14th Annual Red Shoe Affair raises record-breaking $590,000 for Ronald McDonald House Charities of North Central Florida

Press release from Ronald McDonald House Charities

GAINESVILLE, Fla. – Ronald McDonald House Charities of North Central Florida (RMHCNCF) hosted its 14th Annual Red Shoe Affair, welcoming more than 830 guests to the Stephen C. O’Connell Center for the organization’s most successful fundraising event to date. Presented by Audi of Gainesville, this year’s gala was produced by Merge Event Group and raised a record $590,000 to support families with seriously ill or injured children receiving care in North Central Florida.

Guests were treated to an evening of food and beverage from Embers, and this year’s VIP Experience was hosted by Jon and Ginny Sumrall, adding an extra layer of hospitality to the night’s celebration.

Emceed by former Florida Gators running back James Bates “Batesy,” the evening’s program shared five “Stories Behind the Doors of Our House,” offering guests an intimate look at the families RMHCNCF serves. Among them was Nohea, whose courage and bright spirit while battling cancer moved the room and put a face to the mission the House carries out every day. Guests also welcomed back Ezra and his family, whom Red Shoe Affair attendees first met last year. Just weeks before last year’s event, Ezra received a heart transplant, and his family’s return to share their story of resilience was one of the night’s most powerful moments.

The event also marked the launch of the Chicken Nugget Champion initiative, a new giving program supporting RMHCNCF’s bold 2026 commitment to serve a warm dinner at the House every night of the year. To date, that promise has been kept: a warm meal has been served for dinner every single night.

We also welcomed nine new Adopt-a-Room partners who will spend the next year directly supporting the families who call their adopted room home, celebrating birthdays and milestones, offering support through both the good days and the hard ones, and helping meet needs along the way.

“Every year, Red Shoe Affair reminds us why this work matters,” said Stevie Doyle, CEO of Ronald McDonald House Charities of North Central Florida.

“Hearing Nohea’s courage, seeing Ezra thriving after his transplant, and watching our community show up in record numbers is proof that when we come together, we can keep every family close to the care their child needs. This record-breaking night, and the generosity of partners like Audi of Gainesville, Merge Event Group, Embers, Jon and Ginny Sumrall, James Bates, and so many others will mean warm meals, comfortable rooms, and a home away from home for families for years to come.”