The Annual Ronald McDonald House Golf Tournament is the second largest fundraising effort for the Denver and Aurora Ronald McDonald Houses. Countless individuals and companies pull together each year to play their part in raising money to provide a “home away from home” for families with a child who needs care from a Denver metro hospital. The Taddonio Family and Mile Hi Foods have eagerly helped
coordinate the golf tournament since 1993 by facilitating various facets of the event, from finding an attractive location for the tournament to soliciting silent auction items to providing food items for the golfer’s goody bags and meals. Tony Taddonio dedicated his efforts to the Golf Tournament for the past 19 years in addition to acting as a Board Member for the Ronald McDonald House during the build of another Denver House. Pam, Kristy and Toni Taddonio worked alongside him at the Golf Tournament but volunteered for the Ronald McDonald House in other ways as well. Pam put on the first, Denver Ronald McDonald House Run in 1987, Kristy chaired the Denver Ronald McDonald House Gala in 2008 and sat as a Board Member, and Toni Taddonio was the top fundraiser for the National Ronald McDonald House Charities in 2009 for the Chicago Marathon. After increasing discussions between the members of the Taddonio Family, they realized their ability to give back to the community could only be enhanced by creating a non-profit foundation of their own. The Mile Hi Foods Foundation, Inc. became a reality in March of 2010. By June, the Mile Hi Foods Foundation, Inc. received IRS 501(c) 3 status allowing all contributions to be eligible as tax deductions. By October, the Mile Hi Foods Foundation, Inc. became the Taddonio Family Foundation, Inc. Tony Taddonio took the first step to establish the good will of the foundation by hosting the 18th annual golf tournament to benefit the Ronald McDonald House in the summer of 2010. Preparation began in January for the double shot-gun, scramble tournament and silent auction, at Hiwan Golf Club in Evergreen, Colorado. With over 210 golfers, 52 silent auction items, 30 volunteers, and a few elk making an appearance after dinner, the tournament raised an excess of $80,000 for the Denver and Aurora Ronald McDonald Houses. The success continued with the 2011 tournament hosted again at Hiwan Golf Club. None of this would have been possible without the continued, gracious support of the following companies: Mile Hi Foods, East Balt Bakery, Cargill, Bama Companies, Condies Foods, Turano Bakery, Ready Foods, McCandless Truck Center, Misson Produce, Freeway Ford, MHC Kenworth, McDonald’s, Golden State Foods, ConAgra Foods, Coca Cola, Dr. Pepper, Keller-Lory Insurance, Chipotle Mexican Grill, Noodles & Company, Rush Truck Center, Vox Printing Inc., and JoLee Management Company. The local community also stepped in by providing donations for the silent auction, food, signs for the holes, and additional foursomes of golfers. The Foundation reduced the operating cost, using barely over 30% of the income to cover the overhead of the event. The Taddonio Family expresses their sincere gratitude for the donations of all these great companies.
