The Chiefs and the Kansas City community raised more than $900,000 for Ronald McDonald House Charities of Kansas City (RMHC-KC) through flag sales during the 30th edition of Red Friday on Friday, Sept. 10. Over the past nine years, Red Friday sales have raised $3.7 million to help RMHC-KC continue its mission of keeping families close in times of sickness and need.

Through a partnership with McDonald's, the eighth edition of the Red Friday flag was sold in all Kansas City- and St. Joseph-area McDonald's locations and Kansas City Hy-Vee stores for a minimum donation of $5. For the fifth year in a row, the flags were also sold online and available for shipping around the world. The donation is the second-highest Red Friday contribution since the club began selling flags prior to the start of the 2014 season.

"The power of Chiefs Kingdom is so inspiring – it helps us see that when we unite as a city, we can make a big difference to families with seriously ill children, $5 at a time," Tami Greenberg, CEO of Ronald McDonald House Charities of Kansas City, said. "A huge thank you to the Hunt family, the Chiefs organization and each person who bought a flag this year for making an extraordinary impact on the lives of sick kids and their families in KC and beyond."

With this year's donation, more than $3.7 million has been directed to assisting Ronald McDonald House Charities of Kansas City as they reduce the burden of childhood illness on children and their families by providing a "home away from home" while the children are receiving medical care in Kansas City-area hospitals. For more information on Ronald McDonald House Charities of Kansas City, please visit www.rmhckc.org/.

"Red Friday continues to demonstrate the kindness and giving spirit of Chiefs Kingdom locally and across the globe," Chiefs President Mark Donovan said. "We have a strong relationship with Ronald McDonald House Charities of Kansas City and understand how their work keeps families safe and comfortable in what can be tremendously difficult times. We are so proud and grateful to join with McDonald's, our community partners and Chiefs fans everywhere to make this donation to help further the work that RMHC-KC is doing for families in our community and throughout the region."

For the fifth-consecutive year, Red Friday made a stop in Springfield, Missouri. In alignment with Red Friday in Kansas City, Red Friday flags were available at 55 McDonald's locations in Springfield and surrounding areas, as well as the Springfield Hy-Vee, for a minimum donation of $5. More than $87,000 was raised to benefit Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Ozarks. Red Friday flags were also sold at nine Topeka-area McDonald's locations, with more than $45,000 being raised to benefit Ronald McDonald House Charities of Northeast Kansas.

Red Friday honors the long-standing tradition of selling team-themed commemorative items around the city to raise money for local charities that was started by Chiefs Founder Lamar Hunt and the Chiefs Red Coaters. Since the inception of Red Friday, newspaper, magazine and flag sales have raised more than $4.2 million for local charities, with an emphasis on assisting youth in need.