On Tuesday, July 13, RMHC Jacksonville’s Discovery Circle raised over $2,000 at a Seven Bridges Grille & Brewery Tapping Party.  Over two hundred patrons showed up to attend the tapping party and raise money for Ronald McDonald House Charities of Jacksonville. The evening featured a live band, outdoor barbeque, raffles, games and more. Check out the entire photo album by clicking HERE. The event also served as a kick-off party for the Discovery Circle's signature Pig Pickin' Barbeque event to be held on Saturday, October 23, 2010. Tickets are $25. Click HERE to purchase your tickets today!

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Joe Zelenka, now the long snapper for the  Atlanta Falcons returned to host his sixth annual fundraiser for our RMHC on June 14, 2010 - an afternoon of bowling competition, sports auction, autographs galore and delicious dinner from MoJo Bar-B-Que. Thanks to presenting sponsor McDonald's, Joe Zelenka, the 30 sponsors and all the celebrities including all the Jaguar rookies plus veterans like David Garrard, Brad Meester, Josh Scobee, and more. CEVA was the winning team, awarded autographed bowling pins, a treasured prize!

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This year, the Southern racing tradition of the Kentucky Derby went south of the border for a Kentucky Derby FIESTA! The decorations included giant cacti and pinatas, there was a Mariachi band followed by Pro Bono for great dancing, and the auction was packed with a variety of items of all kinds - from jewelry and trips to wine and baskets full of kids/pets/beauty and food items galore!  Five hundred supporters helped raise money for the operations of RMHC Jacksonville while they partied through the night. Watch for photos and final net proceeds announcement soon.

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As Discovery Circle members are busily planning their first fundraiser of the year, Fries With That Wine, their leadership board has decided to offer new and renewing members one ticket to this March event and one ticket to the fall Pig Pickin' with the dues payment of $50 per person. Fries With That Wine was a quick sellout last year, so if you are under 35 and want to become more involved with Ronald McDonald House Charities of Jacksonville, send in your application today and pay your dues right here on the website. Just note after payment that it is for...

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Ticket proceeds ($25 each) for the Winn-Dixie Jacksonville Open will all go to the charity you designate so sign up today to help RMHC Jacksonville by clicking right here on https://www.winn-dixiejacksonvilleopen.com/tickets/tickets.php?C=RMH.  This PGA TOUR Nationwide Tour event will be held on the TPC Sawgrass-Dye's Valley Course October 18-24, 2010. See the next generation of PGA TOUR stars compete in this first year event for Jacksonville, and save $10 from the At-Gate ticket price, all while helping the programs of RMHC Jacksonville!

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Helen Westbroook is the winner of a brand new flat screen television! She recruited the most donations in a 24-hour period, ending at 10pm Friday, January 15, 2010 for Ronald McDonald House Charities of Jacksonville. This experimental fundraiser was announced first at the UNF basketball game on Thursday night by alumna Megan Schumann and Board member Holly Tyrrell. Also watch for fundraisers put on by UNF Student Athlete Advisory Committee, including a February 26th talent show at the student union auditorium. Thank you for caring about our mission.

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There were decorated trees all around, there were gifts for everyone and a special Christmas dinner prepared by a local Navy squadron. It you didn't know better, you would have thought that the families enjoying puzzles and DVD movies together were one big happy family. And on Christmas night they were!  Thanks to the generosity of the Jacksonville community, the families who had to be in here for their child's medical treatment were treated to shopping at Wal Mart, homemade blankets, delicious sweets and many comforts of home. And they will have a happy memory of their 2009 holiday because they were together as...

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If you or someone you know has stayed at the Jacksonville Ronald McDonald House, please share your inspirational stories of how you or they have been impacted by our program on our Facebook Discussion Board. Just visit, www.facebook.com/rmhcjacksonville to get started. If you are not on Facebook, you may email your stories to mbreedlove@rmhcjax.org. Your story may be shared with RMHC Global for inclusion in a national advertising campaign kicking off in November. Thank you for sharing your story of hope with us!

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On Monday, June 1, Jaguars Long Snapper Joe Zelenka hosted an afternoon of competitive fun at his Joe-Z Celebrity Bowling Classic presented by McDonald's. Each sponsor team was joined by a Jacksonville Jaguars player during the tournament. The top winning teams were given a bowling pin signed by all of the Jaguars players that attended the event (#1: McDonald's, #2: Zurich Insurance Services & #3: McDonald's). During the event, bowlers took breaks to bid on priceless items in the silent auction including new helmets, jerseys and footballs signed by Jaguars players. MoJo Bar-B-Que served a delicious dinner to all of the bowlers who had worked on...

