Ronald McDonald House Charities of Tallahassee, Inc.

1/26/2010 - Dillard's Celebrates Long Standing Partnership with Ronald McDonald House Charities^®

^{More than $1.4 million donated to local RMHC
organizations through the sale of Southern
Living Christmas Cookbooks}

Little Rock, Arkansas, January 14, 2010 -- Dillard’s, Inc. (DDS: NYSE) (“Dillard’s”) announced today that it will make a significant contribution of more than $1.4 million to local organizations of Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC). This donation was made possible through the sale of Dillard’s exclusive Southern Living Christmas Cookbook. Ronald McDonald House Charities of Tallahassee will receive a check for $24,412 on Tuesday, January 26, 2010 at 11:00 a.m. at 712 East 7^th Avenue.

In 2009 Dillard’s offered a beautiful Southern Living Christmas Cookbook. This exclusive, 288 page hardbound cookbook is a go-to guide for the season with over 400 delicious recipes, plus menus and hundreds of inspiring photos. Profits from the sales will benefit local Ronald McDonald Houses operated by Ronald McDonald House Charities® in Dillard’s markets.

With this year’s contribution, Dillard’s has now donated over $5.9 million to Ronald McDonald Houses over the years. Denise Mahaffy, Vice President, said, “Partnering with Ronald McDonald House Charities gives all of us at Dillard’s an enormous sense of pride. We are honored to support the Ronald McDonald Houses in our communities.”

Marty Coyne, President and CEO of Ronald McDonald House Charities, said, “We are so thankful to Dillard’s for their continued support of Ronald McDonald House Charities over the years. Our Ronald McDonald House® program helps children access the highest quality health care and ensures families can face the weight of an illness together. RMHC wouldn’t be opening its 300^th House this year if it weren’t for the generous support of corporate donors like Dillard’s.”

About Ronald McDonald House Charities

Ronald McDonald House Charities, a non-profit, 501 ©(3) corporation, creates, finds and supports programs that directly improve the health and well being of children. Families and children being cared for at seventy-three percent of the most prestigious children’s hospitals in the world benefit from one or more of the RMHC core programs. Its programs are grassroots-driven to enable the Charity to offer help where children need it most – right in their own communities. RMHC makes an immediate, positive impact on children’s lives through its global network of local Chapters in 52 countries and its three core programs: the Ronald McDonald House®, Ronald McDonald Family Room® and Ronald McDonald Care Mobile®. RMHC and its global network of local Chapters have awarded more than $460 million in grants and program services to children’s programs around the world. These programs and grants provide a bridge to quality health care and allows families more time together helping in the healing process. For more information, visit www.rmhc.org.

About Dillard’s

Dillard's, Inc. ranks among the nation's largest fashion apparel and home furnishings retailers with annual revenues exceeding $6.9 billion. The Company focuses on delivering maximum fashion and value to its shoppers by offering compelling apparel and home selections complemented by exceptional customer care. Dillard's stores offer a broad selection of merchandise and feature products from both national and exclusive brand sources. The Company operates 313 Dillard's locations spanning 29 states, all with one nameplate - Dillard's. For more information, visit www.dillards.com or call 1-800-345-5273.

02/15/2010 - Food Check-Out Week celebrated at Tallahassee Ronald McDonald House

(Tallahassee, Fla.)—As the economic squeeze continues, many Americans remain concerned that the cost of a healthy diet is out of reach. However, according to an Agriculture Department study, the cost of eating healthy hasn’t changed as much as some less-healthy alternatives.

On Feb. 18, area county Farm Bureaus will host their annual luncheon at the Ronald McDonald House in Tallahassee. This event is an opportunity to showcase Florida agriculture for lawmakers and their aides.

Farm Bureau’s Food Check-Out Week, Feb. 21-27, focuses on helping Americans learn how to how to stretch their grocery dollars with healthy, nutritious food. America’s farmers and ranchers are committed to producing safe, healthy and abundant food. And they share a common concern with consumers when it comes to putting nutritious meals on the table while sticking to a budget.

