













FRIDAY, APRIL 17, 2026
OZARK SHOOTERS SPORTS COMPLEX / 759 US-65 Walnut Shade, MO









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OZARK SHOOTERS SPORTS COMPLEX / 759 US-65 Walnut Shade, MO










As spring arrives, so does one of our newest events—our 1st Annual Hearts & Clays Tournament, benefiting Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Ozarks. Set for Friday, April 17, 2026, at the Ozark Shooters Sports Complex, this event brings our community together for a meaningful day of connection and impact.
The day will begin with breakfast provided by McDonald’s of the Ozarks, followed by a 15-station sporting clays tournament for all skill levels. Guests will also enjoy games and a silent auction before wrapping up with lunch and a prize presentation.
We are deeply grateful for the generous sponsors who make this event possible, including our Founding Sponsor Cloud Real Estate Group; Scorecard Sponsor, Edward Jones; Platinum Sponsor, Earp Distribution; Gold Sponsors, Kudu Grills, Hawthorn Bank and :Lamb Weston and Station Sponsors Arkifex, Central Bank of the Ozarks, Downrange & Dialogue, Fields Mechanical Systems, Mike & Amy Pease, Smile Zone, and Springfield Plumbing. Their support reflects the heart of this event and the strength of our community. (donors committed as of 3/17/2026)
We’re thankful for the generosity already shown by participants, sponsors, and volunteers. Be sure to stay tuned—next quarter’s newsletter will feature photos, results, and highlights from this inaugural event!
STAFF:
January 23rd
Anna Majerus
February 21st
Jennifer Grooms
March 7th
Baylor Hodges
Lorna Schudy
March 20th
Tristin Adee
CORE VOLUNTEERS:
January 2nd
Amy Grubaugh
January 7th
Julia Herigodt
January 13th
Mackenzie Nelson
Jude Daues
January 15th
Kim Stagner
January 17th
Brenda Podewitz
February 11th
Scott Weitzel
February 19th
Ann Griesemer
February 20th
Crystal Schneider
March 2nd
Samanatha Ball
March 9th
Rebecca Reser
March 14th
Travis Weitzel
March 22nd
Carol Harris
BOARD MEMBERS:
January 17th
Peter Lai
January 26th
Michael Cho
January 29th
Lisa Castleman
February 17th
Rachel Simons
February 22nd
Allison Lamphear
March 13th
Trevor York
March 31st
John West
Thanks to the incredible generosity of McDonald’s, our Founding Mission Partner, and our community, the 33rd Annual Share a Heart Campaign was a tremendous success—raising an incredible $128,041 to support families staying at Springfield’s two Ronald McDonald Houses!
For more than three decades, the Share a Heart Campaign has brought our community together in a powerful way, inviting individuals and businesses alike to make a meaningful difference for families with seriously ill or injured children. This year was no exception. From the first heart purchased to the final day of the campaign, the Ozarks showed up in a big way.

The Share a Heart Campaign has now raised over $2.6 million in its 33-year history! This campaign would not be possible without the generous support of our sponsors. We extend our sincere thanks to McDonald’s of the Ozarks, our Presenting Sponsor, for their continued partnership. We are also grateful to our Leadership Sponsors, Edward Jones, KY3 and Great Southern Bank, who created additional excitement through social media giveaways. We would also like to thank Supporting Sponsors Mid-Am Metal Forming and Colorgraphic Printing. And last, but certainly not least, is Harter House and their customers who contributed more than $7,000 to help our families!
We are grateful to every individual who purchased a heart, made a donation, shared a post, or encouraged others to participate. It is because of you that Ronald McDonald House can continue to be a true “homeaway-from-home” for families across the Ozarks. We are deeply grateful for your support and look forward to continuing this incredible legacy together.



