Danville Ronald McDonald House® Executive Director speaks at event

When the family scheduled to speak at this year’s Ronald McDonald House Charities® Mid-Penn Region’s 24th Annual Golf Outing had to cancel just days before this year’s event, the coordinating committee turned to a familiar face in the Pennsylvania RMHC community.

Michael Turlis, Executive Director at Ronald McDonald House® of Danville, quickly rearranged a few things on his schedule and gladly accepted a last-minute invitation to speak at this year’s event.

“The Mid-Penn Region has been really great to the Danville Ronald McDonald House and we have a wonderful working relationship with them, so when they reached out and asked if someone would be available to speak at their event, we said yes,” explained Turlis, who made the 2-plus hour drive from Danville to central Pennsylvania that morning. “We did whatever we could to be there for them because they’ve done so much for us.”

Turlis addressed a crowd of nearly 150 golfers following this year’s Golf Outing on June 13, 2016 at Scotch Valley Country Club in Hollidaysburg, PA. This year’s RMHC Mid-Penn Region golf event raised over $34,000 for children and their families.

“I’m a firm believer that if you’re blessed, you should give back,” added Turlis, who has been part of the RMHC organization for over 20 years. “Everyone at the event was very welcoming. They talk to you like they’ve known you for years… that made me feel right at home.”

NPC served as the event’s major corporate sponsor once again, and was represented on the golf course by owner and CEO Mark Barnhart, Juqua Parker, Don Knisely and Brad Houseknecht. NPC was represented by two other teams: Mike Langer, Carey Dicken, Al Gorman and Don Wolfhome made up one team, while Eric Burket, Chet Piper and Curt Piper formed the other entry.

NPC’s Frank Swalga is a member of the RMHC Mid-Penn Region Golf Outing coordinating committee.

“We really appreciate Michael stepping in as our speaker on such short notice,” Swalga said. “We have found that even though our golfers have a great time on an excellent golf course for a good cause, the stories of the people touched by RMHC is what sticks with them and brings them back each year.”