Graham teams up with Ronald McDonald House
Graham with Ronald McDonald house guest Jeremy Smith of Springdale, Arkansas | August 15, 2008 - Shayne Graham has announced a newly formed partnership between the Shayne Graham Foundation and Ronald McDonald House Charities of Greater Cincinnati. Graham has named Ronald McDonald House a beneficiary of his Foundation and is serving as a designated spokesperson for Cincinnati's Ronald McDonald House.
"I am especially moved by the care and support that Ronald McDonald House provides for families traveling to Cincinnati seeking medical attention for their critically ill children," Graham said. "I am pleased to name Ronald McDonald House a beneficiary of the Shayne Graham Foundation. I look forward to speaking publicly on behalf of all the families who call Ronald McDonald House their home away from home."
At his side as he made the announcement were Graham's special guests, 12-year-old Jeremy Smith of Springdale, Arkansas, and his mother Kim Stewart. It was appropriate that Jeremy and his mother represented the guest families of Ronald McDonald House, as they have been living at the House for more than a year. On August 14, 2008, Jeremy celebrated the one-year anniversary of his successful bone marrow transplant.
Speaking about their year at Ronald McDonald House, Jeremy's mother Kim Stewart says, "I don't know what we would have done without Ronald McDonald House. I'm so impressed with all the good people involved here - the staff, the volunteers and Cincinnati's community of caring people, like Shayne Graham. I'm always amazed at how much is done for all of the families who live at Ronald McDonald House."
Graham | Ronald McDonald House Executive Director Jennifer L. Goodin states, "We are very pleased about our newly formed partnership with Shayne Graham. Shayne is well known for his community outreach and his compassion for those in need. This local partnership between the Shayne Graham Foundation and Ronald McDonald House Charities of Greater Cincinnati will have a far-reaching, global effect as families from throughout Ohio, across the United States and around the world come to Cincinnati seeking medical treatment for their critically ill children."
Established in 1982, Ronald McDonald House Charities of Greater Cincinnati provides a caring, supportive "home away from home" to families seeking medical attention for their critically ill children. More than 1,100 families each year call Cincinnati's Ronald McDonald House "home." With their 30-room expansion currently under way, Cincinnati's Ronald McDonald House, beginning in April 2009, will be able to serve an additional 500 families each year, making it the third largest of 277 Ronald McDonald Houses around the world.
Cincinnati's Ronald McDonald House is neither owned nor fully funded by McDonald's or Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center. The House does not receive city, state or federal grants, and is not a United Way agency. As a private not-for-profit entity, Ronald McDonald House is grateful for the support received from McDonald's and from Cincinnati Children's Hospital Medical Center, as well as thousands of generous contributions from other corporations, private individuals, foundations and more than 200 active House volunteers. For more information on Ronald McDonald House, go to rmhcincinnati.org.
The Shayne Graham Foundation is a non-profit organization established in 2008 that provides resources to under served children and other charitable initiatives. The foundation's mission is to lend assistance to those in need and be an organization that makes a lasting impression, empower those who want to make a difference and strengthen communities.
When it comes to working for the betterment of his community, Graham has quickly become one of the "go-to" players on the Cincinnati Bengals. Graham was the Bengals team nominee last season for the Walter Payton NFL Man of the Year Award. For more information on the Shayne Graham Foundation, visit shaynegraham.com.
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