CEI Employees Raise Funds for Philadelphia Ronald McDonald House

TREVOSE, PA – CEI employees raised more than $2,200 to support the Philadelphia Ronald McDonald House at Front and Erie, adjacent to St. Christopher's Hospital for Children.

The creation of the year-old facility, the city's second, was the goal of "Katie's Krusaders," a charity formed by Paul and Terry Duffin of Doylestown, Pa., after the loss of their four-year-old daughter to cancer in 2003.  Duffin works for CEI as a team leader in its Strategic Account Services department.

CEI's employees selected Katie's Krusaders as the focus of their annual "Project Cheer" charitable giving activities for 2008.  Activities included seven daily 50/50 raffles and a silent auction.

"I can't really say I'm astonished, because I know how caring everyone here is," said Duffin, "but Terry and I really are amazed at the generosity and support that the people at CEI have shown."

CEI employees are also helping to organize a benefit "Beef-N-Beer" at the Townsend Room in Northeast Philadelphia on Friday, February 27.  Tickets are $25 per person.  For more information, visit www.katieskrusaders.com.

Duffin said the donations will go to the families of children at St. Christopher's, Shriners' and Temple University Children's hospitals who are staying at the Philadelphia Ronald McDonald House at Front and Erie to help pay for prescriptions and ease other financial hardships.