focused venture philanthropy model, an annual nationwide community education event, a Duchenne Physical Therapy Certification program and CureDuchenne Link, a centralized data hub. CureDuchenne employs a venture philanthropy model to find and fund third-party companies developing Duchenne drugs and treatments. Debra had prior experience working for technology publications and has said she received solid entrepreneurial training while managing the southwest region for PC Magazine. Hawken draws parallels between life of Mats Steen, young Norwegian man with the muscle disease and whose life as a gamer was featured in the Netflix documentary, “The Remarkable Life of Ibelin.”

QUOTABLE: “I dream of a life like everyone else’s. I want to fall in love, get married and have a family. But right now, Duchenne is stealing that possibility from too many young men.” — Hawken Miller Leader Board