NATB Gives Back... Stories From Ronald McDonald House

The other day I wrote a blog post entitled Charity Begins at Work Too. It tells the story of a group of men and women that make a living selling tickets for Broadway Shows, Concerts, Sporting Events and other entertainment attractions around the country. It reveals the tremendous amount of charity work that is being done between the NATB (National Association of Ticket Brokers), its nearly 200 members and Ronald McDonald House Charities. RMHC gives children with medical challenges from all over the world a chance to receive much needed treatment as well as family housing at a local RMHC chapter.

The cause is an important one friends. All we have to do is think for an instant about how lucky we are to have healthy children right?

Anyway, I have been fortunate to work with a fantastic group of folks on the NATB Charity Committee that has been tasked with asking their fellow ticket brokers to give lots of tickets to preseason NFL football games all over the country as well as much needed volunteer time at local Ronald McDonald House's around the country. Now that the preseason games have begun and our regional coordinators, staff, family and friends have paid visits to local RMHC chapter locations, we are receiving lots of feedback from our volunteers.

If you have a minute, maybe you can read a few of their stories. They'll warm your heart. I know they sure did that to mine.

Here they are, more will follow for sure. Be well friends.
Sincerely,
Rich Gladstone
Applause Theater Service
NY,NY 10036
web site
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****Volunteer Stories****
Story #1
Dear All,
I delivered the 98 tickets that we collected for Seattle this past Tuesday. We had 35 tickets for Game 1 and 63 for Game2. All of the donors have been mailed a receipt for tax purposes already.

The facility consists of 3 buildings housing 80 families. It is currently the second largest house in the US. One building is only 10 units (6 one bedroom and 4 2 bedroom apartments) and is locked down pretty much 24 hrs a day. These are the most critical children. This house works closely with Children's Hospital of Seattle and primarily serves as the main destination for critical children with bone cancer. Unfortunately, despite all of their efforts, 63 children in 2008 and 51 children in 2007 passed away while receiving treatment, care, and services at Children's Hospital and the house. Dianna Finnerty is the Executive Director and I toured the 3 buildings. Of course they have huge kitchens and pantry's to service 80 families and several game rooms, audio visual and media library, computer learning centers and a 20 seat theatre donated at a cost of 150 K by former Seattle Sonic Rashard Lewis. I will work with the local brokers to fill the volunteer hours and ask for their participation in the October 17th formal Gala being held in Seattle. This is the main fund raising event for the Seattle house and I hope that the brokers will participate by buying a sponsor table. The house has an annual budget of 3.3 million, 23 full time staff, and 500 volunteers throughout the year.

I'll download some pictures later this weekend and forward them on to everyone.

Keep up the good work,

Roger JonesVegasTickets.com & Alliance TicketsDenver - Seattle - Las VegasCorporate Office5154 S BroadwayEnglewood, CO 80113303-781-2220303-781-0934 faxrjones@alliancetickets.com

Las Vegas Office4305 S Dean Martin DrSuite 125Las Vegas, NV 89103702-795-7880702-795-7863 faxroger@vegastickets.com
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Story #2 (this has two parts)
PART #1
Thanks, Roger. My donation form is attached. I am donating 20 tickets total (with a total face value of $726). After talking to Kathy, I did not have any tickets for the first pre-season games for Tampa Bay or Jacksonville. The second pre-season games for both of those teams were already at the quota, so I decided to go a different route and donate for some other teams/cities.

I will be contacting the RMHC here in Orlando and seeing how I can help. I am currently a one-man shop here, so I am hoping that they'll have something for which my whole family can help out (me, my wife, and my three oldest sons, and possibly one or more grand-parents). Since I spend a lot of time working the ticket brokerage (and my other job), I don't have much time with my family. So, I would love to donate some of my time - as long as I can do so with my family. I'll keep you updated on my discussions with RMHC.

I would not mind being on the committee at some point, but, for now, I'm going to have to pass. I have too many things going on right now. However, I may be able to help out as the next season approaches.
Thanks again,

Randy Lenci
Star Struck Tickets
760 Magenta Dr
Ocoee, FL 34761
ph. 407/350-1434
fax 407/403-5544
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Story#2/Part #2

Roger,
Wanted to give you an update...

My family and I toured the RMHC @ Florida Hospital in Orlando this past Thursday morning. It was a fantastic tour and an amazing facility. We have scheduled a Share-A-Meal for October 11th and plan on that being the start to our activities with them.

I'll keep you updated on how it goes.

Thanks,
Randy Lenci
Star Struck Tickets
ph 407/350-1434
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That's all for now. If you want to help give some volunteer time or donate some tickets, have a look at the NATB Gives Back link. Take care now.
Regards, Rich Gladstone/Applause Theater Service

National Association of Ticket Brokers "Gives Back"

If you've ever purchased tickets for a Broadway Show, Sporting Event or a Rock Concert anywhere in the United States, you may have had the opportunity to buy your tickets from a member of the NATB, which stands for the National Association of Ticket Brokers. The NATB is a non-profit trade organization made up of nearly 200 or so legitimate ticket resellers throughout the country. The NATB has a "code of ethics" and represents its ticket broker members as well as the active promoting of "consumer protection" whenever the public engages in the purchasing of tickets. In addition the NATB has been actively promoting members to be "good neighbors" in their communities. We think the best way to be a good neighbor is simply by "giving back" to our local communities where we run our businesses all around the country.

Although most people know that a legitimate ticket broker provides a much needed service for a reasonable price, I'd like to share a story with you that you may not be aware of. Our NATB organization has just "kicked off" an official multi-year partnership with Ronald McDonald House Charities which will include ticket donations from many NATB ticket broker members as well as volunteerism at local Ronald McDonald House chapters throughout the United States. This new partnership is part of the NATB Gives Back 32 for 32 Program where ticket brokers, their staff and families have generously given tickets to NFL preseason football games as well as volunteer time to assist the families of children with difficult medical challenges.

According to Marty Coyne, the President and CEO of Ronald McDonald House Charities, he said "RMHC and our local chapters rely on the generous donations of our corporate partners and the NATB is providing valuable contributions in terms of volunteers and entertainment for our families. Our families are going through difficult medical situations with their child, and NATB is giving them a chance to relax and take their minds off their worries-if only for a few moments. This partnership is a natural extension of our mission to support families-both financially and emotionally-during a very difficult time of their lives."

The three year 32 for 32 Program will donate 32 tickets for every NFL preseason game in each of the 32 NFL markets. In addition, our members are giving 32 hours of volunteer time at one of the many Ronald McDonald Houses around the country.

As of today the NATB has donated $117,661.64 in NFL ticket donations as well as 298 hours of volunteer time. Wow! Every day there are more and more volunteers from NATB ticket broker companies all over the country giving additional tickets and acts of volunteerism. I am personally so proud of the people that are helping out with this effort. For a list of contributors click here.

If you're a ticket broker and can help the NATB in its mission to help the Ronald McDonald House Charities by giving ticket donations of any kind or volunteer hours, we would greatly appreciate your assistance today. Every minute counts. Any ticket donations are greatly appreciated. It feels so great to help others in need.

Please click here and see how you to can join the NATB in its mission of "giving back" to the Ronald McDonald House Charities.

Thank you for caring.

Rich Gladstone
Applause Theatre & Entertainment Service (NATB Member)
311 West 43rd Street, suite 601
New York, New York 10036
local phone 212-307-7050
toll free 800-451-9930
web site