The Chattanooga Chapter of the American Inns of Court raised $23,850 last month by holding a charity auction to benefit the Ronald McDonald House. The total fundraising effort includes amounts raised through auction items purchased at the event attended by Inn Members, as well as individual donations made by Inn Members.

“Donations to our organization are essential to help us carry out our mission of serving children and families during some of the most difficult moments of their lives,” says Jane Kaylor, CEO of the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Greater Chattanooga. “This year’s contribution from the American Inns of Court is so appreciated. The pandemic continues to challenge traditional fundraising efforts.

Just as in 2020, our revenue numbers are down from pre-pandemic years and additional safety considerations pose new challenges for our volunteer force.”

Chattanooga’s chapter of the Ronald McDonald House opened Nov. 18, 1990. The organization provides housing and meals for more than 500 families annually who have critically ill or injured children undergoing inpatient and outpatient treatment at nearby Chattanooga hospitals, including childhood cancer patients treated in the Hematology/Oncology Clinic at Children’s Hospital.

RMHC serves families from 21 surrounding counties in Tennessee, Georgia, Alabama and North Carolina, with families staying at the RMHC an average of 15 nights. Generally, it costs about $75 per night to house a single family in the RMHC facility.

The organization also staffs and supplies the Ronald McDonald Family Room located on the third floor of Children’s Hospital at Erlanger. The Family Room offers families a place to rest, eat, wash clothes, take a shower and relax while being just steps away from their loved one’s bedside.

The auction items at the Inns of Court event were donated by local judges and attorneys, as well as area shops, restaurants and artists.

“We’re fortunate and proud to be part of a community that prioritizes giving back,” said Inns of Court President Katherine Lentz, who is a Chattanooga native and practicing attorney at Grant Konvalinka & Harrison.

More than 150 lawyers and judges belong to the Chattanooga chapter of the Inns of Court. The organization aims to improve the skills, professionalism, ethics and civility of the bench and bar.

To learn more about the local Inn and its programs, contact Ms. Lentz at 423-756-8400.