The success of the Share a Heart campaign is a culmination of the efforts and generosity of so many individuals and organizations, but none more so than our Share a Heart Champion, TJ Slocum.
In 2025, TJ reached an incredible personal milestone, raising a record-breaking $20,020 for the Share a Heart Campaign. His commitment and enthusiasm continue to inspire everyone around him, and this year’s achievement is a true reflection of the heart he brings to our mission.
Even more remarkable, with this year’s total, TJ has now raised over $200,000 for Share a Heart since 2008.
Behind TJ’s success is a family that has been equally devoted to the mission. Randy and Debbie Slocum have worked tirelessly alongside TJ over the years, helping to raise both funds and awareness for Ronald McDonald House. Together, their efforts have created a lasting impact.
TJ’s journey is a powerful reminder of what’s possible when passion meets purpose. His generosity, consistency, and heart for service embody the very spirit of Share a Heart.
We are beyond grateful for TJ, Randy, and Debbie, and for the incredible difference they continue to make for the families we serve.

1 year
Lindsey Allen Family Care Manager
Anna Majerus Family Care Manager
22 years
Kim Booth Development Assistant
2 years
Shantel Doyle
Cox House Volunteer
Ashley French Director of Philanthropy
Vanessa Goetz
Cox House Volunteer
3 years
Samantha Ball
Mercy House Volunteer
Alexandra Ross Mercy House Volunteer
Crystal SchneiderCox House Volunteer
4 years
Jennifer Grooms Family Care Manager
7 years
Brenda Podewitz Cox House Volunteer
8 years
Rebecca Reser Cox House Volunteer
24 years
Kim Stagner
Cox House Volunteer
Current Active Volunteers:
Lynette Brady
Terri Carr
Jude Daves
Shantel Doyle
Vanessa Goetz
Amy Grubaugh
Jake Johnson
Nick Johnson
Landon McMillen
Eileen Meinsen
Larry Meinsen
Don Nance
Gabriella Norcross
Brenda Podewitz
Beka Rasor
Becky Reser
Crystal Schneider
Jullian Schroeder
Welcome, New Volunteers to the Cox House:
Jake Johnson, Nick Johnson , Jullian Schroeder
Current Active Volunteers:
Samantha Ball
Aly Brown
Cyndi Bussen
Olyvia Comer
Sandy Emberton
Tristian Failla
Alana Foster
Ann Griesemer
Sarah Han
Carol Harris
Tamika Hawkins
Chiquita Hendrick
Julia Herigodt
Zachary McCubbins
Alexandra Ross
Barb Ruark
Welcome, NewVolunteers to the House at Mercy Kids:
Randy Slocum
Adriana Smith
Grace Stagner
Kim Stagner
Scott Weitzel
Travis Weitzel
Kathy Rice
Maddie Schmidt
Grayden Schmitz
Molly Stood
Cyndi Bussen, Olyvia Comer, Tamika Hawkins, Maddie Schmidt, Grayden Schmitz
President & CEO
Bonnie Keller
Director of Finance & Administration
Debbie Kinser
Tooth Truck Program Director
Mindy Muñoz
Director of Philanthropy
Ashley French
Development Assistant
Kim Booth
Development Coordinator
Randell Boggs
Volunteer Coordinator
Baylor Hodges
RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE
NEAR COX SOUTH
Program Assistant
Austin Gormley
Family Care Managers
Tristin Adee
Lindsey Allen
Alexis Baker
Erin Buff
Brooke Gonzalez
Anna Majerus
Zac McCubbins
Lorna Schudy
RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE AT MERCY KIDS
Program Manager
Marisa Baese
Program Assistant
Makayla Martin
Family Care Managers
Lindsey Allen
Skylar Ball
Brooke Gonzalez
Jennifer Grooms
Julie Holt
Anna Majerus
Jack Osborn
Lorna Schudy
Team Janet is a Meals from the Heart group that has been coming to the House for many years now, and their dedication to providing meals that are not only delicious but also fun for the families is always amazing to see. They always take the time to sit down with the families who come and eat, and get to know them, as well as provide a listening ear when they are sometimes really needing it.
When did your group start providing meals for the House?
Originally, we were a small group from Second Baptist Church, which at first was not known as Team Janet, but over time, that is the name that we adopted! “Janet and Friends” was the name we originally created, but one of our group members kept referring to us as Team Janet, and that just stuck! Around 2017/2018 is when we started going by Team Janet. Our group has been serving dinners at the house for years and years, though. Sue in our group has been serving dinner here at the House since 2007!
What are your favorite things about participating in the Meals from the Heart program?
At the end of a stressful week in our own lives, when we come and serve dinner at the House, it really puts into perspective for us that the problems we are facing can be so small in comparison! To be able to provide a meal to these families that are going through such a hard time and being able to provide them with a warm meal that can provide even just a moment of relief means the world to us! We also just love to cook in general, though! Do you have any favorite memories?
Around a lot of the holidays, we do themed dinners that are always a lot of fun, but we also try to just do fun dishes! Just to name a few, during Thanksgiving we do an Everything Stuffed theme, during Christmas we do an Everything Wrapped theme, and for Halloween we have made “bloody fingers” before, which is just hot dogs wrapped in crescent rolls with ketchup all over them. Our most recent meal
Angie Patrick
Ann Henderson
Annie Uhrlaub
Big Whiskey’s
Buffalo Church of Christ
Buffalo Wild Wings
Castlewood Senior Living
Chartwells Cox IT Cox South Dietitians
Hamilton Family Heart of New Start
Jack Henry- Team Hamburglar
Julie Pappenfort
RONALD MCDONALD
Arvest Bank
Bambino’s
Barnabas Foundation
Bauer Orthodontics
Beta Sigma Phi
Borntrager Family
Bricktown Brewery
Buffalo Wild Wings
Cedar Ridge Church
Cheryl Busch
Coleman Group
Cross & Crown

