Members of the Chattanooga Chapter of the Americans Inns of Court — IOC Treasurer Adam Izell, attorney with Duncan, Hatcher, Holland & Fleenor, P.C.; Kara West, Chapter 12/13 Trustee; IOC President Chancellor Pamela Fleenor; and IOC Secretary Magistrate Ron Powers — present a donation check to Jane Kaylor (center), CEO of the Ronald McDonald Charities of Greater Chattanooga. Ms. West also serves as the Board Chair at the Ronald McDonald House.
The Justices Brock-Cooper Chapter of the American Inns of Court raised $14,650 for the Ronald McDonald House through a charity auction hosted and attended by Inn Members and through private donations.
"The donation is especially appreciated this year,” says Jane Kaylor, CEO of the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Greater Chattanooga. “The pandemic has caused us to cancel many of our 2020 fundraising events. Over the last year, our event revenue was cut nearly in half and our dedicated volunteer force has been limited. But the need for our services has not stopped. The donation will help us continue to provide critical services to children and families in the Chattanooga area.”
Chattanooga’s Ronald McDonald House opened Nov.18, 1990. Every year, RMHC provides housing and meals for more than 500 families 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.
“It generally costs $75 per night to house a single family at our 28-bedroom facility," said Ms. Kaylor. "The donation from the Inns of Court will go a long way to providing vital support to local families when they need it most."
RMHC 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.
In addition to monetary donations, 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 appreciate that so many in our legal and business communities were willing to contribute, even in this most challenging of years.” says Chancery Court Judge Pamela Fleenor, president of the local Inn. “And special thanks to Samantha Lunn and Kara West for co-chairing the auction under the difficult circumstances the pandemic presented.”
More than 100 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 Chancellor Fleenor at 209-7380.