Horses and Legends, Oh My!

So, remember how a while back I compared everything happening at the house to a day at the racetrack? Well, that's kind of humorous now because we ARE hosting a day at the races! HA! In just about a week and a half [April 17th], the Ronald McDonald House is hosting a fund raising event at Keeneland where we'll eat food, watch the races and gamble...all in the name of charity. Can a fundraiser get any better? I doubt it can. All of us interns - Marla, Erin and myself - get to attend and hang out with donors all day, so we're all pretty pumped. Not only pumped about races and fun people, but also the fact that we get to dress up, which gives me a reason [and justification] to go shopping for something lovely and racetrack worthy. [I don't know if the other two girls are as excited about this as I am.] It's not going to be a bad way to spend a spring Friday in the the lovely Bluegrass.

THEN, two days later, we're having our Ronald McDonald House night at the Lexington Legends game vs. the West Virginia Power. [Also, the name "West Virginia Power"? Is it because of the coal? Or am I missing some kind of connection here?] One of the kids from the House will be throwing out the first pitch and we will have a booth where we'll be playing games and giving out fun prizes. Any and all who are reading this should attend and come say hello!

So, as you can see, many exciting things are coming up!

On a different subject, I attended a webinar [webinar: online seminar which can also include phone dial-ins. I'm not a huge fan.] on Facebook usage for non-profit organizations. It was incredbily interesting to talk about where the world of social networking is heading, especially in the realm of non-profit. They discussed fundraising, how language is different online [stiff, serious, typical non-profit language won't work], and where Facebook is going. The woman who led this webinar is also hosting one on Twitter, which I think would be the most interesting of all. Twitter is another animal all in itself, that is currently holding the record for highest ROI. Incredible. In any case, I'm trying to wrap my mind around this whole social networking/marketing realm and it's interesting to see everyone else scrambling to do the same. Exciting times ahead.

Okay, before I go I have to tell this story. A few weeks ago, Kelly [our volunteer coordinator] and I were working late on a Friday night, trying to finish up a huge pile of volunteer letters that needed to go out the following Monday. We were tired and sick of folding and addressing and just about to go crazy from it all, when we were interrupted by one of the most tantilizing smells ever smelled. A young couple who is staying at the house generously volunteered to cook dinner that night and gloriously succeeded in preparing one of the best meals the house has ever seen. Kelly and I stuffed ourselves with a chicken alfredo concoction, seasoned potatoes, mouth-watering garlic bread and...chessmen cookies. Oh my goodness, chessmen cookies. We ate so much, that upon our return to her office, we had to take a break from doing anything. You know a meal is good at that point. The best part of the meal though was talking to the couple, who are seriously two of the sweetest people I've ever met. They're young and fun, full of hope. I love seeing them around the house, which always makes me smile. So many great people and things happening here. Maybe I'll have more on them later.

Until then.