Fundraiser held at SentryWorld

By Kate Knight

The Ronald McDonald House of Marshfield will host “The Night That Love Built” at SentryWorld in Stevens Point on Thursday, Feb. 25 at 6 p.m.

Tickets are $60 per person for those ages 21 and older. The Night That Love Built will raise awareness and funds to help provide food and shelter for families and children served by Marshfield’s Ronald McDonald House.

This is one of the first events of its kind for RMH of Marshfield with more than 13 sponsors including News Line 9, Midwest Communications, Associated Bank, First Weber Inc.–Stevens Point, Coca-Cola and others.

The Night That Love Built will feature live music by Boogie and the Yoyo’z, a photo booth, food stations and drinks. Auction and raffle items include jewelry donated by Wickersham Jewelry, tickets to Country Thunder, the Milwaukee Bucks and Brewers, artwork donated by UW-Stevens Point students, and themed baskets.

Families served by RMH of Marshfield will also share their personal stories with attendees at the event. Organizers are expecting a turnout of 200 to 300 people and hope to raise $15,000 by the end of the night.

“When you look for a cause, you want something that is going to make a difference and the money is going to the right place,” said event organizer Kayla Cywinski. “Funding goes to help people stay at the house and to run the house since we are based solely on community donations.”

RMH of Marshfield was founded in 1983 as “The House That Love Built” because of the community contributions that made it possible, Cywinski said. The house provides families of seriously ill children a place to stay, regardless of their ability to pay, during health-related hardships. “The whole night is love themed – from the food to the auction baskets,” Cywinski added.

She emphasized that RMH itself promotes a theme of “togetherness.” “We want you to feel like you’re not alone in the situation you’re going through. Let’s say you have a baby in the NICU (neonatal intensive-care unit), we will give you food, warm shelter – you don’t have to worry about staying in the hospital or at a hotel. You can stay here, and it’s like a safe haven.”

“We don’t only provide families food and basic things like that, but we also provide Christmas presents for the kids who spend the holiday there,” Cywinski added. “It’s like a home away from home – just a different experience. Parents want to be near their child no matter what.”

RMH of Marshfield is one of three Ronald McDonald Houses in the state of Wisconsin, with other locations in Madison and Milwaukee. The Marshfield location serves a majority of families from northern and central areas of the state.

“I think it’s hard because you look at the world, and you see a lot of bad,” Cywinski said. “But just a little bit of change can make a difference. That’s what I’m looking forward to – how we can make an impact in our community.”

The McDonald’s located on Division Street in Stevens Point will hold a pre-event fundraiser on Thursday, Feb. 18 for RMH of Marshfield from 4 to 7 p.m. Ten percent of all sales will go toward the house, and ticket prices for The Night That Love Built will be discounted to $55 per person.

To learn more about The Night That Love Built and buy tickets, visit www.bit.ly/rmhlove or www.RMHlove.brownpapertickets.com. Tickets can also be purchased at McDonald’s locations in Stevens Point, Wausau and Marshfield.

More information about the Ronald McDonald House of Marshfield can be found at www.rmhc-marshfield.org.