Ronald McDonald House Charities® of Southwest Florida needs your help to collect pennies during our April 2012 Pennies from the Heart Campaign.  The campaign will benefit the Ronald McDonald House Charities® of Southwest Florida.  Everyday this nonprofit organization helps children and families achieve healthy lives and your pennies and spare change will make a huge difference.   

The Ronald McDonald House® of Southwest Florida is a Home Away From Home for

families of seriously ill or injured children being treated at nearby hospitals.  Many of these children are being treated for life threatening illnesses such as cancer, heart disease, and neonatal complications.  Since 1996, the Ronald McDonald House of Southwest Florida has helped more than 2,477 families. Currently, there are over 300 Ronald McDonald Houses in thirty countries and regions. Globally, Ronald McDonald Houses serve more than 10,000 families each day and in 2007 saved families more than $226 million in hotel costs. The Houses are supported by nearly 30,000 volunteers who annually donate more than three million hours of their time.

The Ronald McDonald Care Mobile® provides medical and dental screenings, preventative and restorative dental care, eye exams, glasses, physicals and health education to children who would otherwise go without healthcare.  It operates year-round at numerous locations throughout Collier County, like neighborhoods where low-income children live, schools, day care sites, preschools, festivals and summer camps.  Over 3,000 children are served annually.

The Pennies from the Heart Campaign is a month long fundraising event that begins April 1.  Major collection sites include schools, McDonald’s Restaurants, businesses and local bank branches throughout Collier, Lee, Charlotte, Hendry and Glades counties.  You can help us reach more children and families by collecting pennies (and other coins and bills) in your business, office, neighborhood or school. (click here for ideas on how you can participate or donate now)

Pennies will be collected and counted all month long with an official celebratory count day.  Special awards are given to those who collect the most. The school that collects the most funds will be presented with the ‘Copper Penny Award.’ Sunshine Elementary was the recipient of the award last year, collecting over $2,500.  

Please join us in the 2012 Pennies from the Heart Campaign for the benefit of children in our community by filling out the participation form.  If would like more information about the Pennies from the Heart Campaign, please call Angela Katz at 239-437-0202 or email angela@rmhcswfl.org