The Red Deer Rebels and ATB Financial have teamed up to score a ‘hat trick’ for Central Alberta’s soon-to-be built Ronald McDonald House. To raise much-needed funds, ATB and the Rebels created the “Lids for Kids” promotion. 101 Rebels hats were autographed by current and former players including Dion Phaneuf, Brandon Sutter and Landon Ferraro.
ATB Financial volunteers sold the ‘lids’ for $15 each during the Rebels game versus the Edmonton Oil Kings on January 2nd. Amazingly, all 101 hats were snapped up before the end of the first period, raising $1,515 towards construction of Red Deer’s Ronald McDonald House.
“It’s absolutely fabulous to see the community’s commitment to not only the Rebels and ATB’s initiative, but to the Ronald McDonald House project,” said Mary Moran, past president of Ronald McDonald House, Southern Alberta. “We’ve had a very warm welcome in Red Deer and this is just another indication of how the community is behind this project.”
Moran said ‘Lids for Kids’ not only raised money for the project, it also helped increase awareness for Ronald McDonald House in Central Alberta. Construction of the $12 million facility is set to begin in March, several months ahead of schedule, thanks to tremendous fundraising efforts like ‘Lids for Kids’.
Red Deer’s Ronald McDonald House will be the third facility of its kind in Alberta. The house will provide a place to stay for out-of-town families who have children being treated at Red Deer Regional Hospital. “Our purpose is to take away any unnecessary stress from what is already a very stressful situation of having a sick child,” said Moran. “It will be a real compliment to what is already really good service at that hospital. This will make it easier for the families who come.”
‘Lids for Kids’ is just one example of ATB Financial’s commitment to Ronald McDonald House in Alberta. In 2008, ATB contributed $100,000 towards construction of a playroom for Edmonton’s Ronald McDonald House.
