When Ermal Fraze invented the pull tab way back in 1959, he never dreamed that he would be making such a big difference in the lives of sick children and their families. He just couldn’t find a bottle opener! Fifty years later, the little tab you pull to open your soda, soup or any other aluminum can makes a significant impact on Cincinnati’s Ronald McDonald House. By collecting the tabs and turning them in to our Ronald McDonald House, you will help care for families who live at our House while their children receive much needed medical care. In 2009, recycled tabs helped raise more than $13,000 to help support our families.

The Ronald McDonald House Pull Tab Collection Program was established in 1987 by the Minneapolis/St. Paul Ronald McDonald House Community. Since that time, Ronald McDonald Houses all around the world have recycled BILLIONS of pull tabs and earned MILLIONS of dollars to help families in need. Thanks in part to all those tabs, families are able to live at our Houses for little or no cost.

This is an easy and fun project for schools, clubs or other large groups, as well as individuals and families. All you need are a few collection containers and a lot of enthusiasm. Save your tabs in any container you can find. Some examples might be cleaned milk jugs, coffee or Pringles cans, Ziploc bags, boxes or plastic containers. Use your artistic talents to decorate your containers any way you like. You can even pick up Pull Tab Stickers from the House to help label your containers, or contact us to have a downloadable wrapper emailed to you. Make it fun and be sure to place your container in a visible location.

Tabs can be dropped off at our House any day between 9 a.m. and 9 p.m. Can’t make it to our House for a drop off? Take your tabs to your local aluminum recycler and send the check to us. (We do not recommend sending the tabs themselves, as the postage costs would outweigh the benefits.)

Save 1,000 pounds of tabs, and become a member of our Thanks a Million Club. You can also earn some rewards along the way.

This is a very simple fundraising idea for any team, especially in an office or school. Our House uses the money raised to pay for the expenses associated with the care and stay of families whose children are hospitalized. The object of the game is for each team to raise more money than their competition. Different coin or dollar denominations collected will either add or subtract from a team’s total, depending upon how you assign point values. Teams can ‘sabotage’ each other by dropping in ‘negative’ coins or bills to reduce the enemy’s total. Competition heats up, and Ronald McDonald House is the winner!

• Teams. Divide your teams by grade levels, classrooms, departments, floors – whatever way works for you.
• Containers. Each team will need their own container to collect their change. Have each group clearly label and decorate their container.
• Goal. Set a goal of how much money you would like to raise from the event. Also, be sure to set and advertise the start and end date of your campaign.
• Points. One way to play the game is to have all coins count for positive point values and any dollar bills represent negative point values. For example, a penny is worth 1 point, a nickel is worth 5 and so on. However, a dollar bill would take away 100 points or a fiver subtracts 500 points. A variation on this is to have pennies count for positive points, and all silver coins and dollar bills count for negative points. There’s no right or wrong way to play, so set the points and scoring according to your preference.
• Create hype. Post signs and send emails/ notices reminding your participants to save their pennies and spare change. Send notices to families about how this easy school fundraiser will work.
• Winners. The team that wins the penny war should receive some kind of a reward. Simple awards can be donuts, a pizza party, extra credit, longer lunch hour, a closer parking space, etc. Having a prize for the winning group will help add motivation throughout the competition.
• Matching Funds. Double your donation with a sponsor that offers to match your winnings!

Ronald McDonald House will award prizes to the entire organization for these donation increments:

Save $500 = Certificate of Acknowledgment
Save $1,000 = Visit from Ronald McDonald House speaker and gifts for your class
Save $5,000 = visit from Ronald McDonald himself and gifts for your Class

Please contact us with any questions. We thank you very much for supporting our families in need. Let the games begin!

Lisa Davis
Meals and Activities Coordinator
513-636-2760
ldavis@RMHouse.org