News & Events
Saturday, April 4 11:00 a.m. – 1:00 p.m.
 The University of Kentucky Alpha Delta Pi Sorority will conduct their first “Ron-a-Thon” event. It is anticipated that over 100 ADPi members and their parents will be walking from the ADPi sorority house over to the Ronald McDonald House that morning. Each participant in the walk will be making a $20 donation to RMHC of the Bluegrass and they will each carry with them a “Wish List” item for the new Ronald McDonald Family Room. Ronald McDonald himself, along with staff and volunteers of RMHC will greet the girls and their parents when they arrive at the House.
 Friday, April 17 Noon – last race
RMHC once again hosts its popular Keeneland “Day at the Races” event. Guests will enjoy live thoroughbred racing viewed from the comfort of the beautiful Kentucky Room overlooking Keeneland’s track. A delicious buffet lunch is part of the ticket price. Tickets are limited, so please make your reservation today ($75 per person / $125 per person for window seating.) Call Debbie Radcliffe at 859-268-0747 to make your credit card reservation by phone.
Sunday, April 19 2:05 p.m.
 The Ronald McDonald House Charities® of the Bluegrass will be featured as the “Community Organization of the Night” at the Lexington Legends baseball game at Applebee’s Park in Lexington. RMHC will have a fun information booth set up near the main entrance where we will be giving away FREE “swag” for those who play our “McTrivia” game. Just look for Ronald McDonald® and you will find our booth! Six year old, Bryce Dempsey from Pikeville, KY will throw out the first pitch at the game. Bryce’s family stayed at the Ronald McDonald House® six years ago when he was born prematurely.
Come help us cheer Bryce on as we celebrate the 25th Anniversary of the Ronald McDonald House in Lexington. For ticket information, please visit: www.lexingtonlegends.com.
Tuesday, April 21 6-7 p.m.
Every third Tuesday starting April 21, Debbi Morris a.k.a. “The Fru-Gal” (http://the-fru-gal.blogspot.com/) will be at the Ronald McDonald House from 6:00 to 7:00 for an informative group discussion on couponing, budgeting, rebating and lots more! The event is free, but Debbi asks that each attendant RSVP and bring a “Wish List” item to help the Ronald McDonald House (visit our How to Help section to see our Wish Lists). The Fru Gal event at the Ronald McDonald House will be a great way to learn and save $$, but will also help RMHC. Attendance is limited, so please call Travis Goodyear at 268-4486 for registration.
Friday, April 24 7 – 11 p.m.
“STOKE II” a premium cigar tasting event will be held at Fasig-Tipton, Newtown Paddocks in Lexington. Each attendee will be provided with premium cigars, “Signature” and complimentary bars, heavy hors d’oeuvres, jazz music and the opportunity to bid on unique auction items.
Only 250 tickets at a price of $200 each are being sold to this event. Tickets will be allocated on a “first come, first serve basis”. Those interested in attending should respond to smokeone@burningstickfoundation.org as soon as possible so their names can be placed on the reservation list. Upon release of the tickets about March 1 respondents will be given the opportunity to purchase (check only) in the order their names were received.
Proceeds from this event help several local charities including the Ronald McDonald House. STOKE II will help raise $5,000 to help “adopt” two guest rooms at the Ronald McDonald House for a 12-month term assisting with the annual expenses of operating the rooms (cleaning supplies, toiletries, utilities, linens, etc.)
Sunday, April 26
This is the deadline date to sign up for “Roc the Cure” at Immanuel Baptist Church on Tates Creek Road. The event will be held on Saturday, May 16 beginning at 10 a.m. and the entry fee is only $10 per person (which includes a free t-shirt and lunch following the walk.) 100% of the proceeds will be split between the Markey Cancer Center and the Ronald McDonald House in Lexington. For more information contact Sharlena Ralph (sharlenar@ibc-lex.org or call 859-685-3305.)
Register at: http://www.ibc-lex.org/ministry.php?section=recreation&topic=rocthecure_form
Monday, April 27 6-9 p.m.
The Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Bluegrass says “thank you” to its many hardworking and dedicated volunteers at the “Volunteer Appreciation Event” to be held at the historic Limestone Club in downtown Lexington. The event features Hors d’oeuvres by Jimmy D’s Café, cocktails, door prizes and the announcement of the 2009 “Volunteer of the Year.” The event is free for RMHC volunteers, but reservations must be made by calling Debbie Radcliffe at 859-268-0747 or e-mailing dradcliffe@rmhclexington.com before Monday, April 20th.
Thank-You, Jerry.
 The Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Bluegrass mourns the loss of a dear friend, Mr. Jerry Healy, who passed away last week at the age of 72. In addition to being a highly respected business leader and owner of 14 Central Kentucky McDonald’s Restaurants, Mr. Healy was a visionary who provided his valuable time and support to ensure the opening of the Ronald McDonald House in Lexington back in 1984. Jerry remained a tireless and enthusiastic supporter of the Ronald McDonald House and encouraged his entire family, friends and staff to become involved. In 2007, Jerry and his wife Sarah received the prestigious “Legacy of Love” Award given by RMHC of the Bluegrass in honor of their lifelong dedication to serving the needs of families and their children.
Ironically, as we celebrate the beginning of the 25th Anniversary year of the Ronald McDonald House program in Lexington, we now must say goodbye to a wonderful friend who made our “home away from home” possible for thousands of families who traveled to Lexington seeking life-saving medical care for their children. We extend our deepest sympathies and well wishes to the entire Healy family, their many friends and the Healy Organization staff.
