Charity spotlight: Shriners Hospital Dads

From left, members of the Shriners Hospital Dads of Springfield are Dick Fuller, Mark Bohon, Don Powell (back), Mike Edwards and Dan Lawler.
From left, members of the Shriners Hospital Dads of Springfield are Dick Fuller, Mark Bohon, Don Powell (back), Mike Edwards and Dan Lawler.

Their old passenger van pushed past 200,000 on the odometer several miles back, leading to natural concerns about a breakdown during an important mission.

However, the Springfield-based Shriners Hospital Dads – and the kids and their families which they transport to regional hospitals – are now riding in style, thanks to the Price Cutter Charity Championship presented by Dr Pepper.

Thanks to a sizeable donation from the PCCC a year ago, the Shriners Hospital Dads now have something they can count on weekly – a 15-seat passenger van, complete with the PCCC logo emblazoned on its outside panels.

The van symbolizes all the great donations over the years to the PCCC, which has raised almost $13 million for Ozarks-area children’s charities in the past 26 years. And now here is your chance to help again.

“Some kids we’ve transported for 10 years, sometimes every month and every week,” said Dick Fuller of the Abou Ben Adhem Mosque. The Hospital Dads are in their eighth year with the PCCC. “It’s a 10-hour round trip. By the time you get home, you realize you don’t have any problems in life. The kids and their families we take, they have challenges. Financially, they couldn’t afford to go.”

About the Shriner’s Hospital Dads

The back of the Shriners Hospital Dads' new van.
The back of the Shriners Hospital Dads’ van.

For the Shriners Hospital Dads, the PCCC’s mission mirrors their own. The idea of transporting kids to Shriners hospitals in St. Louis, Cincinnati and Chicago grew out of need in the late 1990s. Regardless of a family’s financial situation, the Dads transport the family and their kids – some who worn born with cleft palates, or were battling scoliosis or recovering from severe burns. Soon, a van was purchased, and some of the retirees of the Abou Ben Adhem took the lead as drivers. Fuller was among them.

What an emotional day it can be. Last year alone, the van made 99 trips alone.

“I think my first trip to the hospital, it was an adventure because you didn’t know what you were getting into,” Fuller said, noting most trips leave at 4 a.m. in order to meet 8 a.m. doctor’s appointments in St. Louis. “But when you meet them downtown at the Shrine, they’re all bundled up because of all kinds of weather … it starts to get emotional right there.”

The Shriners Hopsital Dads, part of the Abou Ben Adhem Shriners of Springfield, showed off their new van Monday during Media Day.
The Shriners Hopsital Dads, part of the Abou Ben Adhem Shriners of Springfield, includes the PCCC logo.

As expected, the Shriners most recent van logged thousands of miles in short order. Kids with scoliosis or other orthopedic issues needed rides to St. Louis. Those with cleft palates needed transportation to Chicago, and so the Shriners drove their families to the St. Louis airport and made certain they could cover cab fare once in the Windy City. The Cincinnati Shriners hospital cares for kids recovering from burns.

Volunteering at the PCCC

To make a new van possible, the Shriners go all out for the Price Cutter Charity Championship presented by Dr Pepper. They gather about 65 people, including their wives and teenage children, and volunteer during the August tournament.

Most years, you’ll see Mike Edwards on hole No. 1, or Mark Bohon and Dan Lawler driving vehicles that transport the professional golfers across the city. Fuller mans the driving range. They are among the hundreds of volunteers that help make the tournament a success.

However, their support of the tournament does not begin there. Like all other PCCC charities, they will spend this summer selling the $25 TLC Properties Charity Sweepstakes tickets, which are good for a four-day tournament pass as well as entry for daily prizes. Additionally, fans are entered to win grand prizes of $10,000 and a 2016 Ford F-150 truck.

