Buchanan, Williams & O’Brien is a proud sponsor of Joplin’s Ronald McDonald House. To continue our mission of supporting families in Joplin who have been injured and hospitalized, we are proud to be a sponsor — and a participant in — this weekend’s Big Red Shoe Ronald McDonald House fundraising race. The Ronald McDonald House’s Big Red Shoe 15k and 5k Race was held on the morning of September 12, 2015, in Joplin, Missouri. The weather was absolutely gorgeous for the race in Southwest Missouri.
Our own attorneys will be running in the event. In addition, Buchanan, Williams & O’Brien is sponsoring an aid station for runners providing drinks along the race route through Joplin’s streets. The Joplin-based Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Four States is an official non-profit organization on a mission “To provide a ‘home away from home’ for families of seriously ill children (0-18) and ill expectant mothers being treated at Joplin’s Freeman Health System and Mercy Hospital in Joplin.”
The Ronald McDonald House does this by offering a 10-bedroom, 14,000 square foot home (located at 3402 South Jackson Avenue in Joplin), transportation to and from the house and Joplin hospitals, computer workstations, family activities and meals to families with hospitalized children or mothers.
This helps families stay close to their children while receiving hospital care, allows siblings and other family members to be present and engaged, and increases the parents’ abilities to spend more time with their children and to be involved in medical care decision-making.
The Big Red Shoe 15K, 5K and Kid’s Fun Run is the most recent fundraising activity benefiting the Ronald McDonald’s House of the Four States, and you can join! Although online registrations are closed, you can register in person up until the start of the race. Register now to receive a great T-shirt sponsored by our law firm.
Want to join us and the Joplin community? Call Joplin’s Ronald McDonald house for more details, at 417-624-2273.
The Ronald McDonald House Story
The very first Ronald McDonald Home opened in Philly in 1974. Fred and Fran Hillside’s daughter Kim was undergoing therapy for leukemia. Throughout Kim’s three years of therapy, the Hills grew tired of oversleeping the healthcare facility waiting space and consuming meals out of vending machines. Fred, who was a gamer for the Philadelphia Eagles at the time, rallied the assistance of his colleagues as well as General Supervisor Jim Murray, Dr. Audrey Evans from The Children’s health center of Philadelphia, and neighborhood McDonald’s franchisees to create Ronald McDonald Home.
Ronald McDonald House Arrives in Joplin, Missouri
Since hosting the first guest on August 20, 1998, the House has actually served over 3,213 family members from 38 various states as well as 2 foreign nations. The Ronald McDonald House in Joplin has served families from over 262 communities in our 4 State location of Missouri, Kansas, Oklahoma, and Arkansas.
Bob Jennings’ interest and also perseverance helped bring a Ronald McDonald Home to Joplin. Bob tried for numerous years to bring a Ronald McDonald Residence to Joplin. Nevertheless, adequate varieties of youngsters between absolutely no as well as 18 years old were not being served by our regional medical facilities to fulfill the demands for a qualified residence.
Bob concerned Joplin in 1964 as a McDonald’s owner/operator. Mickey Mantle approached Bob and his wife Libby regarding the opportunity of developing a Ronald McDonald Residence in Joplin.
In 1993, when Freeman opened the Neonatal Critical care unit, and after that St. John’s started delivering babies, Bob asked his child Mike to go back to the International RMH Board and also once again demand that our area be considered for a Ronald McDonald Home. In August 1996, the Jennings obtained consent and licensing for an 8 bedroom Ronald McDonald House.