The Ronald McDonald House (RMH) of Charlotte is looking for area businesses to participate in its upcoming 2010 “Sport a Shirt, Share a Night” Fund-raising campaign.

Participating Charlotte-area companies will encourage their employees to purchase a RMH T-shirt for $10 and wear them on Friday, April 23, 2010. The purchase of one $10 T-shirt will cover a family’s donation for a night’s stay at the RMH while their child is receiving medical treatment at area children’s hospitals. Last year, the RMH of Charlotte sold more than 4,100 T-shirts, raising more than $41,000. The goal is to sell 7,000 T-shirts this year.

“Even though it costs approximately $70 to host a family for one night at a House, families are asked for a donation of $10 a night,” said Mona Johnson-Gibson, Executive Director of RMH of Charlotte. “Sometimes, even this amount is a financial burden for families; however, the RMH never turns a family away because of their inability to pay. That’s why we are inviting area businesses to participate in this unique and special fund-raiser to help our families.”

Businesses and their employees are asked to support this fund-raiser by following two easy steps:

•Designate Friday, April 23, 2010 as “Sport a Shirt, Share a Night” Day, where employees are encouraged to wear their RMH T-shirts.

•Have a company appoint a team coordinator. The coordinator will encourage others to make a $10 donation in exchange for a T-shirt. The coordinator is responsible for accepting donations, submitting the company’s T-shirt order form, picking up the T-shirts in April and distributing them to participating employees. Completed order forms are due Friday, March 12, 2010.

For more information about the 2010 “Sport a Shirt, Share a Night” Fund-raiser, call (704) 335-1191 or email charlottesportashirt@gmail.com.