The 15th Annual
Olivia Andrews
Tab RUN
Join the Southside Riders Association on September 28, 2013 for our 15th year of Pulling Tabs and Promoting
Ronald McDonald House Charities of West Georgia, Inc. in Columbus.
Why Pop Tops? Tabs are a purer form of aluminum.
100 pounds of tabs equal 98 pounds of pure aluminum with one pass through the refinery.
100 pounds of cans equal 73 pounds of pure aluminum with 3 passes through the refinery.
This is due to the coatings, debris and sugars and liquid left in the can.
Our participation with the RMH is primarily our “TAB RUN”. This is a program where pop top tabs are collected
annually in a competition that we coordinate. The Tab Run consists of a 95 mile police escorted ride from Griffin to
the South-West Ga., and a presentation of awards to the groups who collect the most tabs. 194 pounds of tabs from
18 participants were donated from our first ride in 1999 to 3,377 pounds from 600+ participants in 2012. This event
gets bigger and better each year. In addition to the tab collection at the Tab Run, money is collected and distributed
to them annually. Our involvement helps them offset the costs required to provide their services to local families.
The 2012 run raised over $8,500 for the House!
The money raised benefits Ronald McDonald House Charities of West Georgia, Inc. in Columbus,
which serves our area. They provide lodging and meals to parents of children that are hospitalized, long term in
Columbus. The idea behind the Ronald McDonald House is simple: provide a “home-away-from-home” for families of
seriously ill children who are receiving treatment at nearby hospitals. Some children need to travel great distances to
get the medical attention they need. In-hospital treatment may last one day, one year, or even longer. For the families
of these children, accommodations can be hard to come by; options are often limited to costly hotels or unforgiving
hospital chairs and benches. The Ronald McDonald House provides a comfortable, supportive alternative for these
families. It serves as a temporary residence near the medical facility where family members can sleep, eat, relax and
find support from other families in similar situations.
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1999 Tabs Collected = 194 Pounds
2000 Tabs Collected = 1,510 Pounds
2001 Tabs Collected = 2,642 Pounds
2002 Tabs Collected = 4,240 Pounds
2003 Tabs Collected = 3,860 Pounds
2004 Tabs Collected = 4,013 Pounds
2005 Tabs Collected = 3,568 Pounds
2006 Tabs Collected = 4,112 Pounds
2007 Tabs Collected = 3,466 Pounds
2008 Tabs Collected = 4,011 Pounds
2009 Tabs Collected = 3,148 Pounds
2010 Tabs Collected = 3,184 Pounds
2011 Tabs Collected = 3,450 Pounds
2012 Tabs Collected = 3,377 Pounds
Ronald McDonald House Charities of West Georgia, Inc
"Home Away From Home" …….When your child is sick, you want the best care possible ‐ even if it is hundreds or thousands of miles away. The treatment may last a day, a month, or even longer. It's a long time to be away from home, or to divide a family. And, for children facing a serious medical crisis, nothing seems scarier than not having their mom and dad close by for love and support. For families facing the serious illness of a child, there are many unknowns. Today, the question "Where will I stay?" doesn't have to be one of them thanks to the Ronald McDonald House in Columbus, GA. For the hundreds of families who find themselves away from home during a medical crisis, lodging alternatives are slim. Those who cannot afford a hotel must commute, doze in a hospital waiting room or at best, sleep in their car. Even for those who can afford a hotel, the cost of an extended stay can be more that most families can bear. The Ronald McDonald House in Columbus, GA provides temporary lodging to the families of children, age 21 or younger, who travel to Columbus for specialized medical care. Staying at our Ronald McDonald House allows parents the ability to better communicate with their child’s medical team and keep up with complicated treatment plans when needed. Families who cross our threshold seek respite, an encouraging word, a place to rest, regroup and ready themselves to face whatever tomorrow may bring. For these individuals, our Ronald McDonald House represents more than just a place to stay; it is a place of warmth, comfort and caring. Families are stronger when they are together, which helps in the healing process. The Ronald McDonald House in Columbus, GA keeps families together and allows parents to make a promise to their sick child that they know they can keep ‐ "No matter what, we'll be right here with you!" Ronald McDonald House Charities of West Georgia, Inc. has an annual operating budget of approximately $400,000. We depend solely on the generosity of our local community for support of our annual operations. We have both individual and corporate donors, and fundraising events are conducted throughout the year to raise the bulk of the funds needed. The Ronald McDonald House in Columbus, GA is owned and operated by the non‐profit organization Ronald McDonald House Charities of West Georgia, Inc. Schnitzer S.E. in Columbus pays a premium for the tabs as a donation to the RMHC.
The Ronald McDonald House Pop Tab Collection Program was established in 1987 by
the Minneapolis/St. Paul Ronald McDonald House community.
