On Thursday, March 27th, 40 excited and happily enthusiastic young children (ages 3, 4 and 5) from the Desert Gardens Preschool in Glendale will cut a celebratory ribbon to open the new “Ronald McDonald Out-of-this-World Children’s Space Patio” at the Challenger Space Center in Peoria. This festive ribbon-cutting, complete with Big Macs® for the little ones, will take place at 11:00 a.m.
The Challenger Space Center was awarded a $9,200 grant from Ronald McDonald House Charities to enable the non-profit Center to purchase a retractable sun awning, along with sturdy, outdoor tables, that have been placed on one of the Challenger Center’s exterior patios. The Ronald McDonald Out-of-this-World Children’s Space Patio will be used by literally thousands of schoolchildren throughout the year, allowing them to enjoy a shaded outdoor area in which to eat their lunches and/or take breaks during activities.
The Desert Gardens Preschool children will arrive with signed media releases, making them available for interviews and photos. In addition, executives from both the Challenger Space Center and Ronald McDonald House Charities will also be available for interviews.
A Ronald McDonald House® is a temporary home-away-from-home where the families of children being treated for serious illnesses or trauma reside while the child receives treatment at a nearby hospital or medical center. It is also a place where children who are receiving outpatient treatment are able to spend time with their families in a warm and cheerful environment. The Challenger Space Center will offer on-going free admission to the Center for all families staying at the Ronald McDonald House in Phoenix.