Thank-You, Central Kentucky!
We received an overwhelming amount of gifts and support following our recent board room sprinkler mishap and were absolutely amazed at how our community pulled together.
Currently, the Ronald McDonald House could still benefit from:
- Gifts cards to help ensure that Santa brings just the right gifts this Christmas season. The Ronald McDonald House services all of Kentucky’s children, so gift cards to national chain stores are preferred (Wal-Mart, K-Mart, Kroger, etc.).
- Cash Donations to go towards supplies, gifts, and other needs around the House.
 The generosity poured out by hundreds of individuals as well as organizations like Gainesway Farm, the Marine Corps, Tempur-Pedic KEMI and others has been incredible. Our hearts are touched as families have gathered together and collectively helped make this holiday special for those children and families here at the House.
Remember, our need here at the Ronald McDonald House extends far beyond the Holidays. Would you please consider volunteering as we “provide a home away from home” for Kentucky’s children?
Click here to learn more about how you can get involved.
Pictured above: Lexington Fraternal Order of Firefighters President Shannon Poynter (left) and Lexington Fraternal Order of Police President Mike Sweeney (right) pose with Ronald McDonald House of the Bluegrass Executive Director Sarah Waner (center) following their organizations' generous donations.
The Ronald McDonald House® Family Room
Ronald McDonald House Charities® of the Bluegrass has expanded, this time to the fourth floor of Kentucky Children’s Hospital. The brand new Ronald McDonald House Family Room provides an area of respite and relaxation for families of children being cared for at the hospital.
The room offers several seating areas for private conversation and quiet reflection, complimentary snacks and coffee, as well as personal-use entertainment electronic devices (DVD and CD players; and personal electronic game systems).
These amenities — which have been provided through leadership contributions from McDonald’s of Central and Southeastern Kentucky with matching funds from RMHC Global — allow guests to take a break and a brief moment of escape from the stress of their situation. What truly makes the Ronald McDonald House Family Room special are the volunteers who staff the room and provide a welcoming atmosphere for families who find themselves there.
Please consider helping families at the Ronald McDonald Family room by becoming a volunteer or donating items from the Family Room Wish List.
A McDazzling Evening
“Our Annual McDazzle “Red Tie” Gala was a great success thanks to friends like you and the following sponsors:
Platinum Level
McDonald’s® of Southeastern and Central Kentucky
UK Health Care
Gold Level
The Martin-Brower Company
Spectrum Financial Alliance
Sterling Level
Fahlgren
Freedom Dodge Chrysler Jeep
Corporate Tables
Big Blue Sports Marketing
Bittersweet Station Farm
Central Bank
The Coca-Cola Company
Dulworth, Breeding and Karns
Healy Family McDonald’s
Kentucky Children’s Hospital
Klosterman Baking Company
McDonald’s USA, LLC Ohio Regional Office
Nahra Family McDonald’s
Nelson McMakin / M&S Restaurants
TDS Restaurants
Toyota Motor Manufacturing, Kentucky, Inc.
Photos by Paul Atkinson
Gerson Memorial Dedication
The new Alberta Gerson Memorial butterfly garden honors the memory and indelible spirit of one of the founders and dear friends of the Ronald McDonald House. Many friends of Alberta contributed to underwrite the cost of the beautiful new children’s butterfly bench and glass sculpture. We hope you will come by and visit this whimsical new addition to our family patio.
(Pictured below: The Gerson & Okuly Families)
UK Fusion Volunteer Day
 UK For Unity and Service In Our Neighborhood, more commonly known as UK FUSION, is a one-day service event during KWeek festivities in August. Since its inception in 2003, student, faculty, and staff participation has increased each year – from 461 participants in its first year to over 1300 participants in 2007 – quickly making FUSION one of the greatest traditions at the University of Kentucky. Eleven athletes from the UK Women’s Softball team worked hard that day to help with landscaping, mopping, cleaning and straightening at the Ronald McDonald House.
(Pictured left to right: UK Fusion Day | Kristen O'Haver, Macy Allen, Samatha DeMartine, Allie Jest)
"Race for the Ace" Coming Saturday, October 10, 2009
Cricket Wireless to host a Motorcycle Rally &
Poker Run to benefit
the Ronald McDonald House Charities® of the Bluegrass
Check out the registration flyer here. And don't forget, volunteer opportunities are
available: Please contact Travis Goodyear at
tgoodyear@rmhclexington.com or call 859-268-0757.
Southern Nights of Central Kentucky
Gives $10,000
The Southern Knights of Central Kentucky gave a wonderful
donation to the RMHC of the Bluegrass in the amount of $10,000
from the proceeds of their annual “Boonesborough Boogie” Classic
Car show event which took place last Fall. The Southern
Knights have been generously helping the House for over 12 years
and have cumulatively given the House more than $115,000!
http://www.southernknightsofcentralkentucky.com/
Young Philanthropist
My daughter (age 8) recently delivered items she'd purchased
for families with babies staying at the Ronald McDonald
House. She asked her friends and family for $ instead of
gifts so she could shop for the RMH, she spent over $225 and
had a great time picking out baby items that included
blankets, premie sleepers, hats, booties, toys and more!
She was very proud of herself, as are we also very
proud of her.
We have a disabled son who is five years old, we have stayed
at the RMH in Montreal and are planning on staying at the
RMH in Chicago in February. We know the kind of service the
RMH provides to families in need and we are very thankful.
We did pick up a wish list and we plan on picking up items
that are needed throughout the year.
God Bless!
Jennifer Lloyd
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