Olivia's Story and the beginning of the Olivia Andrews Tab Run In 1999, Arnie and Kim Cobb, members of the Southside Riders began a program in cooperation with the Ronald McDonald House in Columbus, Georgia to collect pop tabs from beverage cans. In their first annual "Olivia Andrews Tab Run," they collected 164 pounds of tabs and 28 bikers rode from Griffin to the Columbus Ronald McDonald House. In 2005, the ride name was changed to "Olivia Andrews Tab Run and Pennies‐4‐Life Ride," and encouraged bikers to save pop tabs AND their pennies for the entire year. In 2005, they delivered 3,568 lbs. of tabs and had approximately 1,000 bikers in attendance! The inspiration for their cause is Arnie's niece, a beautiful, now healthy, redheaded young lady named Olivia Andrews and the following letter, written by her aunt, Kim Cobb, describes their story: "On March 17, 1997, Olivia Andrews was born premature and immediately rushed to The Medical Center in Columbus, Georgia. Arnie's sister and brother‐in‐law, Toni and Shane Andrews, stayed at the Ronald McDonald House in Columbus while Olivia was hospitalized for 3 months. She is now a healthy young lady thanks to all the great care she received at the hospital. Toni and Shane's stay at the Ronald McDonald House could not have been more pleasant considering the circumstances they were facing. Arnie wanted to give back a little of what the Ronald McDonald House had given his sister and her husband. Being a member of the Southside Riders Association, he posed the idea to the group of collecting aluminum pop tabs to help with the needed expenses that the Ronald McDonald House has to incur. What started out as a small project has now become pretty big. He and the other members of Southside Riders Association have devoted a lot of time talking to other motorcycle groups around Atlanta and people in our communities about collecting tabs. To close, I will share with you that every place Arnie and I go, whether it be a place to eat, a park or a gas station, he will look for and pick up any tabs he finds! I know that what he has done, along with the Southside Riders Association and other motorcycle groups, the Ronald McDonald House has what Arnie Cobb set out for them to have, SUPPORT which is going to be continuous and well deserved." ~ Kim Cobb~ With the enthusiasm of the Cobb family and the determination of the Southside Riders Association, the annual "Olivia Andrews Tab Run and Pennies‐4‐Life Ride" has grown tremendously! A typical ride day begins at the Applebee’s Restaurant at North Griffin Square Shopping Center where the owner opens early and serves a breakfast to riders who arrive bright and early to get registered for the ride. The September 22, 2012 ride leaves from Applebee’s/Longhorn Parking Lot in Griffin, GA at 10:00 a.m. and heads to Warm Springs, GA where it picks up other riders from South Georgia at 11:00 a.m. Registration tables are set up in Warm Springs for bikers to register and be ready to fall in line when the Griffin riders roll through. From there, the miles of bikes caravan through the back roads of middle Georgia to western Georgia to the pristine waters of West Point Lake at a local park in LaGrange, GA There will be great food and drink, awesome music, vendors and a 50/50 drawing while the Southside Riders weigh the tabs and then present trophies to the winners! Ronald McDonald House Staff and Volunteers are there to welcome the bikers and to hand out freebies! One thing is for sure, it proves to be a terrific day of music, food and the fellowship of other bikers with one common bond, supporting Ronald McDonald House Charities of West Georgia, Inc., a "home‐away‐from‐home" for families of critically‐ill, hospitalized children. Arnie's advice: "Keep pulling those pop tabs and join them in this year's Tab Run!" The Southside Riders Association in Griffin, Georgia was formed in 1998 to promote the well being of children in the state of Georgia. They are a non‐profit charity‐centered group of motorcycle enthusiasts who have organized for the purpose of improving the image of the motorcyclist in the community. Through Fellowship, Brotherhood and Community Involvement, they unite with a common goal to improve themselves and the children living in Georgia. •
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If you, your group, or your business wish to be a part of this event, please consider this: All contributions are 100% Tax Deductable. The Southside Riders Association is recognized by the IRS, Federal Government, and the State of Georgia as a 501(c)(3) Non‐Profit Organization. You will be providing a well needed service in the community. The Ronald McDonald House of West Georgia is established in Columbus. They are 2 blocks from The Medical Center Hospital which has the area’s only neonatal intensive care unit. The Medical Center is the most successful facility in the area for the care of premature babies. Statistics have proven that these children have a much higher recovery rate with Mom and Dad being right there by their side. This cannot happen if you spend your time on the road travelling from your home to the hospital and back again every day. The last thing you need to worry about is the travelling or where to sleep or eat. The RMHC house is there to take those burdens away so that you can focus on being there with your child as much as possible. Ways to help? We have sponsor spots on the Event Tee‐Shirts (800 shirts) that we sell to offset the cost of the printing. These range from $250 to $1500 depending on the size of the advertisement. Setting up as a vendor. Donation of Advertising on the radio, web, and/or promotional items. Direct donation of cash from individuals and from businesses. Participation in the ride by collecting Pop Top Tabs in your home or business. Assisting in the work that makes the event successful: i. Setting up and breaking down the registration area. ii. Providing Entertainment. iii. Setting up PA systems. iv. Setting out cones and barricades. v. Volunteering for registration tables. vi. Providing Chase Vehicles in the event that someone breaks down. vii. Providing Video and Photo coverage of the event. viii. Providing Law Enforcement Escort and blocking along the route. ix. Providing EMS/EMT services for the participants. x. Donation of Goods, Services, Materials, etc. If you want to know more OR find out how you can help, contact: Tab Run Coordinator: Arnie Cobb 770‐228‐4554 2012 President: Dennis Scott 678‐386‐5080 2012 Vice President: Debra Griggers 770‐733‐5133