for March featured shamrock themed dishes!
What would you say to other groups who are considering volunteering?
Serving a meal for the families at the House is some of the easiest charity work you could do, and you are able to provide a slice of happiness to all the families in the House who get to enjoy a warm meal!
Kelley Patient
Little Sunshine Preschool
Meredith Bosso
Oak Grove Assembly
Pappo’s Pizzeria
Parkcrest Baptist
Pizza Ranch
Denice Godwin
Dexter Ecommerce
Fordland Church of Christ
Good Spring Church
High Street Church
Jack Henry
Jordan Heinz State Farm
Kamryn Hesington
Kouma Family
Life Church
Little Caesars
Megan Welch
Mercy Cardiology
Mercy Epic Mission Control
Mercy Pre-Registration Team
Mercy Regional Resource
Nichole Stearns
North Point Church
NOVA
On Angel’s Wings
Pi Beta Phi & Kappa Alpha- Drury
Pisgah Baptist Church
Pizza Ranch
Red Shoe Society
Pyatt Dental
Russell Family Team Janet Union Hill Church of Christ Zion Lutheran
SBU Nursing Southeast Rotary
TownePlace Suites
Universal Miss University Plaza Hotel
Ziggie’s
We've got several opportunities for you and your friends, organization, or family to adopt one of our open family dinner dates. Be sure to check our website for the most current openings. https://rmhcozarks.org/ volunteers/meals-fromthe-heart/
COX: 4/19, 4/23, 4/24, 4/25, 4/26, 4/29, 5/2, 5/3, 5/4, 5/6, 5/9, 5/10, 5/11, 5/20, 5/22. 5/23, 5/24, 5/29, 5/30, 5/31, 6/1, 6/3, 6/4, 6/6, 6/8, 6/10, 6/13, 6/14, 6/15, 6/17, 6/21, 6/26, 6/27, 6/28, 6/29
MERCY: 4/17, 4/19, 4/20, 4/27, 4/28, 4/29, 4/30, 5/1, 5/2, 5/4, 5/5, 5/6, 5/10, 5/11, 5/13, 5/15, 5/16, 5/17, 5/18, 5/21, 5/23, 5/24, 5/25, 5/26, 5/29, 5/30, 5/31, 6/1, 6/3, 6/5, 6/6, 6/7, 6/8, 6/10, 6/14, 6/15, 6/16, 6/18, 6/19, 6/20, 6/21, 6/22, 6/23, 6/25, 6/27, 6/28, 6/29, 6/30
Ronald McDonald House was honored to host the Missouri Farm Bureau for their annual "Thank a Farmer" celebration. It is always a highlight of our year to see the way these local communities rally around our mission. We are incredibly grateful to the representatives from Greene, Dade, Christian, Stone, Wright, Barry, and Webster Counties, along with the Glendale and Willard FFA Chapters.
Food Items
Shelf stable milk
K-Cups
Individual coffee creamer
Individually wrapped snacks
Canned soda
Bottled water
Gift Cards
Gas cards Walmart Amazon Target
Family Items
Beauty gift sets for women
Body wash sets for men
Adult and child activity books
Travel coffee mugs
Deodorant
Fleece throw blankets
Small gifts for children
Gifts for teens
Miscellaneous Items
White Queen fitted sheets
White matching bath towels
Bakeware
Cookie sheets
Set of pots and pans
Daily planners
Lip balm
Small bottles of lotion
Crayons
Blank note cards
Notebooks
Board games
Rubik’s cubes and mind puzzles
Playing cards
Travel-size hand sanitizer
Travel manicure sets
Individual packs of tissues
On-the-go drink mixes
Small stuffed animals
Sweatpants (all sizes)
Boys, Girls, Mens and Womens Underwear (new and unopened) – all sizes
They combined forces to provide a generous monetary donation and checked off a huge chunk of our current wish list items. As well as a pizza delivery to fuel our team and families!








