We had a BLAST at this year's 3rd Annual Radiothon to benefit Dayton's Ronald McDonald House! THANK YOU to everyone who donated their time, money..and even a car!! We definitely showed the Ronald McDonald House how much we appreciate what they do for others in need.
Our goal this year was to raise $30,000 and we are extremely happy to announce that we hit over $37,000!!! THANK YOU again and again!! We could not have done it without the caring hearts of those in Dayton and everyone who listened in and donated. Also a HUGE thanks to Greg McAfee and the matching $800 every hour! McAfee HVAC donated over $10,000!
We cannot wait to do this again next year! Check out the photos and videos below of our fun time that we had at the house yesterday.
Even though the Radiothon is over, you can still donate your time and money to the Ronald McDonald House! Click Here for their website.
CLICK HERE for the photo album from the Morning Broadcast with Jeff and Kristi!
CLICK HERE for the photo album from the Afternoon Show with Shaun Vincent!
Mr. G from Broadway Elementary in Tipp City stopped by with 4 students. They brought 3 5-gallon buckets full of pop tabs to donate as well as a hefty cash donation! Great Job Broadway Elementary! Watch the interviews below with Mr. G and his students.
We interview the students - it's so funny what kids say!
The students help with the donation of the pop tabs!
James from City Barbeque stopped by with food and a football!
Stanley from American Legion Post 776 stopped by and gave a donation and challenged other posts to donate too!
Tracy from Wright Patt Credit Union stops by and donates the Penny Shakedown total!
The very energetic Wright State University Spirit Team came out to the House!
A BIG THANKS!!! and the Grand Total...
Homecoming Partners:
Penny Shakedown Sponsor:
Media Sponsor
Crown Sponsors:
Royalty Sponsors:
Team Spirit Sponsor
Below are testimonials from families who have experienced
the Love and Support from Dayton's Ronald McDonald House!
2011 Ambassador Family
Little Serenity
Christopher celebrates his wife, LaTosha, as she whispers words of life, love, faith and fortitude into the ears of her little one, Serenity. The little girl that made her a mother when she least expected it.
LaTosha’s doctor told her that she would never be able to conceive. And after three miscarriages she was about ready to accept the prognosis, but in March of 2010 she found out she was pregnant again. It was a tough pregnancy – one that included a month of bed rest. But LaTosha fought for Serenity who was born prematurely, weighing only 3 pounds, 4 ounces. She was breathing though – alive.
The doctor immediately put her in the NICU to ensure survival. LaTosha and Christopher hated being separated from their newborn, but thanks to the Ronald McDonald House in Dayton they were able to watch over Serenity every day. The staff and volunteers at the House, which is just across the street from the hospital, provided comfort, relaxation and rest to them through six weeks of stressful circumstances.
“I was scared – I had already lost two children, and I didn’t want to lose another. I found hope and strength in other mothers at the House though – other mothers who were going through similar situations with their babies,” says LaTosha. “They prayed with me. They consoled me. We got through our trials together. And when Serenity started growing, gaining weight, and becoming healthy, I was more thankful than ever for the Ronald McDonald House – they kept me close by my miracle baby.”
2010 Ambassador Family
Little Joseph
Story as told by parents Dave & Laura
Joseph Douglas Middleton was born December 2, 2009 at Springfield Regional Hospital. We had gone to the hospital a little after 5am that morning and about an hour later our son was born 6 weeks premature and weighing only 4lb 7oz. His lungs were underdeveloped due to his prematurity and he was diagnosed with Respiratory Distress Syndrome. Around 7am the next morning, the neonatologist made the decision that Joseph's breathing had not improved, that he needed to be intubated, and transported to Children's Hospital of Dayton so he could receive the specialized care of their NICU.
That morning, we said goodbye to our son as he traveled to Dayton while we remained in Springfield for the next several hours. Once we were reunited with Joseph later that day, the thought of having to leave him again every night to drive home seemed unbearable. Thanks to the nurses in Springfield and at Children's, we found out about the Ronald McDonald House.
For the next 39 days, the Ronald McDonald House became our home away from home. During a time that was filled with such stress and uncertainty, it was a welcome comfort to know we could stay across the street from Joseph. Being able to stay so close allowed us to spend extra time with Joseph each day, instead of spending that time driving home each night. The accommodations the House offered helped us to physically recuperate enough to function day to day, but it was the kindness and compassion of the staff that provided us with the friendship we needed to rejuvenate our spirits. For this, we are eternally grateful. We never could have imagined this is the way our son's life would begin, but the challenges he has overcome are now part of who he is and who we are as a family.
The Ronald McDonald House is also now part of our lives as a family and will always hold a special place in our hearts...it truly is the house that love built.
~Dave & Laura Middleton
2009 RMHC Ambassador Family
Jena Ann Crawford By Lori Crawford (mother)
Jena Ann Crawford was born on October 7, 1997. She was a full term baby weighing 8 lbs. 6 oz. and she seemed very healthy. At one week of age, however, things changed drastically. Jena started screaming and moaning non-stop and doing things I knew were not normal for a one-week-old baby. After having three children before her, I knew there was something very wrong with our little girl. I took her to her pediatrician and she sent us to Mercy Medical Center in Springfield to the pediatric unit. The nurses realized as soon as we got off of the elevator that there was something drastically wrong with her. She was transported to Children's Hospital in Columbus and we were told that she has a brain aneurysm which caused significant damage to her brain and the doctors told us that she would not survive through the night. Well, despite the odds, Jena did survive through the night, the longest night of our lives, and in fact, she will be 12 years-old in October.
Since that life-altering day on October 14, 1997, Jena has been admitted to The Children's Medical Center of Dayton more than 35 times for various reasons, and each time, The Dayton Ronald McDonald House has been there as our "home-away-from home". We live in Urbana, OH so The Ronald McDonald House becomes our home during Jena's stay in the hospital. I can't say enough about the facility and the staff to do it justice. The facility provides all of the comforts of home, whether my family and I need a bed to sleep in, a place to eat a meal or relax together, or simply do our laundry (as we know the work never ends!). There are times that I just stay overnight in the hospital room with Jena, but just knowing there is a place to go to "get away" or that a room is available if I need one is PRICELESS!
The facility is amazing, but it is the staff that makes it feel like home! They cater to our needs like we are staying in a 5-star hotel. They are all so understanding and compassionate which is just what you need when trying to take care of a sick child and also care for the rest of your family at the same time. No one will ever understand the importance of this facility, unless they actually depend on it like my family has so many times.
