Marshall University public relations students are busy preparing for upcoming events their senior capstone class. One public relations campaigns group will be hosting a Ronald McDonald House reverse raffle event April 22.

    Assistant director of her public relations campaign group, Brynne Kyle, said this particular event has been a project they’ve been working on since last semester.

   “Our whole project has been to have a reverse raffle fundraiser and our goal is to raise $25,000 profit for the Ronald McDonald House,” Kyle said. “So, so far we’re doing pretty well on that goal, but it’s been a lot this semester.”

     Development director for Ronald McDonald House, Jaye Toler, said in a press release, “This event has grown into one of our marquee events. Because the classes before them have laid a strong foundation, each time a new group hosts this, they have the ability to grow it — to let it evolve.”

    Kyle said she thinks this event is important because it allows them to use what they’ve learned for real-world application.

    Kyle said something she has noticed is that her department is different than other departments because of the real-world application. Kyle said in discussions with people across campus, people mistake her campaign with a mock campaign, even though the campaign is real.

    The event will feature many different events themed around the reverse raffle, including a performance by “America’s Got Talent” winner, Landau Eugene Murphy Jr.

    “We are thrilled to have Landau performing at our event,” Toler said in a press release.           

    “What’s not to love? We’ve got a guy with a phenomenal voice — a Frank Sinatra-like crooner who comes from Logan, West Virginia, one of these counties with children most served by our Ronald McDonald House.”

    Kyle said this project has allowed her to get a feel of what it’s like working in the field.

“I know we’ve all been really stressed out because it’s such a big project and everything, but then we really have to focus on the fact that it’s for the kids and it’s for these families at the Ronald McDonald House,” Kyle said.

    Tickets for the event cost $75 per person and    includes the raffle, dinner and drinks at Guyan Golf & Country Club.

Matthew Groves can be contacted at [email protected].