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Stan and Linda Valley - Dr. Audrey Evans Leadership Awardee

Winners of the Dr. Audrey Evans Leadership Award demonstrate a legacy of care, dedication to collaboration, empowerment of others, and a tenacious advocacy for family participation in children’s care. 2024 winners were vetted and chosen by their peers.

In 2003, when their son, Brian passed away at age 19, Stan and Linda Valley chose to channel their grief in a positive way. Never forgetting the strength and compassionate support they received at the Ronald McDonald House in Vermont when Brian was in treatment, the couple chose to dedicate themselves as volunteers with their local Ronald McDonald House Chapter in Arkansas.
And so began their 20+ year commitment to care.
They began cooking monthly meals for the families being supported by Ronald McDonald House Arkansas & North Louisiana and recruited friends and family as volunteers as well.
Linda and Stan were also inspirational fundraisers and advocates for the mission. In 2014, Linda and Stan organized the inaugural “BV Memorial 5K+1 mile” because they wanted runners to “go the extra mile” for Ronald McDonald House. They conducted this race in memory of Brian for seven years and raised more than $100,000. Some of the original donors they recruited for this event are still donors to this day.
During pandemic restrictions, groups were asked to prepare 25 extra meals to be delivered to families who couldn’t leave the NICU at the Chapter’s partner hospitals. Some volunteer groups politely declined, but the Valleys went above and beyond to ensure NICU families had nutritious meals during those stressful days.
As Ronald McDonald House Arkansas & North Louisiana shared, “Linda and Stan Valley’s experience at a Ronald McDonald House, nearly four decades ago, had such a lasting impact on them that they have shouted their support from the rooftops and have given selflessly of their time, talents, and resources.”
And even after moving to Maine in 2023, Linda and Stan’s commitment to the Ronald McDonald House mission remains strong. The first thing they did was volunteer at the closest Ronald McDonald House program which was an hour away in Bangor, Maine. They now cook dinner monthly for families there, and volunteer at their special events.
Linda and Stan’s ability to care for others, advocate for the mission, and inspire others is a tribute to Ronald McDonald House co-founder, Dr. Audrey Evans.