ORLANDO, Fla. – The Ronald McDonald House received nearly $150,000 thanks to the Appetite for the Arches event.
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Appetite for the Arches, which took place on March 1, was an initiative hosted by Ronald McDonald House Charities to raise funds for a good cause. More than 350 guests attended the event, where 13 Orlando restaurants created signature dishes using McDonald's ingredients.
Participating restaurants were: Blue Bird Bake Shop, Cask & Larder, Cuisiniers Catering, Eddie V's, K Restaurant, Luma on Park, SeaWorld Orlando, The COOP, The Ravenous Pig, The Ritz Carlton, The Rusty Spoon, Orlando World Center Marriott and Yardbird
The free-flowing event also included cocktails and wine pairings, a silent auction and live music throughout the evening.
Taylor Sawyer, an 18-year-old in his second fight with cancer, attended the event with his mother Janet Sawyer and shared their story with event goers.
"Ronald McDonald House is like a home away from home for us; I don't know what we would have done without it," Taylor Sawyer said in a release.
The money raised at Appetite for the Arches goes directly toward Ronald McDonald House, where families like the Sawyers can stay without fear of being turned down for lack of finances. Families who stay at the house are asked to make a donation of $20 per night if they can afford it, however 70 percent of those families aren't able to.