Rally for Kids with Cancer Scavenger Cup Miami: JR and Loren Ridinger Talk Charity
By: Daedrian McNaughton
We all have a story to share about one of the most chronic diseases of our time, cancer. We have all been affected by cancer in some way or another whether through family members, close friends or even ourselves. The Rally for Kids with Cancer Scavenger Cup is ignited by the desire to help Jackson Memorial Foundation, International Kids Fund (IKF) and Holtz Children’s Hospital, and takes place November 20th and 21st, 2009, in Miami. Participants’ will each raise a minimum of $25,000 online to enter their personal car which gives them the chance to draft a Celebrity Navigator such as Eva Longoria Parker; Adam Rodríguez, Actor, CSI: Miami; Lennox Lewis, former World Heavyweight Champion and many more. The higher the driver’s fundraising amount determines the draft position earned to select the Celebrity who will accompany Drivers on their Scavenger Cup adventure throughout the city.
Rally for kids is geared at raising funds to support kids who are affected by this chronic and dreadful disease and to improve their lives in the hopes that one day we may find a cure.
Premier Guide Media met with JR and Loren Ridinger, principals of Market America at a recent press conference held at the Eden Roc Renaissance Miami Beach, to announce Eva Longoria Parker as honorary chair of the first Rally for Kids with Cancer Scavenger Cup Miami. JR and Loren are passionate supporters of the cause, and encourage everyone to do the little they can to help make a difference for the children who suffer from this horrible disease. We hope you will get inspiration from this and support the cause. We will rally until we can celebrate a cure. Do your part every little counts.
What was your inspiration for getting involved with Rally for kids with Cancer?
JR and Loren Ridinger: Eva and I are very close friends, we vacation together we do everything together. I think that children are very special. When she came to me with the idea I could not say no. I am a mother, I have a 17 years old daughter and I can’t possibly imagine what it would be like if I had a child who was suffering with cancer. I feel its an obligation to give back. God has been good to us and we have to give back.
Do you have a personal story you would like to share? Is there anyone in your life who has been affected by cancer?
JR and Loren Ridinger: My mom died of cancer at the young age of 52 and I have a lot of friends who suffer from breast cancer. Its a horrible disease but to see children suffer for me its a killer. I can’t stand it and I feel that they don’t have a voice and they don’t have the medical attention they need. I felt this was a great way to get people involved and it’s fun.
How is the Rally for Kids with Cancer Scavenger Cup fundraising different from other charitable events in Miami?
JR and Loren Ridinger:Its not like the traditional charities where you go to an event or you are seated in a ballroom and everyone is all “dolled” up. In this event everyone gets out there, they will put their uniforms on. Everyone will be racing to do these amazing lifetime events at seven pitstops, and they’ll get to do all these exciting things. That alone is worth the money, but they don’t have to give the money themselves. They can raise it through the website or send it out to all their friends. We did that by just sending it out to all our friends.
How much have you contributed?
JR and Loren Ridinger: We have not given anything as yet. We are going to give and we will give big.
How much have you raised so far?
JR and Loren Ridinger: Close to about $50, 000 just by putting it on our sites. Some people give $1, $5, $10, just like going to church, $5, $10. It’s been amazing, nobody has put up that much.
Were there any challenges?
JR and Loren Ridinger: No, sometimes the website would go down but that’s ok, that’s technology. It’s been very exciting for us. We still have a whole month to go, and I am so excited. I am pushing it to everyone. I don’t care if you can afford to give $1(give it), every dollar makes a difference.
You mentioned putting the fun back into fundraising, how do you intend to achieve that in the Rally for Kids with Cancer Scavenger Cup Miami?
JR and Loren Ridinger: Putting the fun back into fundraising…Whenever people talk about fundraising everyone starts wondering, especially here in Miami. Miami is a city that’s notorious for tons of fundraising events. You know what event is happening tonight, before you know it, it becomes a social event. Well this is more about doing something great but having fun while doing it. Our gala ball that takes place on November 21, 2009 is Jewels and Jeans. I love that because people can come in their blue jeans, they can put their jewels on if they like, they can wear their tennis shows, but you actually have a good time doing it. The secret pitstops that we can’t tell anyone about what’s going to take place at these stops. The different celebrities and the things that they get to do at these pitstops make the event itself fun. You will also get to hear the kids stories and you get to meet them. I think sometimes there are so many charities but you don’t get to hear from the kids. You attend these big events and you are like, ok… What’s happening? Where are the kids? I love this one because you can actually touch and feel and see these children and to help them get the care they need.
You are heavily involved in the community, why have you decided to participate in so many charitable activities and organizations?
JR and Loren Ridinger: I do alot already with my work, and Market America takes a big chunk out of our time. I just feel like God has been really good to us. We are parents, and I think that there is nothing more responsible as a person than to give back to the community. We are blessed to do well, then you have to give back.
How involved is Market America with Rally for Kids?
JR and Loren Ridinger: We are very involved. We are involved with numerous amount of charities, but this one is really dear to us. I’ve always said, I am a sucker for anything that has to do with kids. I have one but I should’ve had a million more. I look at these children as our own, and I mean that. Sometimes you may hear others say, “oh, that’s not my kid it can’t happen to me”, but it can. I did the American Heart Association Red Dress Fashion Show during Funkshion Fashion Week . I get the impression that people who do these events think they cannot have heart disease, but my mom did at the age of 42. I feel like we have an obligation, and I always feel like there is a right time and a right place. Tony, Eva, Jr and I are very dear friends. When Eva came to us, saying they needed us to rally behind them, it was an easy decision.
To support Rally for Kids with Cancer, and join JR and Loren’s team click here. Make a donation, anything you are comfortable with, every little bit matters and it all adds up. For more information on Rally for Kids with Cancer Scavenger Cup in Miami, click here.