We are incredibly grateful for the ongoing support of Alpha Delta Pi! Their recent donation drive resulted in 330 paper towels, 300 canned goods, and a significant collection of pop tabs for our local RMHC chapter. Not to mention the significant funds raised during the Share a Heart Campaign. It’s through the dedicated efforts of student organizations like ADPi that we are able to provide a "home away from home" for families in need. Thank you for your leadership and your heart for service!
A warm welcome to one of our newest volunteers, Cyndi Bussen!
Born and raised in Missouri, Cyndi has known about RMHC for a long time. With previous work experience in the healthcare field, Cyndi has seen firsthand how beneficial our support is for families. She was eager to find a way to participate, and we are excited to welcome her to our volunteer team!

our families.
Cyndi has volunteered with other local non-profits including Convoy of Hope and the Down Syndrome Group of the Ozarks and is looking forward to supporting our House environment for
Julia Herigodt first started volunteering with RMHC at the Mercy House in Spring 2025. As a student at Drury University, Julia got involved through a school capstone project. Julia’s own family has experience with the Ronald McDonald House in St. Louis, so saying yes was easy and after the project was complete, she returned last fall!
In her free time, Cyndi enjoys being married (30 years) and spending time with her kids Cal (22) and Macy (20). Cyndi recently traveled to Munich, Germany over Christmas and has picked up rock painting as a creative hobby!

Even as a busy sophomore studying Biology in the Pre-PA program, Julia is a pillar on our volunteer team with weekly shifts. Her room cleaning skills are superstar level, but Julia really loves cooking and baking for families in the House. In her limited free time, she enjoys traveling with her family and watching romantic comedy movies with her friends and sorority sisters – go Zeta Tau Alpha!

Julia encourages new volunteers to ask questions. “When you first start here, you know how to clean a room... but you don’t know ‘how to clean a room’,” she said with a laugh. We couldn’t do what we do without our incredible volunteers, and questions are always welcome to help everyone learn and support our mission.
INGREDIENTS:
• 4 ⅔ cups Rice Krispies cereal
• 10 ounces marshmallows about 40 regular OR 6 cups of mini marshmallows
• 4 tablespoons salted butter
INSTRUCTIONS:
1. Line a baking tray with parchment paper and set aside. Spray a large bowl with cooking spray and add the cereal. Set aside.
2. In a microwave-safe bowl, place the marshmallows and butter. Microwave for 1 minute on high. Stir very well until the mixture is smooth. Add green food coloring and stir. Add additional coloring until desired shade is achieved.
3. Pour the marshmallow mixture over the cereal and stir very well until the cereal is evenly coated. TIP: Spray the spatula with cooking spray for easy mixing.
4. Scrape the treats onto the prepared baking tray Spread and flatten evenly to ¾-inch thickness. The shape will be about 10-inches by 12-inches.
5. Let cool 2 hours.
6. Use the shamrock cutter to cut out shamrocks. Enjoy!
7. Optional: To decorate the shamrocks, pipe a black smile. Use the black icing to adhere candy eyes. Let set.


