2.22.2010: Ronald McDonald House Charities Big Top Ball

By Elizabeth King

In my opinion, there is no better way to lift your spirits than to help someone else. For the past three years, I've been helping the Ronald McDonald House Charities® raise money at their annual fundraising gala. I started by volunteering at the Game Show Gala (the 2008 annual fundraiser). Then I worked a little bit to prepare for the Chocolate Ball (the 2009 annual fundraiser). This year, I joined the Gala Planning Committee to get ready for last night's Big Top Ball.

The Big Top Ball was a big hit. There were tons of great games and entertainers, like a ring toss, a duck pond, a fortune-teller, a bearded lady, a man-eating chicken and a magician. Beau Baehman and Stephanie Schaefer, emcees for the evening, did a wonderful job of encouraging a lively circus atmosphere. The guests seemed to enjoy the silent auction, where they could bid on everything from a Branson weekend to a year's supply of Happy Meals®.

At the end of the night, all of the happy circus-goers took their prizes home, leaving lots of generous donations for the Ronald McDonald House Charities.