Get ready! Ronald McDonald House Mid-Michigan and Ronald McDonald House Ann Arbor are going head-to-head in the 2026 Battle for the Houses! Only one Ronald McDonald House Chapter will take home the mini-Paul Bunyan trophy, but with your support, every family who needs either Ronald McDonald House wins! This friendly competition, inspired by NFL and Spartan Football alum, T.J. Duckett and his family aims to raise awareness and funds for both Chapters. Will you support Team Green or Team Blue?

You can make a difference from October 5 until the clock runs out during the epic U-M vs. MSU rivalry football game on November 7! Choose your team, Team Green for Ronald McDonald House Mid-Michigan or Team Blue for Ronald McDonald House Ann Arbor, and help us reach our goal by donating or volunteering.

How to Get Involved

Donate: Click the “Donate” button to contribute to your favorite team. Your donation can help Ronald McDonald House Mid-Michigan (Team Green) or Ronald McDonald House Ann Arbor (Team Blue) take the lead.

Support Team Green at Harper's Restaurant and Brewpub in East Lansing on Thursday, November 5. Families and fans of all ages will gather at 5:00 p.m. for the Team Green Pep Rally with music, dancing, giveaways, silent auction, MSU Cheer, and Zeke the Wonderdog! Join T.J. Duckett and other Spartan Dawgs at 6:30 p.m. for the Huddle at Harpers VIP Experience! The $5 cover charge at the door or the $50 VIP pass will benefit Ronald McDonald House Mid-Michigan. VIP tickets can be purchased here or through a donation on the Ronald McDonald House Mid-Michigan website. Just include "VIP" in the notes.

Buy Tickets: Support your team and secure your spot at the Pre-Game Press Conference for Fans in Ann Arbor on October 27, 6-8:30 p.m. at U-M Head Baseball Coach Tracy Smith and his wife Jaime Smith's house, by clicking here to register: Battle for the Houses VIP Press Conference. If you have questions, please email Alexis@ronaldmcdonaldhousenannarbor.org, or call 734-994-4442.

Volunteer: Sign up to volunteer and earn points for your team. The Chapter with the most volunteer hours will gain a crucial advantage!

Visit Ronald McDonald House Mid-Michigan or email Cassidy Bartkowiak at cassidy@ronaldmcdonaldhousemidmi.org. to volunteer to support Team Green to volunteer at the Mid-Michigan Chapter in Lansing.

Visit Ronald McDonald House Ann Arbor or email Mary Moffett at mary@ronaldmcdonaldhouseannarbor.org to volunteer at the Ann Arbor Chapter.

When the MSU v. UM football game concludes, we'll tally up the donations and volunteer hours. The winning Chapter will be awarded the coveted Ronald McDonald House mini-Paul Bunyan trophy, securing bragging rights until next year!

Join Team Green or Team Blue today! Together, we can make a difference for the families who need it most.

Let the Battle begin!

Meet our athlete ambassadors & Battle champions - T.J. Duckett & Mike Martin

Born and raised in Kalamazoo MI, T.J. Duckett is CEO of Duckett Enterprises, founder of New World Flood, co-owner of Duckett Brothers Facilities Management, co-founder of The Black Success Network & Career Training Camp, and author of The Student-Athlete Blueprint: The Ultimate Guide to Excellence in School and Sports. He is a former NFL running back and was a first-round draft pick by the Atlanta Falcons, eventually playing for the Washington Redskins, Detroit Lions, and Seattle Seahawks. At Michigan State University, he caught a pass in the end-zone with plenty of time left on the clock to beat that other school down the road and bring the official Paul Bunyan trophy home in 2001.

In 2022, Sara and T.J. Duckett's youngest son required critical care in his first year of life. Being able to stay at the Ronald McDonald House Ann Arbor was a relief during the extended stay. T.J. and his wife Sara were already familiar with Ronald McDonald House Mid-Michigan after volunteering for years through their personal Lunch with a Purpose efforts. With both Houses holding a special place in their hearts, they wanted to do something to benefit families of hospitalized children in both communities, and that resulted in the inaugural Battle for the Houses in 2023. T.J. and Sara lead Team Green to victory in 2023 and 2025 bringing the Ronald McDonald House Paul Bunyan trophy to Lansing!

