The Chiefs and the Kansas City community raised more than $277,000 for Ronald McDonald House Charities of Kansas City during Red Friday and the Hunt Family Foundation 50/50 Raffle at the home opener on Sunday, Sept. 11.
On Friday, Sept. 9, nearly $240,000 was raised through Chiefs Kingdom flag sales throughout the greater Kansas City area. The total amount raised marks a single-day record for Red Friday fundraising in the event's 25-year history, surpassing the previous record of $196,000 set last year. Following Red Friday, over $37,000 was raised through the Hunt Family Foundation 50/50 Raffle at the Chiefs home opener against the San Diego Chargers.
"Ronald McDonald House Charities of Kansas City is overjoyed with the outcome of another year of fundraising for our charity on Red Friday. We are extremely grateful for the support of the Chiefs and the entire Chiefs Kingdom," RMHC-KC CEO Tami Greenberg said. "As a result of the outpouring of generosity, we will be able to provide a 'home away from home' for 87 families with seriously ill children every night providing accommodations, meals and support, and keeping families close when they need it most."
For the third year in a row, the Chiefs sold commemorative Chiefs Kingdom flags for Red Friday. A suggested donation of $5 was encouraged for fans wishing to obtain the limited-edition flag. Tens of thousands of flags were available at more than 130 locations including all Kansas City and St. Joseph-area McDonald's restaurants.
"We are thrilled that Red Friday has delivered another record-breaking donation to benefit Ronald McDonald House Charities of Kansas City," Chiefs President Mark Donovan said. "It is a great milestone to see this tradition reach 25 years of fundraising for local charities in the Kansas City community. On behalf of the Hunt family and the entire Chiefs organization I want to thank Chiefs Kingdom for joining together and investing in our local youth and their families."
Outside of the Kansas City area, the Red Friday celebration expanded for the first time to Wichita, Kansas, where flags were sold out. Sales reached more than $20,000, benefitting the Boys & Girls Clubs of South Central Kansas and Hutchinson. The Boys and Girls Clubs focus on enabling young people to reach their full potential as productive, caring, responsible citizens by providing them with a safe place to learn and grow with ongoing stable relationships.
For the second year, Red Friday made its way to Omaha, Nebraska, with flag sales raising more than $5,000 that will benefit the Omaha Parks Foundation. The Omaha Parks Foundation recognizes the financial challenges of the Parks and Recreation Foundation and aids to assist in special projects that are not usually able to be covered. This year's funding went to the Miller Park project, aimed towards the restoration and improvement of the Kerrie Orozco Memorial Ballfield.
Red Friday honors the long-standing tradition of selling team-themed publications around the city to raise money for local charities started by Chiefs Founder Lamar Hunt and the Chiefs Red Coaters. Since the inception of Red Friday, newspaper, magazine and flag sales have raised over $1 million for local charities, with an emphasis on assisting youth in need. Through a partnership with McDonald's, all of the net proceeds from this year's flag sales go 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/.