“This has been absolutely a tremendous shot in the arm, this Price Cutter tournament, for several reasons,” Fuller said. “For one, you have to have some kind of project to keep the Shriners units involved and excited about something. And, two, this helps us support the hospitals by supporting other projects with other budgeted money.”

Call it a labor of love for the Shriners, Fuller said in so many words.

“It got started because the Shriners, when we would sponsor a child, we took the responsibility of transporting them to St. Louis,” Fuller said. “If they needed a ride or help, it would be my responsibility. As time went on, we saw more and more of a need. And people just don’t have the time to do it. And families don’t have the finances or vehicles to get to the hospital.”

RISING STARS, RAISING HOPES

BUSINESS SPONSORSHIPS: Businesses also can support the PCCC through various sponsorships, such as the skyboxes on the 9th and 18th greens (with food badges), on-course signage and events such as a dozen Pro-Ams. Businesses also can donate a gift card with at least a $25 value in the name of your charity of choice to benefit them in the Golf Ball & Charity Auction presented by Copy Products, Inc. and University Plaza.

The Ultimate sponsorship means air-conditioned seating on the 18th green and a chance to win a Corvette Stingray.
The Ultimate sponsorship means air-conditioned seating on the 18th green and a chance to win a Corvette Stingray.

WIN A NEW TRUCK: The purchase of a $25 TLC Properties Charity Sweepstakes ticket can win one of 500 daily gift cards as well as grand prizes of $10,000 and a 2016 Ford F-150 XLT. It’s also good for a four-day tournament pass.

Win this truck
Win this truck or $10,000 in the TLC Properties Charity Sweepstakes.

SEE THE FUTURE OF THE PGA TOUR: The PCCC is from Aug. 5-15, with the pros beginning play on Aug. 11 at Highland Springs Country Club. For tickets or other ways to assist, call the Price Cutter Charity Championship staff at 417-887-3400.

Dawie vander Walt shows his winners trophy after the final round of the Price Cutter Charity Championship at Highland Springs Country Club in Springfield on August 16, 2015.
Dawie vander Walt won the 2015 PCCC. (Photo courtesy of StidzMedia)

 

Charity spotlight: Ronald McDonald House

Read the Ronald McDonald website, and you'll run into stories like the Brown family of Ozark. They now give back.
Read the Ronald McDonald website, and you’ll run into stories like the Brown family of Ozark. They now give back.

For the Blakey family of Ava, you can only imagine the worry. A few years ago, baby Owen made his debut nine weeks early, weighing only 3 pounds, 6 ounces and needing round-the-clock care at Cox South.

Fortunately, the nearby Ronald McDonald House provided the family some comfort for several weeks.

“Each day in the NICU can bring new challenges physically and emotionally,” Mom Anne Blakely said. “Having the Ronald McDonald House so close allowed me to maximize my time by Owen’s side, without worrying about gas and traveling back and forth from home. The comfort, support and amenities provided by the RMH lifted a large burden.”

It’s probably no wonder, then, that this is one of the many stories that brings a smile to the President and CEO of the Ronald McDonald House, Bonnie Keller. She’s led the non-profit since its inception in 1988.

Even better, the Price Cutter Charity Championship presented by Dr Pepper has been a strong supporter of the Ronald McDonald House since the tournament’s own inception 27 years ago.

Now here’s your chance again to assist the Ronald McDonald House and watch the PGA Web.com Tour stop in August in Springfield, if not win prizes. The tournament has gifted almost $13 million to children’s charities in its history.

About the Ronald McDonald House

RonaldMcDonald-Bonnie

In her tucked-away office at the Ronald McDonald House near Cox South Hospital, Keller cannot help but beam.

This is an organization that, thanks in part to the PCCC, has grown tremendously over the years. In 2002, it dispatched a dental truck. In 2012, it opened a second facility near Mercy Hospital in central Springfield. Each have served important causes, given many regional families turn to Springfield’s two major hospitals.

