RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE CHARITIES® GRANT HELPS MAKE
2008 KIDS FITNESS FESTIVAL A HUGE SUCCESS

(From left to right; Ricky Wade, PBC McDonald’s Franchisee, Gerry Baron, Executive Director of Palm Beach County Sports Institute, Soraya Rivera-Moya, Executive Director of the Ronald McDonald House Charities of South Florida and
Jeff Zipper, Chairman of the Kids Fitness Festival)

WEST PALM BEACH, FL- The Palm Beach County Sports Institute teamed up with the Ronald McDonald House Charities® (RMHC) of South Florida to present the 2008 Kids Fitness Festival of the Palm Beaches.  One of South Florida’s favorite children’s events, the Kids Fitness Festival was held July 17th and 18th at the Americraft Expo Center at the South Florida Fairgrounds. This year’s event drew a record number of over 6,300 kids aged 5 to 13 all interested in sports.

Ronald McDonald House Charities of South Florida presented the Palm Beach County Sports Institute with a check for $20,000 on Friday, July 18th to help fund the Kids Fitness Festival of the Palm Beaches.

According to Jeff Zipper (SunTrust) the Kids Fitness Festival offered something for everyone.  “Elementary and Middle school children were given the chance to learn the basics of 47 different sports from the area's leading instructors.  Professional Sports Teams and Sports Facilities were also in attendance sharing their sports experience with the kids.  These included; the Florida Panthers, Roger Dean Stadium, the International Polo Club, Florida Atlantic University, the Florida Marlins, the Bennie Blades 36 Foundation and many others.  Kids could also spend time in the midway, play games and interact with professional athletes and mascots.  Parents were able to enjoy the educational expo, food, and interactive games.”  He said.

Soraya Rivera-Moya, executive director for RMHC of South Florida stated:  “The Ronald McDonald House Charities of South Florida is once again privileged to partner with the Palm Beach County Sports Institute and the Kids Fitness Festival to promote the well being of children through sports.  It is an excellent and well planned event, something RMHC strongly supports.  We hope to continue supporting it and being part of it, for years to come.”

The Kids Fitness Festival of the Palm Beaches is sponsored by: Cardinals-Marlins Fund of the Community Foundation for Palm Beach & Martin Counties, ESPN Radio 760, KOOL 105.5 FM, Primetime Palm Beach County, Inc., Publix Super Markets, Ronald McDonald House Charities of South Florida, Salud al dia Magazine, South Florida Parenting, The Blum Foundation and The Palm Beach Post.

The event is managed by: The Palm Beach County Sports Institute and Commission.

For more information about the event contact Rachel Miller at (561) 233-3178 or rmiller@palmbeachsports.com

About the Palm Beach County Sports Institute
The Palm Beach County Sports Institute is a 501(c) (3) not-for-profit organization that provides local youths the opportunity to learn sportsmanship, teamwork and citizenship through sport. The Sports Institute also promotes character development through sporting activities, lifelong physical fitness, a drug-free lifestyle and safe and fun access to healthy activities. 

About Ronald McDonald House Charities of South Florida
Ronald McDonald House Charities of South Florida was established in 1988 as a non-profit foundation dedicated to helping local children live happier and healthier lives.  They are committed, through their grant program, to funding solutions that address serious children’s issues – pediatric cancer, child abuse, youth suicide, are just a few of their efforts.  Since their inception they have given over $3,500,000 in local grants.  RMHC of South Florida also helps support its cornerstone program the Ronald McDonald House, which is a “home-away-from-home” for families who travel hundreds of miles outside their own community to seek medical treatment for a child.  Currently there are two Ronald McDonald Houses in South Florida; the Miami House is located on the grounds of Jackson Memorial Medical Center and the Fort Lauderdale House on the grounds of the Broward General Medical Center.  RMHC of South Florida’s goal is to build a third Ronald McDonald House in Palm Beach County.