The good news: a recent USDA report favorably supports the economics of healthier eating. Recent food price data show that prices for unprepared, readily available fresh fruits and vegetables have remained stable relative to dessert and snack foods, such as chips, ice cream and cola. Therefore, as defined by foods in the study, the price of a “healthier” diet has not changed compared to an “unhealthy” diet.

Eating healthier is even more convenient for Florida residents. With the state ranking second in the United States for sales of snap beans, fresh market tomatoes, cucumbers for fresh market, cucumbers for pickles, bell peppers, squash and watermelons. Florida also ranked first in the United States in the value of production of oranges, grapefruit, tangerines, and second for sugarcane for sugar and seed. Florida ranked second in the United States in sales of greenhouse and nursery products, sweet corn and strawberries.

Farm Bureau has developed Food Check-Out Week educational materials dedicated to helping consumers make healthier food purchases. Information on several topics including “Tips for Better Nutrition on a Tight Budget,” “How Much Should I Eat?,” “Understanding Food Labels” and “Understanding What MyPyramid Means” is available.

Additionally, the county Farm Bureaus in Leon, Hamilton, Jefferson, Madison, Lafayette, Suwannee, Taylor and Wakulla donated food and funds to the Ronald McDonald House in Tallahassee, recognizing the need everyone has to find solutions to feeding families healthful foods on a tight budget. The Ronald McDonald House provides a “home-away-from-home” for families of seriously ill children receiving medical treatment in the (CITY) area. The food will be used to help feed families staying at the house.

These county Farm Bureaus have been supporting the Ronald McDonald House for over 10 years as part of the Food Check-Out Week event.

Now in its twelfth year, Food Check-Out Week also highlights America’s safe, abundant and affordable food supply, made possible largely by America’s productive farmers and ranchers. According to the most recent (2008) information from the USDA’s Economic Research Service, American families and individuals spend, on average, less than 10 percent of their disposable personal income for food.

02/24/2010 Iraq Soldier makes huge donation to Tallahassee charity from Iraq with love. An early Christmas to Ronald McDonald House.

Charities thrive on donations. Without them, they can't survive. But it's not everyday you get a donation in the five-figure range from one person.

But that's what happened to the Ronald McDonald House of Tallahassee, and the person writing the check is overseas, fighting for our country.

Kathy Anderson has been the Executive Director for the Ronald McDonald House of Tallahassee for 16 years. And she'll never forget her trip to the mailbox last week...a trip that changed the house forever.

"It was a typical Monday morning, you are going through the mail and I see this pink envelope. I realize it's a military address and I'm thinking it's one of our families has gone and they are sending us back a picture," said Anderson, "And I open this sweet note and I open the flap and I expect a photo to fall out and a check falls out."

The check was for 10, 271 dollars. Sent in by Officer Malinda Kate Palmer Holt, (Senior Automotive Maintenance Officer/
Senior Ordnance Logistics Officer) stationed overseas in Iraq. Her story dates back 15 years when her granddaughter was born, one pound, 12 ounces, and 13 inches long.

Malinda and her daughter stayed at the Ronald McDonald House in Tallahassee for 14 weeks. An extraordinary amount of time, but the time and hospitality wasn't lost on the family. Because 15 years later, from Iraq. A check with love.

"The fact that they were there for my daughter, they fed her, they housed her," said Holt, "When a parent is going through that, they need that more than anything else. "

Nishaunte Johnson is all smiles these days. She's a healthy 14 year old girl living in Newberry, Florida. But 15 years ago, that wasn't the case.

"I remember seeing her foot. It was the size of the first joint and thumb. A tiny little thing, but someone was always with her."

In her letter, Malinda says my enclosed donation of 10,271 dollars will never repay the benefits reaped by my daughter during the 14 weeks Nishaunte was hospitalized, fighting for her life. I truly appreciate all you do, for families in distress.