Contact: Mike Singer, Executive Director
Ronald McDonald House Charities of Alabama
1700 4th Ave. South Birmingham, AL 35233
Phone 205-212-7262 Fax 205-212-7256
Email: mike.singer@rmhca.org
Ronald McDonald House Charities of Alabama to present Founders Award to Gene Stallings on August 20
Birmingham, AL (June 22, 2009) Ronald McDonald House Charities® of Alabama (RMHCA) will honor Coach Gene Stallings at its 7th Annual Founders Award Dinner and Auction on August 20 at Cahaba Grand Conference Center beginning at 6:00 pm. RMHCA will honor Coach Stallings for having made significant contributions to improving the lives of children. One of Coach Paul ‘"Bear" Bryant's "Junction Boys" at Texas A&M University from 1954-56, Gene Stallings was University of Alabama's head coach from 1990-1996 and coached the 1992 National Championship team.
Among other accomplishments, Coach Stallings has been an advocate for those with mental disabilities, after his son, Johnny was born with Down's syndrome. The Stallings Center, on the University of Alabama campus, was built to house the RISE Center, a program that serves children age birth to six who have known or suspected disabilities. Coach Stallings co-authored the book Another Season: A Coach's Story of Raising and Exceptional Son.
Introducing Coach Stallings will be the Founders Award Dinner Honorary Chair, football legend Bart Starr. Starr is Vice-Chairman of The Sanders Trust, which develops and acquires outpatient healthcare-related properties on or near hospital campuses. From 1956 through 1971, Starr was quarterback for the Green Bay Packers, leading them to five world championships. In 1977, he was inducted into the Professional Football Hall of Fame. From 1975 through 1983, he was Head Coach and General Manager of the Packers.
Stallings was the head football coach for Texas A&M University from 1965 to 1972. Stallings coached professional football for a total of 18years, including 14 years as an assistant coach to Tom Landry and the Dallas Cowboys and four years as head coach for the Cardinals in St. Louis and Phoenix.
Previous Founders Award recipients have been Max Cooper, Marianne Sharbel, Dr. Jim Dearth, Dr. Carden Johnston, Bebe Bugg, Dr. Wally and Mrs. Eugenia Carlo, and Denson Franklin.
All proceeds from the dinner and auction will benefit RMHCA. The cornerstone program, the Ronald McDonald House, is Birmingham's only affordable provider of temporary housing services focused on serving sick or injured children and their families who must travel to Birmingham for medical care. Since opening in 1979, the Birmingham House has provided shelter for more than 31,000 families. The House provides lodging, cooking, laundry facilities, internet and recreational facilities. Guest fees cover about 13 percent of the cost of operating the House. Local fundraising activities and other local revenue sources provide the funds required for on-going operations.
In addition, RMHCA has entered into a partnership agreement with DCH Regional Medical Center in Tuscaloosa to operate a Ronald McDonald Family Room in the pediatric unit. The Family Room, slated for opening by the end of 2009, will provide a day-use room for relaxation and respite for families with a child in the pediatric unit or NICU, and will include a kitchen, light snacks, computer, television and internet access and laundry facilities, all designed to allow parents to spend as much time as possible with their ill or injured child.
For ticket or sponsorship information, please contact Mike Singer at 205-212-7262 or mike.singer@rmhca.org.
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Ticket Information:
Advance Purchase: $25 for individual ticket and $40 per couple
At the Door: $30 for individual ticket and $50 per couple
To purchase tickets online, click here.
NOTE: Please select "Young Leadership Board (YLB) Events" under Gift Amount/Designation and enter "Red Stiletto Party" in the Comments Section.
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