The University of Alabama at Birmingham Athletics
UAB Men's Basketball Delivers Dinner To Ronald McDonald House
5/11/2005 12:00:00 AM | Men's Basketball
May 11, 2005
BIRMINGHAM, Ala. - Head Coach Mike Anderson and members of the UAB men's basketball team took time out on Tuesday to provide food and fellowship to families of sick and injured children by delivering dinner to the Ronald McDonald House in Birmingham. Anderson and the Blazers delivered Domino's Pizza to the families staying in the facility, located just off the UAB campus.
Anderson and members of the UAB coaching staff also participated in Monday's charity golf event aimed at raising funds to support the Ronald McDonald House, which provides affordable temporary housing services focused on serving sick or injured children and their families. Many of the residence are from communities around the state of Alabama which do not have comprehensive specialty medical care, meaning the families must travel to Birmingham for such services.
 Junior forward Brandon Tobias chats with a family member.  |
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"We get an enormous amount of support from UAB and from UAB athletics," Roberta Shapiro, executive director of the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Alabama (RMHCA) said. "In addition to the visit from Coach Anderson and the Blazer basketball team, the UAB volleyball team provides dinner twice a month during the school year and the women's track and field team has made a monthly commitment."
The RMHCA's Volunteer Meals Program, which is supported a variety of civic, school and religious organizations, youth groups, school, restaurants and individual families, assures that a warm meal is waiting for the families at the Ronald McDonald House approximately 80 percent of nights they stay.
"Having a sick child is not only an emotional challenge for a family, it often quickly becomes a financial challenge as well," Shapiro explained. "The cost of meals can quickly add up, especially for our long stay families that may be with us for weeks and months at a time. In addition, the dinner meal provides an opportunity for guest families to connect and support each other through a sometime scary and difficult time."
 The UAB Blazers dish out the pizzas at the Ronald McDonald House on Tuesday. |
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Anderson and the Blazers served pizza to the families, shared stories and signed autographs.
Since opening in 1979, the Birmingham House has provided shelter for more than 26,000 families. The facility provides lodging, cooking, laundry facilities, internet and recreational facilities. Guest fees cover less than 10% of the cost of operating the house. Local fundraising activities and other local revenue sources provide the majority of funds required for operations.