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If you have accounts on Facebook and Twitter, you can keep up with the exciting things going on with our programs. On Facebook, join the Fan Page for Ronald McDonald House Charities of Jacksonville, Inc. Follow rmhcjax on Twitter, too. Click on the links below to visit our social media sites.    

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Our full-time pet therapy dog, Anita, celebrated her 7th birthday on Friday. She got lots of love all throughout the day, and several families attended a birthday party for her. They played games, ate cake and watched Anita open her presents! Thanks to everyone that helped make this day special for Anita.

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The 15th Annual McGala held on Saturday night at the Sawgrass Marriott Resort featured a Kentucky Derby and old-fashioned country fair theme complete with great food, entertainment and giving. After "betting" on the race, guests watched the action on big screens inside the ballroom and sat down for a wonderful meal. Many guests sponsored families staying at the Jacksonville Ronald McDonald House® for a year, six months, three months, a month or a week by committing to pay the $10 donation that the families are asked to make when they stay at the House. Each donor recieved a balloon for their commitment and the air above...

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On Thursday night, the Discovery Circle welcomed more than 150 supporters of RMHC Jacksonville to their Fries With That Wine fundraiser presented by EverBank. The event put an interesting new spin on the traditional wine tasting - Instead of cheese, wine was paired with cheeseBURGERS! Guests enjoyed their favorite wines from Coastal Wine & Spirits along with tasty fast food delights. Dan Reading entertained the crowd with his blend of funk, jazz and pop.  The sold out event raised over $5,000 for the Jacksonville Ronald McDonald House® program. Thanks to everyone that attended to make this a success! Check out the photos...

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Tuesday, March 24 was a beautiful evening for the 15th Annual Volunteer Recognition Dinner. Over 125 guests attended to thank our volunteers for their dedication to the mission and programs of Ronald McDonald House Charities® of Jacksonville. Music was provided by the 3 Rusty Nails, who had the crowd dancing and really enjoying themselves. Dinner was cooked and served by members of the North Florida Frozen & Refrigerated Foods Association and guests enjoyed dinner in the courtyard. After dinner, Board President Mel Johnson welcomed everyone and talked about the impact of the 20,000 hours of volunteer work that served RMHC...

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McGala Committee Chair Meg Kuchar and Co-Chair Cathy Caldwell are well into planning for another Kentucky Derby party at the Sawgrass Marriott Resort. The 15th Annual McGala will be held on Saturday, May 2, 2009 from 5:30 PM - 11:00 PM.  After watching the big race, guests at the "Horseplay on the Midway" event will visit a charming country fair complete with games, betting and tasty treats! Our favorite band, Pro Bono, is returning to get everyone dancing, too! Mark your calendar now, and call us to let us know that you would like to receive an invitation. Check out...

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When you are 57 years old, you can't imagine that you will begin a second family and, especially, the adoption of two children with special needs from China. That is exactly where my husband and I discovered our lives taking us in 2007. On a very cold and sleety January 4th, we found ourselves in Southwest China adopting our daughter, Hope Le Chen, 4 years old. Hope is profoundly deaf and was abandoned by her birth parents at the age of 2 1/2. Hope continued to live another two years in the orphanage in Guizhou until her adoption into our...

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Ronald McDonald House Charities® of Jacksonville has been celebrating the holidays in style! The festive season got off to a great start when Kathie & Jacob Brenner's family prepared a delicious Thanksgiving meal for the families staying at the Ronald McDonald House® on November 27. For the last five years, the Brenners have joined volunteer Phyllis Stubbs at the House on Thanksgiving. What a great group of folks to be thankful for! RMHC Jacksonville volunteers and the families staying at the House were treated to an exciting holiday party on December 10. CSX Caring Cooks fixed a delicious supper that was followed...

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On Friday, November 21, over 3,400 individuals wore Bright Future Friday shirts to help celebrate the 20th Anniversary of the Jacksonville Ronald McDonald House program. Participating companies and schools sent in photos of their employees and students showing their support for the history and future of the House. Why is the future so bright for RMHC Jacksonville? We are expanding our mission and building a permanently restricted endowment to ensure a promising future for our programs.

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