Join us May 30th, 2012 at Beaver Creek Golf Course.

Giving Cards Benefit Charity
Recipient Chooses Nonprofit to Receive the Money

BY KRISTIN DANLEY-GREINER

A first-of-its-kind gift-giving program in Iowa offers people a new way to support nonprofit organizations.

The Community Foundation of Greater Des Moines last month debuted a gift card that allows the recipient to go online and choose a charity to receive the money on the card.

“Community members who have purchased giving cards tell us they enjoy giving it as a gift to children and grandchildren to pass on the importance of giving,” said Jessica Brown, director of marketing and communications for the foundation. “It’s also a great gift for the ‘person who has everything.’ ”

Brown said there are communities and community foundations in other states that run similar programs, but this is a first for Iowa and the greater Des Moines area.

Urbandale resident Tiffany Tauscheck purchased a card to give as a gift this holiday season to a colleague who she believed would “sincerely appreciate finding a way to give back to the community.”

“She’s the kind of person who has a little bit of everything and this is a nice gift to give her that I think she’ll appreciate,” Tauscheck said. “It’s a very easy process, doing it online. It’s available 24-7, there’s no waiting in line and it’s very convenient.”

Tauscheck said the giving cards are one way to help friends and family support organizations close to their hearts.

“I like to give personal gifts and I myself am heavily involved in many organizations throughout the community. I really see the value in giving back and supporting the foundation and its mission. I like being able to engage a colleague at that level, and it will be another special connection she and I will share.”

Cards can benefit any 501(c)(3) charitable organization, Brown said.

“When people redeem the cards, there is a link to GuideStar if the person redeeming the card wants to check the charitable status of the charity he or she would like to support,” she said.

Brenda Miller, executive director of the Des Moines Ronald McDonald House, said she loves the concept and sees groups like the Ronald McDonald House benefiting by reaching new donors.

“What a unique way to benefit so many,” Miller said. “You can often wander from shop to shop or surf the Internet to find just the right gift, the perfect gift, one with meaning. The giving card program will help with that.”

Since the organizations that can receive the gift money are charities, card givers may see a benefit at tax time if they itemize deductions.

“This is a great way to pay it forward and with many benefits,” Miller said. “The purchaser of the card receives a tax benefit, the individual receiving the card has the opportunity to make an impact while choosing their favorite charity, and the charity will benefit from the gift.

“This is the type of gift that you remember receiving for years to come. And I think it is the type of gift that once you have received a giving card, you will want to share this concept and buy one for someone special in your life to provide them the opportunity to ‘give forward’ to their favorite charity.”

Link to original article

Winter 2011 Newsletter

RMH 2011 Summer Newsletter

A huge thank you to the customers, staff and management of the Central Iowa McDonald’s Restaurants for their generosity and participation in this year’s Holiday Giving Tree!  It was an enormous success.

A few pictures of the items collected this year.

Welcome to the 2011 Run for the House page.

Saturday, October 1, 2011

At the Ronald McDonald House

For more event details and to register for this event please visit:

www.firstgiving.com/rmhdesmoines/runforthehouse

Join us in Celebrating 30 Years in Des Moines at the 2011

RED SHOE EVENT

Friday, August 26, 2011

6:00 – 10:00 p.m.

The Tuscany Event Center

3901 121st Street, Urbandale IA

Google Maps

Silent Auction

Hors d’oeuvres and Desserts

Beer and Wine

Live Music by Too Cool

Tickets: $45

To buy tickets or donate to the event please email the House at redshoe@rmhdesmoines.org or call 515-243-2111

Business Casual to Semi-Formal & Red Shoes are Optional!

Proceeds from this event benefit the families of the

Des Moines Ronald McDonald House.

Fore Our Kids!

The Principal Charity Classic is June 1st – June 5th, 2011 at Glen Oaks Country Club in West Des Moines, Iowa.  In 2010, The Principal Charity Classic received the “Player’s Award” as the #1 stop on The Champions Tour.  Among being a great boom to the economy, the event also serves as a fundraising benefit for many local children’s charities.

Birdies for Charity

Birdies for Charity is fundraising program designed to give participants an opportunity to generate contributions based on the number of birdies made by PGA Champions Tour players during the Principal Charity Classic.  Every birdie made during the Principal Charity Classic means money for charity.  Make a pledge today and 100% of your donation will come to the Des Moines Ronald McDonald House!

How does it work?

Donors make pledges for each birdie that is made by all the Champions Tour players during the 3-day event or they can make a flat donation.

So, for example, a pledge of $.02 per birdie: $.02 x 795 (number of birdies made in 2010) = $15.90

Minimum flat donation: $10
Minimum Per-Birdie Pledge: $.02
Birdies Made in 2008: 721
Birdies Made in 2009: 787
Birdies Made in 2010: 795

What is a “birdie”?

A “birdie” is a score of one stroke better than “par” for any golf hole on the course.  “Par” is the normal expected score of a golf professional on any given hole.  For example, on a par 4 hole, a score of 3 is a birdie.

How do I pledge?

Pledging is easy.  Just click here to pledge and make Ronald McDonald House your charity of choice.

Bonus Bucks!

Bonus Bucks are back this year.  This will give charities the opportunity to receive a 25% match on the total amount raised provided by Sammons Financial Group.  A charity must reach a qualifying amount of $1,500 or $1.50 or more in penny pledges (flat donations will count toward bonus bucks).  The top 25 charities will also receive additional bonus bucks.  So pledge today so you can help the Ronald McDonald House raise even more money for families with critically ill children in area hospitals.

Guess the Birdies

To create additional excitement for the program, The Principal Charity Classic will sponsor a “Guess the Birdies” contest.  Participants who commit to a minimum pledge or donation or complete an official pledge form are eligible to guess the number of birdies that will be made by Champions Tour players Friday through Sunday of the Principal Charity Classic.  The individual who correctly guesses the number of birdies made will win a John Deere riding lawn mower courtesy of John Deere Financial.  Additional prizes will be awarded throughout the program.  For more information and complete rules please visit the Principal Charity Classic website.

And don’t forget to pledge for the Ronald McDonald House today!

But we need your help…

We want our cookbook to include recipes from our families, volunteers and supporters.  Maybe you have a famous family recipe you’re anxious to share, or a favorite meal you ate while you were staying with us.

We would love to have a story with your recipe!

If you’d like to participate, please send us your recipe to recipes@rmhdesmoines.org.

Or you can mail them to:
1441 Pleasant Street
Des Moines, IA 50314

We need all recipes submitted by April 25, 2011.

Please include the name of the person we should give credit to for the recipe and include a comment, story or tidbit about how you are involved with the Ronald McDonald House.

We would prefer if recipes were submitted in this format:
1. Title
2. Brief Description
3. List of Ingredients and Measurements
4. Cooking Instructions

One last thing!

Please carefully look over your recipe and make sure everything is correct before submission.  We want everyone to be able to enjoy your dish exactly how you intended!

recipes@rmhdesmoines.org

And be sure to look for our completed 30th Anniversary Cookbook expected to be released and on sale in July!  All proceeds benefiting the Ronald McDonald House!