Mike Martin is a proud native of Detroit, Michigan. His career is rooted in finance practicing as a fully licensed financial planner at MAI Capital, a Fee-Only RIA, Registered Investment Advisory firm.

As a proud graduate of the University of Michigan, Mike stays involved with the football program as a mentor to current players and was formally the president of the UM Football Alumni. Mike entered the NFL as the 82nd overall pick in the 2012 Draft to the Tennessee Titans.

Mike and his wife Brittany have two beautiful children. In their free time, Mike and Brittany love to spend time with friends and family and give back to his community. The Mike Martin Youth Gauntlet in partnership with the L.E.A.D. Foundation provides an opportunity for local youth to engage in football while learning from coaches, community advocates, and business leaders. Mike believes exposing children to meaningful opportunities and experiences has an exponential positive impact.

Mike lead Team Blue to victory in 2024, bringing the Ronald McDonald House Paul Bunyan trophy to Ann Arbor that year!

Thank you to our Sponsors!

Presenting Sponsor: Meijer

Field Goal Sponsor: Tyson Foods

House Divided Sponsor: Martin Brower

Team Green Pep Rally Sponsor: Harper's Restaurant and Brewpub

Team Green Fan Fest Sponsor: Ohana and Fuel'd

Hype Video Sponsor: Video Vision 360

Zeke the Wonderdog Plush Sponsors: The Bear Factory & The Idea People

Sideline Snack Sponsor: Pop-ity Popcorn, Co.

Tailgate Sponsor: Michigan State University Federal Credit Union

Spartan Sponsor: Streamline Enterprises, Inc.

Team Green Family Dinner Sponsor: Jackson

About Ronald McDonald House

Mission

Ronald McDonald House provides essential services that remove barriers, strengthen families and promote healing when children need healthcare.

Vision

A world where every family has what they need to ensure the best health outcomes for their children.

Ronald McDonald House Mid-Michigan:

Ronald McDonald House Mid-Michigan opened its doors to families in 2000, just 500 steps from UM Health Sparrow. The House serves over 200 families annually from local communities across the state of Michigan, around the U.S., and beyond, with the mission to provide support, comfort, and care to families of critically ill and injured children while they receive medical treatment.

The House in Lansing provides each family with a comfortable, private room to sleep, home-cooked meals, comfort items, and quiet spaces to recharge and rest after spending countless hours at their child’s hospital bedside. Ronald McDonald House Mid-Michigan staff also ensures that families within the hospital setting have convenient access to snacks, personal care items, and other essentials through their Hospitality Cart program at three partner hospitals. In addition, the Lansing House partners with eleven regional hospitals to provide a robust transfer bag program for families who need to travel downstate to receive critical care for their children. In July 2024, Ronald McDonald House Mid-Michigan opened a Ronald McDonald Family Room at Covenant HealthCare in Saginaw with three sleep rooms, two wellness rooms, bathrooms, a kitchenette, and more. www.ronaldmcdonaldhousemidmi.org

Ronald McDonald House Ann Arbor:

Ronald McDonald House Ann Arbor has served more than 32,000 families since opening our doors in 1985. Spearheaded by the Junior Service League (now the Junior League of Ann Arbor), the project was collaborative with C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital and the community. Originally able to accommodate 24 families each night, an expansion in 1992 increased that number to 29. A second house was built on the 10th floor of C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital, and another 12 rooms were added in 2011. Two additional family guest rooms were constructed in the Main House in 2018, bringing the total number of rooms between two Houses to 43. www.rmhcannarbor.org

Contact Us

For more information or to inquire about sponsorship opportunities please contact:

Team Green (Lansing) - Amy Stanton amys@ronaldmcdonaldhousemidmi.org or 517-485-9303.

Team Blue (Ann Arbor) - Douglas Manigault III, CFRE at douglas@ronaldmcdonaldhouseannarbor.org or (734) 998-6193.

2026 Battle for the Houses

October 5 - November 7, 2026