One week a year simply isn’t enough to honor the incredible Social Work and Child Life teams at CoxHealth and Mercy.
These teams are the vital link between Ronald McDonald House and the families who need us most. Because of their dedication, families

There is a new BASE student at both the Mercy and Cox Houses! BASE (Business Associated Student Education) is a community-based vocational program that provides students with opportunities to develop career awareness, exploration, assessment, and positive social skills for successful integration in the world of work and society.
Lexxi spends two days a week at the Mercy House, and Jullian spends five days at the Cox House performing cleaning and organizing tasks, helping
are connected to the rest and support they need during life’s most difficult moments.
We presented them with this small gift to show just a glimpse of our immense gratitude for the difference they make every single day. We are honored to be your partners in care!
families alongside staff, and learning about the many ways RMHC strives to help our families. BASE students learn new skills while also building on their personal strengths and developing new confidence.
The BASE student program is a great way to connect with our community and continue to share about RMHC. We have an amazing and diverse team of volunteers who help us provide incredible support to our families. The BASE program has been a wonderful complement to RMHC!
McCoy Kuhs started quite the hospital journey on December 30th, 2025. After getting sick with RSV & Pneumonia, McCoy was admitted to the PICU at Mercy in Springfield and his parents, Taylor & Christian, checked into the Ronald McDonald House. McCoy received ventilator support at first but was soon sedated for breathing tube support. It was at this time that McCoy was diagnosed with Wolff-ParkinsonWhite syndrome (an extra electrical pathway in the heart that causes episodes of abnormally fast heart rates). McCoy was then transferred to Children’s Mercy in Kansas City the next day for further care.


While in Kansas City, the Kuhs family was supported by Ronald McDonald House Kansas City. Christian shared that staying close to McCoy during their three-week stay was so helpful as they live in Branson and worried about the far distance. “Oh my gosh, what are we going to do here, we don’t have anywhere to stay, we don’t know what’s going on, how are we going to wash clothes? So that was just absolutely amazing for us to have that ability…and we don’t have to leave the hospital. Because when you’re wanting to stay with your little man, who’s eight months old, through all this…”
McCoy recovered well and the family came back home on Saturday, January 17th. Soon after, however, Taylor and Christian could tell McCoy
was in a lot of pain. On Thursday, January 22nd, just before the snowstorm, they brought McCoy back to Mercy in Springfield where McCoy received emergency surgery for a perforated bowel. The Kuhs family checked back into the Mercy House on January 23rd for support once again. McCoy is now in the healing process and making great progress.


“[Staying at RMHC] has been really a big stress reliever. My wife and I take turns to come in here and relax for a second, free the mind up for a minute and get a good night’s sleep on the bed which, they’re really comfortable by the way! And we have two other kids, and it’s not always easy to get a babysitter. We have family but they have lives, too. So on the weekends they’ve been staying up here with us which is really helpful and amazing, because when you’re spending so much time away from them it just breaks your heart. We get to be able to spend time with them and have that connection that we know they’re craving. I can’t speak enough about it honestly, it’s an amazing deal.”
The Kuhs family took sweet McCoy home on February 5th and we wish him a smooth recovery! We were honored to offer support for this family a few times during McCoy’s extended medical journey.
Jackson Carroll Will Conley
Kenzie Denney
Bianca Dunlap
Kia Gould
Kaylee Ludwig
Joslyn Magers
Sherri Murdaugh
Brayden Pierce
Samara Sims
Aubrey Sparrow
Zina Umran
Sophia Webert
Ella Werner
1 Year
Rebekah Paredes
Jackson Carroll
15 Years
Dr. Sarah Cimino
January 13
Jackson Carroll
January 29
Dr. Lisa Castleman
February 14
Dr. Caryl Earp
February 16
Amanda Honor
February 22
Ella Werner-Click
February 22
Dr. Alison Lamphear
Tooth Truck volunteer Brayden Pierce had this to share about his experience with our organization and his involvement in securing a grant benefitting our patients and brushing participants.
As a pre-dental student at Drury University, my experience volunteering with the Tooth Truck has been insightful, educational, and very fun! I am currently in my second year as a volunteer, and exposure to dentistry and non-profit work has been invaluable to my journey towards becoming a dentist. The Tooth Truck stands as an excellent