And to think the Ronald McDonald House has been part of the PCCC since its inception. Keller still remembers PGA great and Springfield native Payne Stewart turning out to support the event, and NBC “Today Show” meteorologist Willard Scott broadcasting live from Highland Springs Country Club.

That’s when the tournament in the early days was the Ben Hogan Greater Ozarks Open, and Ronald McDonald House was the primary charity – and handled just about everything, from sweepstakes tickets to securing sponsors.

“I’ve been really fortunate to be doing what I’m doing,” Keller said, and then offered words that you won’t forget. “It’s a great way to spend a life.”

Owen Blakey of Ava was born nine weeks premature but, thanks to the Ronald McDonald House, his family had a place to stay during his weeks-long care at the hospital.
Owen Blakey of Ava was born nine weeks premature but, thanks to the Ronald McDonald House, his family had a place to stay during his weeks-long care at the hospital.

Which is understandable when you think of the many ways Ronald McDonald House provides peace of mind for families – those with children, from pre-birth to age 21, who have been hospitalized because of a serious illness or injury.

Each House, which requires only a $7 overnight fee, is staffed 24 hours a day, 365 days a year by dedicated members of its management team and volunteers.

The House, which has facilities near Cox and Mercy hospitals in Springfield, has aided more than 11,000 families since opening, with nine nights the average length of stay. Since New Year’s Day 2016, the non-profit has cared for more than 500 families.

It’s truly a home. Each family has its own room, a comfortable bed and kitchen and laundry facilities. Donated food items are available in case they’re needed, and nearly every evening, volunteers and special outside groups prepare entire meals for guests.

Overall, it’s a place where families can deal more easily with the chaos and uncertainty brought on by catastrophic illness or injury.

And, if you’re curious of its real impact, just visit the Ronald McDonald House’s website. Scroll through the stories of some of the families assisted, and it’s easy to tear up – partly because of their situations but also because of the thanks they offer to the house.

For instance, take the Michael and Patti Brown family of Ozark, whose baby Jase also was born six weeks early.

This is how well the Ronald McDonald House made such a positive impact:

“We love going back and taking dinner to the families there now,” the family said, “as a small way to show our appreciation for all the Ronald McDonald House did for us.”

RISING STARS, RAISING HOPES

  • BUSINESS SPONSORSHIPS: Businesses also can support the PCCC through various sponsorships, such as the skyboxes on the 9th and 18th greens (with food badges), on-course signage and events such as a dozen Pro-Ams. Businesses also can donate a gift card with at least a $25 value in the name of your charity of choice to benefit them in the Golf Ball & Charity Auction presented by Copy Products, Inc. and University Plaza.

    The Ultimate sponsorship means air-conditioned seating on the 18th green and a chance to win a Corvette Stingray.
    The Ultimate sponsorship means air-conditioned seating on the 18th green and a chance to win a Corvette Stingray.
  • WIN A NEW TRUCK: The purchase of a $25 TLC Properties Charity Sweepstakes ticket can win one of 500 daily gift cards as well as grand prizes of $10,000 and a 2016 Ford F-150 XLT. It’s also good for a four-day tournament pass.

    Win this truck
    What a great truck for the Ozarks.
  • SEE THE FUTURE OF THE PGA TOUR: The PCCC is from Aug. 5-15, with the pros beginning play on Aug. 11 at Highland Springs Country Club. For tickets or other ways to assist, call the Price Cutter Charity Championship staff at 417-887-3400.

    Dawie vander Walt shows his winners trophy after the final round of the Price Cutter Charity Championship at Highland Springs Country Club in Springfield on August 16, 2015.
    Dawie vander Walt won the 2015 PCCC. (Photo courtesy of StidzMedia)
  • HELP RONALD McDONALD HOUSE: The Springfield non-profit offers two locations that provide temporary, home away from homes for families when their seriously ill or injured child is hospitalized far from home. To help or if in need of assistance, call 417-886-0225. Or visit its website at RMHCozarks.org.