McDonald’s recently announced its 2013 Inspiration Celebration Gospel Tour raised more than $83,000—the most the tour has ever garnered—in support of local Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) Chapters. With its seventh year wrapped, Inspiration Celebration Gospel Tour, a free national concert series featuring a lineup of gospel greats, is designed to bring service, encouragement and entertainment to communities and emphasize the importance of giving back. This year’s nine-city tour, hosted by gospel artist/comedienne Vickie Winans, kicked off May 9 inWashington, D.C., and featured gospel music heavy-hitters Smokie Norful and son Ashton, Lecrae and John P. Kee, Tamela Mann also performed in select cities.
For the last four years, McDonald’s Inspiration Celebration Gospel Tour has supported the cornerstone program of RMHC, the Ronald McDonald House, which provides support for families with sick or injured children.
In support of the tour’s mission, Winans and Norful visited two Ronald McDonald Houses in Chicago. They met with parents and played with children who benefit from the program’s aim to help families stay together, heal faster and cope better. Ronald McDonald Houses offer families with ill children low-to-no-cost lodging. Last year alone, the Charity saved families around the world more than $311 million in hotel costs.
“When you see their faces, you wouldn’t know that these families are going through so much,” Winans said. “Their ability to be positive and resilient in the face of difficult times is truly awe-inspiring.”
So if the concerts were free, how was money raised you ask, well this I am sure you will love. As a part of the show, concertgoers were treated to behind-the-scenes footage of the visits Winans and Norful made to Ronald McDonald Houses and learned more about the important role RMHC plays in keeping families together and helping children heal. Attendees also had the opportunity to participate in a love offering to support families served by the Charity, including those in their community.
“Visiting a Ronald McDonald House was a humbling experience,” Norful said. “As a gospel artist and pastor, I am honored to have participated in something that emphasizes loving your neighbor and giving back to your community.”
In addition to Washington, D.C., the 2013 McDonald’s Inspiration Celebration Gospel Tour performed before maximum-capacity crowds in Philadelphia, Newark, Birmingham, Atlanta, Detroit, Chicago andLouisville before culminating in Dallas August 30 at Bishop T.D. Jakes’ MegaFest.
McDonald’s launched theInspiration Celebration Gospel Tour as an extension of its 365Black platform, which celebrates the pride, heritage and achievements of African-Americans year round. Learn more about this campaign and other initiatives of McDonald’s by visiting www.365Black.com!
