KANSAS CITY, Mo. – 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 Red Wednesday – the 32nd edition of Red Friday – on Wednesday, September 6. Over the past decade, Red Friday sales have raised more than $6.5 million to help RMHC-KC continue its mission of keeping families close in times of sickness and need.
In addition to the Red Wednesday donation from flag sales, the Hunt Family Foundation 50/50 Raffle during the club's 2023 NFL Kickoff Game against the Detroit Lions also benefited RMHC-KC. An additional $113,094 – half of $226,288, the largest regular season pot in raffle history – brought the total donation from this year's Red Wednesday celebration to more than $1 million.
Members of the Chiefs Community Caring Team, including S Bryan Cook, CB Trent McDuffie and Executive Vice President and Chief Marketing Officer Lara Krug, visited the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Kansas City today to make the formal announcement of the total amount raised and visit with youth and families at the house.
Through a partnership with McDonald's, the 10th edition of the Red Friday flag – featuring a Super Bowl LVII championship design – 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 seventh year in a row, flags were also sold online for $10 and available for domestic and international shipping.
"The Chiefs aren't just Super Bowl champions, they are champions for families at Ronald McDonald House Charities," CEO of RMHC Kansas City Tami Greenberg said. "We are so thankful to the Chiefs organization for wrapping their arms around this charity, and to our founding mission partner, McDonald's, for their lasting support. A million 'thank yous' to all of Chiefs Kingdom for showing up on Red Wednesday this year and making such a huge impact, one flag at a time."
With this year's donation, more than $6.5 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/.
"We knew this Red Wednesday celebration had the chance to be special, and the people of Kansas City and members of Chiefs Kingdom truly delivered for Ronald McDonald House Charities of Kansas City," Chiefs President Mark Donovan said. "One of the many lasting legacies of founder Lamar Hunt, Red Friday continues to have incredible impact in our community, and it always helps the organization – and our fans – kick off the season. We are proud of how this community unites to rally around those who need it most and we are thrilled to be able to announce this donation alongside McDonald's with RMHC-KC staff and families today."
Red Wednesday (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 in 1992. Since the inception of Red Friday, newspaper, magazine and flag sales have raised approximately $8 million for local charities with an emphasis on assisting youth in need.
