PAUL AND DEBRA MILLER
FOUNDERS
CUREDUCHENNE
WHO: Couple started CureDuchenne in 2003 after their only son, Hawken, was diagnosed with Duchenne muscular dystrophy. There is no cure for the inherited genetic disease, which causes progressive muscle degeneration, leaving patients wheelchair-bound by their mid-teens. Almost all are boys or young men, and most don’t survive their mid-20s.
WHY: 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.
IN THE NEWS: In April, hosted its 10th annual Napa in Newport gala, at the Pendry Newport Beach. The event raised more than $1.35M.
NOTABLE: CureDuchenne employs a venture philanthropy model to find and fund third-party companies developing Duchenne drugs and treatments. “My head was telling me there has to be a plan to this,” Debra Miller previously told the Business Journal. “So, we set out to develop a nonprofit that would operate like a business.” Debra Miller had prior experience working for technology publications and has said she received solid entrepreneurial training while managing the southwest region for PC Magazine. Paul Miller serves as president and COO of Irvine’s Patman Meat Group, a food service firm.
IN THEIR WORDS: “With the significant funds raised at Napa in Newport, we’ve strategically invested in promising research that has significantly driven scientific progress. There is more hope and progress toward a cure than ever before, but we’re not done until everyone with Duchenne has a transformative treatment. This milestone year, we celebrated hope, progress and the unwavering dedication of our community toward finding a cure for all.” —Debra Miller
LEARN MORE: cureduchenne.org
