Ronald McDonald House
Monday, Jan.19, 2009
A couple of years ago, my niece and nephew were collecting tabs from aluminum cans to benefit the
Ronald McDonald House. I am sure that you realize that the Ronald McDonald House is a place for families of seriously ill children to stay while their
child has to be in the hospital for treatment. It is really a great cause. I became interested and did some research.
The first Ronald McDonald House opened in Philadelphia in 1974. Fred and Fran Hill's daughter Kim was undergoing treatment for leukemia. During Kim's three years of treatment, the Hills grew tired of sleeping the hospital waiting room and eating meals out of vending machines. Fred, who was a player for the Philadelphia Eagles at the time, rallied the support of his teammates and General Manager Jim Murray; D. Aubrey Evans from The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia; and local McDonald's franchisees to create Ronald McDonald House.
30 years later, there are now over 200 Ronald McDonald Houses in the United States and over 50 houses internationally. Founders of the first Ronald McDonald House in Philadelphia selected the name "Ronald McDonald House" because this beloved clown is a symbol of happiness to children around the world.
Since the opening of this first house, the name "Ronald McDonald House" has become synonymous world wide as a home away from home for families.
So what is small, shiny, weighs about a gram & helps families of seriously ill children?
A pop tab!
That little insignificant tab you pull to open your can of soda is like a gold nugget to the Ronald McDonald House of Charleston. With community support the Ronald McDonald House of Charleston has recycled 107,000,000 pop tabs, producing tens of thousands of dollars for House expenses!
So AgentOwned Realty chose this as our charity for 2008 ---- we have collected so many tabs --- we have not turned them in yet, because we have decided to continue for 2009.
Fun Facts:
1 inch = 1 pop tab
1 foot = 12 pop tabs
1 meter = 40 pop tabs
1 lb. = 1,267 pop tabs
1 km = 40,000 pop tabs
1 miles = 63,360 pop tabs
A pop tab withstands up to 110 pounds per square inch of tension exerted against it by the carbon dioxide in the soda. But, only 3-4 pounds of pull on the tab causes the tab to rupture, releasing the contents inside.
The ring pull can was invented in 1962 by Dr.Emal Fraze
So, it takes 1,267 tabs to equal 1 lb. and 1 lb of pop tabs brings 40 cents to Ronald McDonald House.
By the way, my niece and nephew's classes won the contest for their school with my families' help (the family drinks a lot of sodas). Now, AgentOwned Realty is collecting the tabs so that perhaps we will be responsible for at least juice boxes if we can't build a room --- both very important.
Maybe this will encourage others to adopt the Ronald McDonald House --- collect tabs --- so simple to do.
Liz Loadholt
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