opportunity for college students to get realworld dental knowledge with common dental procedures as well as gain rewarding community service experience- it was a key component of my dental school application! My favorite part of volunteering with the Tooth Truck is definitely interacting with the kids receiving treatment and making them feel welcomed. It's also fun to see the joy on their face when they get to take a lost tooth home for the Tooth Fairy! Helping to make them laugh or simply acting as a friendly face before treatment makes all the difference in easing any anxieties they may have.

Brayden Pierce shares his experience volunteering with the Tooth Truck The brushing cling was funded through Drury's Community Partnership Grant
The Tooth Truck is fulfilling a crucial role within the Greater Springfield Area. Access to dental care in Southwest Missouri is extremely limited, especially because of the state’s pressing shortage of dentists and limited acceptance of Medicaid insurance by most dentists in Greene County. This lack of access has particularly affected kids, with 29% of
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Drury students volunteered one afteroon to help assemble goody bags
Missouri children having untreated tooth decay. Long term, these gaps in access will lead to Springfield children becoming at risk of developing debilitating oral health issues, which can affect basic daily activities such as eating and talking. In some cases, complete tooth loss is likely triggering a cascade of dental disease. It is because of this that the Tooth Truck’s mission is so vital — they are fighting back to restore healthy smiles to our city!
To aid in this mission, I had the unique opportunity to write a grant proposal through Drury University’s Community Partnership Program. Through this grant, Drury and the Tooth Truck were able to partner to fund almost 5,000 educational mirror clings to be given to patients! These colorful clings stick to bathroom mirrors and act as fun reminders
for children to practice healthy oral hygiene habits. It is our hope that these tools will help children build strong dental care routines to prevent dental disease in the first place! As a second component of this grant project, the Drury Pre-Dental society was able to volunteer to assemble the oral hygiene kits given to each Tooth Truck patient and Healthy Smiles Academy participant, which also included the new mirror clings! It was a rich experience to see the grant project move from just an idea to a physical tool being distributed across the city. To be a small part in bettering children’s oral health of Springfield, whether through the Partnership grant or on the Truck has been deeply meaningful, and I am grateful for Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Ozarks and Drury for allowing me the opportunity!
PRESIDENT &
Muñoz
GENERAL DENTIST
Dr. Sarah Cimino
HEALTHY SMILES ACADEMY
Womack
COMMUNITY DENTISTS
Dr. Aaron Dannegger
Dr. Caryl Earp
Dr. Emily Rockne
DENTAL ASSISTANTS
Amanda Honor
Rebekah Paredes
Megan Sanders
Pasty Santiago
Kassidy Tuttle
OFFICE COORDINATOR
Mellissa Glass
949 E. Primrose Street
Springfield, Missouri 65807-5257
RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED


Have you heard about the Red Shoe Society of the Ozarks? This dynamic group of young professionals is making a meaningful impact on our community while championing the mission of Ronald McDonald House of the Ozarks.
Through a shared passion for service, members come together to network, volunteer, and support fundraising efforts that directly benefit families staying at the Houses. Their commitment helps expand our reach, grow our volunteer base, and ensure we can continue providing comfort, care, and a "home-away-fromhome" for families during difficult times.
We are incredibly grateful for the energy, leadership, and heart the Red Shoe Society brings to the Ronald McDonald House community.
Interested in getting involved? To learn more about joining, contact Ashley French at 417-875-3541 or ashley.french@rmhcozark.org.