Kindnesses of the Heart

Over $165,800 was raised during the 2008 Ronald McDonald House Telethon. A very special, heartfelt thank you to everyone who made this year's telethon a huge success:

• Gene Patterson, Lori Tucker, Matt Hinkin, Kristin Farley, and the WATE Production Crew.
• Local radio personalities Jennifer Alexander (B-97.5), Trixie (94.3), Billy Kidd (WIMZ), KC (Star 102.1), and Booda & T. The ROP (Hot 104.5).
• The Tombras Group and Metro Pulse for promoting this year's telethon.
• The Smoky Mountain Owner/Operator Association franchise owners: The Cochran Family, Tim & Larry Funderburk, John Israel, Bill Smith, John Faris, Danny Hailey, Lynn Jimison, Mark & Hank Smith, John O. Israel, Justin Israel, Rich Mady, and Joe & Jill Burger and Jason Burger.
• All of the wonderful families who took time to come back and share their inspiring stories with us.

On February 26th, the Israel family opened a brand new McDonald's in Pigeon Forge. This is the largest McDonald's in the Southeast and the 6th largest McDonald's in the country at 9,600 square feet. In honor of this opening the Israel family donated $7,500 to the Knoxville Ronald McDonald House®.

On February 14th, Sue Beverly, RMH director went to Sequoyah Elementary School and received a $480 check from the 3 kindergarten classes there. The kids had drawn houses and then sold 5-cent bricks to family and friends to “finish building” their homes. Their houses will be on display at the school for the rest of the month.

Thank you Edgemont Elementary School Builder's Club. They came to the House February 14th to distribute Valentine's Day candy gift bags to all the families.

On Thursday, February 7th, members of the Tennessee Farm Bureau presented the House® with over $2,400 worth of food as well as a check that can be used throughout the year for extra food items. This was all part of the Farm Bureau Food Check-Out Day.

2007 Events

The 2007 Dillard's Holiday CD fundraiser brought in over $500 to the House this year. Dillards made two CDs available for just $7.00 each in their stores as well as online. Proceeds from the sales went benefit local Houses in Dillard's markets.

Christmas Decor has once again decorated each House (at no cost) with exterior holiday lights for everyone to enjoy. For more information about Christmas Decor, visit them at http://www.christmasdecor.net/knoxville.

Thank you for the many generous donations that were brought by during the Town of Farragut's Freaky Fright Fright Nite. Our van was packed full!

On October 18th, members of the K-Town Sam's RV Club brought the House a check in the amount of $1,075 and nearly 50 pounds of pop tabs.

Board members and sponsors of the 2007 Keys Fillauer Invitational Golf Tournament brought us a check for $33,000 from this year's tournament. This brings their 29 year total to an incredible $448,500!

Thank you NOVA Information Systems for your toy donation to restock our "Secret Santa" Toy Closet.

Thank you American Express for hosting a wonderful barbecue cook-out for our families. The barbecue, hamburgers, hotdogs, potato salad, and deserts were great!

Some dedicated chefs such as the Knox Postal Credit Union, Denise Reed with 1st Christian Church, Enterprise Car Rental, Oriental Lodge, CH2M Hill, and 100 Black Men of Knoxville. Their culinary efforts mean the world to our families.

Lou Dailey and her family that collect our aluminum cans and tabs for delivery to the recycling center each month — it's $$$ in the bank!

Carter Middle School for their ongoing donation of items from our “wish list” every month for the past 20 years!

Thank you Whirlpool for the new freezer and thank you Manitowoc for the new ice machine.

Over $35,000 was raised at our 5th Annual Lazy River Float-A-Thon at Dollywood's Splash Country. Thank you everyone for making this year's event a huge success.

Thank you sponsors, golfers, volunteers, and staff for another successful Ronald McDonald House® Charity Golf Tournament at Egwani Farms. Over 100 golfers gathered June 1-2 for this huge event to raise $57,000..

Thanks to everyone who came out to the Classic Chevy Car Show. There 190 cars at Music Road Hotel on Saturday, May 19, for scores of people to see.

Over $128,500 was raised during the 2007 Ronald McDonald House Telethon. A very special, heartfelt thank you to everyone who made this year's telethon a huge success:

• Bo Williams, Lori Tucker, Tearsa Smith, Kristin Farley, Amelia Daniels, and the WATE Production Crew.
• Local radio personalities Mike Clark (Praise 96.3), Opie, Stevo, Jennifer Alexander, & Chris Wade (South Central Communications), Lee Jordan (WIVK), and Casey (Journal Broadcast Group).
• The Tombras Group and Metro Pulse for promoting this year's telethon.
• The Smoky Mountain Owner/Operator Association franchise owners: The Cochran Family, Tim & Larry Funderburk, John Israel, Bill Smith, John Faris, Danny Hailey, Lynn Jimison, Mark & Hank Smith, John O. Israel.
• The Percepter Theta Chapter of Beta Sigma Phi.
• All of the wonderful families who took time to come back and share their inspiring stories with us.

On Monday, February 5th, members of the Tennessee Farm Bureau presented the House® with over $2,000 worth of food and other items as a part of the Farm Bureau Food Check-Out Day. This event commemorates the calendar day when the average American will have earned enough income to pay for the entire year's food supply – which takes about 36 days.