American Legion's 25th District Helps LLRMH "Grow to Meet the Need"

LOMA LINDA >> American Legion’s 25th District held their Annual Walk For Kids on Saturday, April 9, and spread more than hope and smiles as they donated all proceeds on Tuesday, May 24. This year the American Legion decided to contribute the proceeds to a local cause: Loma Linda Ronald McDonald House (LLRMH). Executive Director at LLRMH Mike Kovack and Event Manager Danielle Grout joined members of the 25th District of American Legion’s from various groups (Auxiliary, Sons, etc.) Carol Fuqua, Scott Fuqua, Hazel Diaz, and Charles Hicks Jr. outside the construction site of the expansion of Loma Linda Ronald McDonald House to officially donate the grand total of $5,931.50. According to District 25’s 3rd Vice Commander Charles Hicks Jr., they have been doing to Walk For Kids event for sixteen years, since 2000. Every year the 25th District family comes together to raise money for various organizations. Carol Fuqua, from the American Legion Auxiliary and co-chair, explained that the 25th District represents all of San Bernardino County, which includes 28 different posts. Therefore, the whole family gathers together every year for this event to play an instrumental role in raising money to help veterans and their communities. In previous years, they worked with and helped the Children’s Miracle Network and Children’s Hospital in Los Angeles. “This year we wanted to bring it closer to home since we’re all from the Inland Empire and LLUMC is the trauma center for the Inland Empire,” co-chair and American Legion’s Auxiliary’s Hazel Diaz explained. “We wanted to do something that would bring the donations to our community close to home.” According to Hicks, this is their first year donating their proceeds from the Walk For Kids to the Loma Linda Ronald McDonald House. “First year of many,” Diaz added. Loma Linda Children’s Hospital extends to patients and families throughout all of Southern California and a lot of these families are veterans or current service members, said Hicks. Fuqua explained that after they discovered a large number of veterans and active service members that were family members of patients of LLCH, they wanted to do something to help. The families of these patients get to stay at the Ronald McDonald House for just $10 a day and after the expansion and upgrade, it’s only $12 a day. According to Mike Kovack, it's not considered a fee, it is more of a donation that they will accept from families. After the presentation of the checks, the American Legion family got an up-close and personal look at the construction site new and improved LLRMH, as Kovack led them through a detailed tour. [END] Notes: Legion - $1702 Sons – 400 Aux – 3514.50 = 5616.50 + 315 = a total of 5931.50 Recording: Walk for Kids event happened April 9. Been doing the walk-a-thon for sixteen years, since 2000. Charles: first year doing it for the Ronald McDonald house. Have been doing to Walk for Kids since 2000 (for sixteen years) Previous years they would do it in the Children’s hospital of Hollywood. They worked with Children’s Miracle Network. “This year we wanted to bring it closer to home since we’re all from the Inland Empire and LLUMC is the trauma center for the Inland Empire so we wanted to do something that would bring the donations to our community close at home.” Hazel Diaz. “So this is our first year of many years to come,” Diaz said. Donating our efforts for children in youth departments for each of us District 25 serves all of San Bernardino County – with 28 (over 20) units. So they all come together, from different posts, to help raise money for a different cause every year. District 25 3rd Vice Commander Charles Hicks, Jr. explained, “The children at Loma Linda Children’s Hospital, their parents and family members come from all over Southern California. A lot of these families are veterans, current and retired service members. Some of these kids have appointments on a regular basis, sometimes daily. Sometimes they have to be hospitalized. The families get to stay at the Ronald McDonald House for just $10 a day. All their meals are taken care of and they can stay as long as needed.” The Walk is open to all who would like to support this cause. Participants can come on roller skates, push strollers or just walk for this event. District Chaplain and Post 777 Women’s Auxiliary member Carol Fuqua said, “We are all working together so the event goes well and we always enjoy the walking, cheering, and the friendship that has evolved over the years to make it such a success.” Everyone receives an award for participating, and there will be opportunity drawings during the event. Scott Fuqua from San Bernardino’s Post 777 said, “Since 2000 I have been actively involved with this annual Walk for Kids; it’s been our passion to raise money for a great charity.” Hicks summed it up saying, “Since Ronald McDonald’s House opened, they have served more than 18,000 families. The whole thing is community participation. Please come out. We need your support. Help us give a check to the Ronald McDonald house for $10,000!” The 25th District American Legion Family is made up of veterans who have served the country in the military; the Auxiliary who are wives, daughters, granddaughters, and sisters to the veterans; The Sons who are the sons and grandsons of the veterans; and Legion Riders who travel by motorcycle in support of the Legion Family.