McDonald’s Inspiration Celebration Gospel event May 9^th raised over $14,308 for Ronald McDonald House Charities® of Greater Washington DC

About 3,000 people attended the first leg of McDonald’s Inspiration Celebration Gospel Tour May 9^th, at Ebenezer AME Church in Fort Washington, Maryland.  Their Love Offerings resulted in $14,308 being donated which will go a long way in helping our children heal faster and better.

Three generations of gospel music’s finest teamed with McDonald’s to give back to communities nationwide through the McDonald’s Inspiration Celebration Gospel Tour. Headlined by Grammy-winning gospel sensation Smokie Norful, the concert offered an assortment of soulful sounds through contemporary gospel with Tamela Mann , hip-hop with Lecrae and traditional/contemporary gospel with John P. Kee and Vickie Winans .

Now in its seventh year, McDonald’s Inspiration Celebration Gospel Tour emphasizes the importance of giving back. As a part of each show, concertgoers learn more about Ronald McDonald House Charities® (RMHC®) and the important role it plays in helping families and children worldwide.

Thank you to an incredibly generous audience.   They have helped change a child’s life!

Washington D.C. (April 2013) – Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC®) has received a $125,000 grant from Dell.  This Powering the Possible Grant has been awarded to be shared among 14 Ronald McDonald House Chapters in cities where Dell has offices, including to Ronald McDonald House Charities of Greater Washington D.C.. The money is designated to support programs for families with children undergoing pediatric cancer treatment.

“Dell has proven itself to be a company which is dedicated to the health and wellness of the communities in which they live and operate,” said Karen Torres, Executive Director of Ronald McDonald House Charities of Greater Washington D.C. “We are very excited to be part of this continuing multi-city partnership between Dell and RMHC on behalf of families of seriously ill children.”

Receiving a portion of the $125,000 award are Ronald McDonald House Charities Chapters in Greater Washington DC, Austin, Nashville, Chicago, Central Illinois, Oklahoma City, the Upper Midwest, and Omaha; and Ronald McDonald Houses in Boston, Dallas, Stanford, Atlanta, Providence and Akron, all cities which also have Dell headquarters or offices. In each of these cities, Dell employees will also be volunteering at the Ronald McDonald House as part of this ongoing partnership.

After becoming involved with RMHC through the McDonald’s Women’s Owner/Operators Network and as a member of the National Leadership Council’s RMHC Activation Team last year, she wanted to increase the RMHC message throughout McDonald’s stores. She has trained her crew in the RMHC mission so they can educate customers and encourage them to donate their change in the RMHC Donation Boxes placed in front of each till.  “When customers really understand what the Charity is all about, you’d be surprised how fast those RMHC Donation Boxes fill up,” Cindy says.

Cindy is just one of the countless, dedicated McDonald’s owner/operators in the Greater Washington, DC area who support Ronald McDonald House Charities of Greater Washington, DC with contributions that make a vital difference in their own community.

Claudia Lewis, Director of Community Relations, received America’s Charities’ Regional Community Leader of the Year Award. According to America’s Charities, the Community Leader of the Year thinks outside the box! Ms. Lewis was selected for this honor based upon her enthusiastic community outreach during the 2011 Work Place Giving campaigns. Citations for this honor included her passion in sharing the story of Ronald McDonald House Charities of Greater Washington DC’s families and children. Jeff Brown with America’s Charities also read a note from a federal agency campaign chair commending Ms. Lewis for her excellent representation of her charity and America’s Charities federation as a whole. “I look forward to visiting with new and old friends during the 2012 CFC and private campaigns”, according to Claudia. “The best part is when folks share their personal stories of how special Ronald McDonald House was to them.”