The Marlowe Family Story

After seven months in Iraq, Major Bill Marlowe expected to go home to North Carolina to meet his youngest child, Madelynn, who had been born while he was deployed.

Read the rest of the family’s story here

Notes from Sally

Despite the rocky economy, the Ronald McDonald House helped almost 600 families in 2009!
We were able to accomplish such an amazing feat only because of the generous support of individual donors like you!
In addition to gifts from individuals, the Ronald McDonald House has relied on support from corporate donors in the past. Unfortunately, the economic downturn hit our corporate supporters hard, and last year, many companies weren’t able to give cash donations. They were generous in helping in whatever other ways they could—volunteering at the House, cooking a meal or donating items from our Wish List.
Still, just as you need cash to run your household, we need money to keep the Ronald McDonald House running. When corporations weren’t able to make cash gifts, we were really concerned.
But our loyal individual donors were steadfast and kept on chugging. You folks pulled us through with your donations!
Because of you, almost 600 families who had to travel away from their homes to seek medical care for their sick children found a home away from home.
Each and every day, Ronald McDonald families depend on financial help from you and others like you. Please ask your friends to make a secure donation at our Web site at rmhbuffalo.org.
Know how important your monetary gifts are and please keep them coming. I thank you, and our families thank you.

Sally Vincent, Executive Director

Contributors to Wish List
keep House well stocked

Ronald McDonald House storage pantries are well provisioned with food and household items for 2010 because the community generously contributed items from our Wish List.
Here are just two of our many contributors:

• The House was “adopted” by Gary Klemann, Senior Territory Manager of Northern Asphalt Region for the Marathon Petroleum Company LLC, along with the Social Responsibility Club of Marathon Petroleum Company LLC (Asphalt Division). Copies of our Wish List were sent to Marathon associates in seven states. Marathon Petroleum enlisted the support of their business partners, NOCO Energy Corp. and Jamestown McCadam, Inc. Together, the three companies collected hundreds of Wish List items along with several hundred dollars in checks for Ronald McDonald House families!



• Community-minded sixth graders from Buffalo’s Elmwood-Franklin School organized a school-wide drive to help stock our pantry shelves. The students enjoyed touring the House and witnessed, firsthand, the various ways in which their generous donation will impact lives of families in need.

‘Liza With a Z’ wowed the crowd
for the holiday concert!

Liza Minnelli, left, 2009 Tony Award Winner, performed in a holiday concert Nov. 22 to benefit the Ronald McDonald House of Buffalo. The event was presented by Derico of East Amherst Corp., a 12-outlet McDonald’s organization, locally owned and operated by Rico Francani, right. Liza Minnelli’s performance was tremendous, and the concert raised $30,000 for the House!

There are many ways you can help the House.

We invite Western New York companies, organizations and community groups to support the Ronald McDonald House through donations of cash, products or services.

Perhaps you can supply items from our Wish List, which can be seen at rmhbuffalo.org. Volunteers are always needed for our Cooks For Kids meal preparation program. Or maybe your group could tackle the renovation of a room.

No matter how big or small your donation, your gift makes a real difference in the lives of our families!

Niagara Regional 56’er volunteers transformed the Buffalo Ronald McDonald House for the holiday season and brightened up the lives of families staying at the House. Colorful scenery from “Candyland,” the popular children’s board game, delighted visitors as did the miniature, lighted Department 56 winter village scenes. Beautifully decorated Christmas trees rounded out the holiday display that welcomed families back to the House after a long day at the hospital.

Samantha Gregoire, age 10, pictured on the right wearing her 5K Run hat, was so inspired after she ran in her first organized run, the 2009 Ronald McDonald House 5K, that she organized a “Gregoire Family Fun Run.” Samantha and 40 family runners generously donated $300 for our families!

Darien Lake Theme Park Resort, Darien Center, N.Y., raised $8,930 in 2009 for the Ronald McDonald House through a special promotion. The park offered discounted admission coupons at 64 McDonald’s restaurants. For each discount coupon redeemed, Darien Lake donated $1 to the families of the Buffalo Ronald McDonald House. Get ready for summer—this same promotion will be offered during the 2010 season!

The Time Travelers of Western New York, a group of classic car lovers, raised $5,000 for the Ronald McDonald House at its 21st Annual Olcott Beach Classic Car Show in September. The event featured more than 1,000 show cars, and a capacity crowd filled the park.

Hope Blair, 7, had often heard the story of how her family stayed at the Ronald McDonald House in Buffalo. It was in 1991, long before she was born. Her father, then a college student, suffered a head injury and was rushed to a Buffalo hospital. His relatives and future wife (Hope’s mother, Amy) found shelter at the Ronald McDonald House.

“Hope wanted to give back to the people who took such good care of her mom, her aunt and her grandparents,” Amy said.

Instead of gifts for her seventh birthday, Hope asked for donations to the Ronald McDonald House and generously made a $225 contribution.

Scott Wieser, Activities Director, and Mike Ford, Case Manager for Glenwell, a DePaul Senior Living Community, organized a unique fundraising event, “Bald for Bucks.” Scott and Mike invited Glenwell residents and staff to shave their hair and beard for a donation of $5 for Ronald McDonald House families.