“Everyone was great and nice and listened if you needed to talk.”
Amber Hayes – Copperhill, TN
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Recent News on Chattanooga Ronald McDonald House Charities
Volkswagen car show benefits Ronald McDonald HouseWRCBtv.com | Chattanooga News, Weather CHATTANOOGA, TN (WRCB) -- For Volkswagen enthusiasts, it doesn't get much better than a Bug-a-Palooza car show that includes hundreds of VW cars. "They come from all over; we've had them come as far as Mexico, Canada," says Randy Schneck with Scenic City Volks Folks. All proceeds from the car show benefit the Ronald McDonald House. "This past year we actually were able to donate $20,000 to them," Schneck says. "That helps us bring comfort and care to families of critically ill children," Jules Kinder, with the Ronald McDonald House, says. The Cofield family knows first hand how the Ronald McDonald House can help. "Back in October our daughter was kicked in the face by a horse, had a traumatic brain injury," Cofield explains. They stayed in the Ronald McDonald House for 10 days while their young daughter, Greer, was in and out of surgery. "Until you live it you don't understand it," says Shannon Cofield. "The Ronald McDonald House was there when we had no place to stay." Now the Cofields plan to give back to an organization they say helped them a ton. "For us as a family, the Ronald McDonald House is a part of our family now," Cofield says. The Ronald McDonald house serves about 600 local families a year. Ronald McDonald Festival Gives Families Peace Of Mind Strip away the face painting, and the horse rides, and the carnival games, and the Ronald McDonald festival is about one thing: healing. "We get to see the kids out having fun and being healthy, which is something we don't always get to see on the other side of that," says Morgan Capps with the Ronald McDonald House. Children like Tyler Sears, born with half a heart, getting a chance to just be a kid. "He's had 24 surgeries and six open hearts, so to come out to this event as a family and to enjoy him, to actually be seeing him walking around and playing with the other kids and interacting is just great," says Tyler's dad Todd. "Getting out and playing with other kids is great for his development because even though he's six, he's mentally a two year old from all the surgeries and hospital stays he's had, so just being a normal kid is just fabulous for recovery, and growth and mental health," adds Tyler's mom Tammy. And even his sister Tabby gets to have some fun too. "She helps out with brother, with helping feed him and hold his hands and taking him on some of the rides here," says Todd. And some of those who spent time at the house even come out...to help out. "My grandson never walked, never talked, his brain never developed. Hospice arranged for us to be at Ronald McDonald house where he wouldn't die at home. We were there 14 days. The people there were awesome, to be in such a bad situation, was a good situation. It's a wonderful feeling. You see those kids are so happy and their parents are so thankful, you sometimes feel very very fortunate, very blessed," says Ronald McDonald House volunteer Frances Dickerson. Organizers hope the fundraiser will bring in more than 60 thousand dollars. Local Celebrities Will Collect Money For Ronald McDonald Charities June 1 (reprinted from Chattanoogan.com) Ronald McDonald House Charities of Greater Chattanooga announced the “Join Us For 1- Day of Giving” campaign on June 1, from 7-10:30 a.m. at area McDonald’s and Regions Banks, to encourage people to donate their extra change to help families with critically ill or injured children. Dozens of local celebrity volunteers will be at various locations with donation buckets in hand, urging customers to give their dime, quarter, nickel or penny to help the cause. Confirmed list of volunteers include: members of the Chattanooga Fire Department, Dalton Fire Department, Catoosa County Fire Department, University of Tennessee at Chattanooga Coaches Wes Moore, John Schulman and Russ Huesman, Signal Mountain School Cheerleaders, Hixson High School Football team and many more. For Ronald McDonald House Charities® (RMHC®) it all started with one: one child who needed health care, one family who hoped to stay nearby and one community who came together to build the first Ronald McDonald House®. And, just one penny can make a difference today in the lives of children and families. Last year alone, this one day effort to collect spare change raised more than $4,000 locally. These funds help support programs at Chattanooga Ronald McDonald House that improve the health and well-being of children. One of these cornerstone programs is the Ronald McDonald House, a “home away from home,” for up to 600 families with critically ill children per year; a place of comfort that allows families to give 100 percent of their time to their children so they can heal faster and cope better. In fact, one full Donation Box could provide a safe place to stay in a Ronald McDonald House for up to one night. Reprinted from Chattanoogan.com Parents Of 6-Year-Old With Eye Tumor Featured During Ronald McDonald House Telethon
The Hassevoorts are among several families that will share their story during the live telecast of the RMHC Annual Telethon on WTVC, NewsChannel 9 Saturday, March 3. Darrin and Christine Hassevoort with their children Ian and Sophie. Darrin and Christine Hassevoort are among 21,000 visitors who seek respite each year in the Ronald McDonald Family Room located inside Children’s Hospital at Erlanger. The Ronald McDonald Family Room is one of three cornerstone programs operated by Ronald McDonald House Charities of Greater Chattanooga. The Ronald McDonald Family Room is a place where families can rest and regroup right in the hospital close to their sick child. The Hassevoorts are among several families that will share their story during the live telecast of the RMHC Annual Telethon on WTVC, NewsChannel 9. The Telethon airs on Saturday from 7-11 p.m.
Ronald McDonald House Charities of Greater Chattanooga announces 2012 fundraising events. Click here to download a copy. Ronald McDonald House Re-Opening This Week - Click Here To Read Full Article
2011 Donations to Chattanooga Ronald McDonald House Charities Highlight Strength In Numbers in Community Support In 2011, hundreds of families in the Tennessee Valley and beyond found strength and support while dealing with critically ill children because of generous individual and corporate donors to Ronald McDonald House Charities® (RMHC®) of Greater Chattanooga. Although McDonald's® is the Charity's largest corporate donor, RMHC relies on strength in numbers in community, individual and corporate supporters, to deliver its programs to hundreds of families each day. This year alone, contributions have helped RMHC of Greater Chattanooga provide a “home away from home” for an average of 50 families per month, offer respite in the Ronald McDonald Family Room to 1,833 guests a month, help 645 children exercise using SmartMoovz fitness and nutritional program and award 40 local high school seniors with $40,000 in scholarships during their first year in college. RMHC is everybody’s Charity and support for its programs and services extend far beyond the McDonald's community. In 2011:
"We are grateful for the community partnerships with area businesses and the generosity of individuals. There is tremendous power in our donors working together so a child can have access to the medical services they need as well as have their parents close by to give them hugs, kisses and, most importantly, love, which helps them cope better and recover faster," Jane Kaylor, executive director, RMHC of Greater Chattanooga. Thank you for supporting the "Join Us for 1" Campaign. Your efforts and support helped us to raise more than $10,000 locally to help children and families at your Chattanooga Ronald McDonald House. View Photo Highlights from "Join Us For 1" Lake Winnepesaukah raises nearly $18,000 in support of families at RMHC
Dillard's Donates Funds from cookbook sales to RMHC of Greater Chattanooga
Do you have an RMHC story of strength, support and hope that you would like to share? Share your story and inspire others.
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2011 Form 990
Audited Financial Statements 2010
Annual Report 2011
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