IDAHO FALLS – Ronald McDonald House Charities of Idaho (RMHC of Idaho) is excited to announce that its 2021 Summer Drive-In Movie Series held at the Idaho Falls Motor Vu Drive-In raised over $40,000 to help families with sick or injured children at Eastern Idaho Regional Medical Center (EIRMC).
The 2021 summer drive-in movie series received support from several generous sponsors. Blue Cross of Idaho was the 2021 presenting sponsor. Movie sponsors include Teton Toyota, EIRMC, Idaho Central Credit Union and Intermountain Anesthesia. Silver Star Communications, INL/BEA and McDonald’s owners and operators in Eastern Idaho (Trent Cichos family and Mary Johnson family) were this year’s movie supporters. Riverbend Communications was the media partner for the movie series. The Motor Vu hosted the events and provided a portion of the concessions sales to RMHC of Idaho.
Friends of RMHC of Idaho sponsors for specific movie nights include Bank of Idaho, Bank of Commerce, Westmark Credit Union, Marcom LLC, Fisher’s Technology, Ernie and Gloria Unger, The Girls Tribe, IE Productions, Teton Wealth Management, City of Ammon, and the Idaho Falls Civitan Club, The Bike Shop provided support to the event by donating a 27.5” Norco Storm bike for a drawing.
“We are about supporting families – helping them during their difficult days at the hospital and keeping them close,” commented Lori Priest, RMHC of Idaho community engagement director for Eastern Idaho. “The drive-in provides an opportunity for families to get out, be safe and have fun together while supporting the families we serve. It has been a great way to raise awareness that the Family Room is here when families with sick kids at EIRMC need a home away from home, It is also an opportunity to raise funding to provide services to these families at no cost. We are very grateful for our sponsors and the support from the Eastern Idaho community to raise over $40,000 to support local families.”
RMHC of Idaho operates three programs across Idaho including the Ronald McDonald House in Boise, Happy Wheels Hospitality Carts in Boise and Twin Falls, and the Ronald McDonald Family Room in Idaho Falls. The Family Room is located inside EIRMC and first opened its doors in September of 2019. Since opening, the Family Room has supported more than 700 families and had more than 4,100 visits.
The Family Room provides families with a home-like environment where they can get something to eat, take a shower, do laundry, watch television, take a nap, or even stay the night, all within steps of their sick child. Any family with a sick child at EIRMC is able to use the Family Room, whether they live right in Idaho Falls or traveled from outside the area. Having a child in the hospital is a huge financial burden for families. There is no cost for families to use RMHC of Idaho’s services and generous donations from the community make this possible. 100% of the funds raised stay local to support RMHC of Idaho programs.