This quarter, Dillon Brigman is partnering with the Ronald McDonald House charity to raise money and awareness for “a foundation that is vital to some families who need the financial aid while staying in the hospital,” Brigman said.
The 385 Ronald McDonald House programs are “homes away from homes” for families who have to travel far from their own house in order to get the necessary medical treatment for their children. The homes do everything from “providing comfort and support” to “aiding these families in need with health care resources,” Brigman said. “Anyone can work with the fundraiser to provide meals, education, and so much more for the people who need it most.”
Brigman first found out about this charity, and knew he was bound to take action because, “at my house we drink a lot of sparkling which comes in soda cans.” Dillon’s mom informed him about a foundation that collects the tabs from the cans. “Naturally curious, I did my research to dive deeper into the Ronald McDonald House, and found out she was right.”
A goal of Brigman’s was to encourage other students that they can make a difference too. He felt that these actions of his show students “how easy it is to contribute, and they can hopefully start their own fundraisers.”
“The way that the foundation works is they sell the pop tabs to metal plants who buy them, then melt them down for their own metal,” Brigman said. The pop tabs are collected for their efficient source of pure aluminum. The Ronald McDonald house uses the money from this to provide financial support to families who struggle with hospital housing.
Dillon feels at his best when taking actions towards those who aren’t as financially fortunate, but the reason he began his fundraiser for the Ronald McDonald house is even more heart-warming. Early in the school year, Brigman faced a difficult medical situation of his own, he was admitted to the hospital and underwent surgeries to remove a highly threatening blood clot in his arm. “It gave me a greater perspective being in the shoes of a patient and believing that I should be doing something to give back to the community and help others,” Brigman said.
“There is no goal amount I’m trying to collect, I am really just looking for people to participate the best they can or even just a little bit,” Brigman said. He is partaking in this fundraiser to bring out the best in people and bring everyone together and to “take a little bit of pressure and stress off of a family’s shoulders that hospital stays bring.” Dillon is hopeful to collect as many as possible and do whatever he can to make his mark. “My plan isn’t to help hundreds of families, but if that happens that’s amazing.”
Dillon began acting on his fundraiser by “setting out plastic buckets around the school for people to place their used can tabs in.” Dillon’s pop tab bins can be found in various locations around campus such as Bolles Hall and the cafeteria, and he plans to collect them in April and drive all of his gathered can tabs to the Ronald McDonald House later in April.
He believes that “everyone can help out by pitching in whatever they can, even if it’s just a few can tabs, because every little addition makes a difference.” He hopes to inspire students around him to make their own mark and help out those in need, while still doing all he can to help out everyone he can.
