Acadiana Cane Cutters to host benefit game for Ronald McDonald House Charities of South Louisiana

Jun 23

Ticket sales, auction proceeds and special promos will support Acadiana families in need.

‍ ‍

Lafayette, LA (June 23, 2026) – Acadiana Cane Cutters Baseball will team up with Ronald McDonald House Charities of South Louisiana (RMHCSLA) and MacLaff, Inc. for a special benefit game July 9, with proceeds from a portion of ticket sales and auction items helping support the nonprofit’s mission of serving families with critically ill or injured children.

The evening will feature exclusive auction items and giveaways sponsored by MacLaff, Inc. including autographed jerseys and other memorabilia. Gates open at 6 p.m., with first pitch scheduled for 7 p.m. The evening will include a ceremonial first pitch thrown by a child who has benefitted from RMHCSLA’s services. Tickets are available at bit.ly/rmhsolaxcc using the password “house26.”

“We are incredibly thankful for the Acadiana Cane Cutters, MacLaff Inc. and everyone who has helped make this special evening possible,” said Grace McIntosh, CEO of RMHCSLA. “As we expand our critical mission in the Acadiana region, community support is more important than ever. We hope families, baseball fans and supporters from the community will enjoy a great game to help children and families when they need it most.”

The funds raised will directly support RMHCSLA’s mission to provide a home away from home for critically ill and injured children and their families as they embark on their medical journey. Every dollar raised helps ease the financial and emotional burdens families face while accessing critical care for their children, and fuels RMCHSLA’s much-anticipated expansion in the Acadiana region.

“We are proud to support this important event and the work of Ronald McDonald House Charities of South Louisiana,” said E.J. Krampe, CEO, Owner and Operator of MacLaff Inc. “Our team is honored to play a part in helping bring the community together to support families in need, and we are grateful for the opportunity to contribute to a meaningful cause.”

Since founding in December 1983, RMHCSLA has served more than 40,000 families, with the majority coming from the Acadiana region, as well as families from all Louisiana parishes and across the country. The Ronald McDonald Family Room at Our Lady of Lourdes Women's & Children's Hospital in Lafayette currently serves as that home away from home, offering free accommodations, volunteer-provided meals and a support system like no other for families who need it most.

For more information about the event and to purchase tickets, visit bit.ly/rmhsolaxcc using the password “house26.”

###

Ronald McDonald House Charities of South Louisiana:Since 1983, RMHCSLA has partnered with our local children’s health care providers to keep families together and near the medical care their ill or injured children need. Through the generosity of our donors and volunteers, RMHCSLA continues to focus on families’ needs as they face the medical uncertainty and financial stress of caring for their children. 

Today, RMHCSLA serves critically ill children through our Ronald McDonald House® located in New Orleans on the campus of Children’s Hospital, Ronald McDonald Family Room® in Lafayette at Our Lady of Lourdes Women’s & Children’s Hospital, and Ronald McDonald Hospitality Carts. Through these programs we help provide housing, meals, community, and psychosocial support to families with children at local hospitals across Louisiana, the Gulf South Region and around the world. 

Alicia Vial

Alicia Vial is a New Orleans native with more than a decade of experience elevating client stories and leading crisis response. As the senior director of strategy, Alicia acts as a leader within the Gambel Communications team ensuring each agency team member is positioned to deliver strategic public relations services that meet the highest standards of the industry. In addition to supporting the agency’s long-term business growth and development, she coordinates day-to-day account services and oversees strategic direction while staying abreast of best practices and industry trends to provide innovative solutions to meet client’s needs.

Before joining Gambel Communications, Alicia served as the communications director for the Louisiana SPCA, the oldest and largest animal welfare organization in Louisiana that impacts more than 74,000 animals per year. During her nearly eight-year tenure, Alicia oversaw numerous crises, served on national communication taskforces, oversaw all aspects of internal and external relations and worked alongside the development department to raise critical funding. Prior to that, she worked in the fast-paced New Orleans hospitality industry focusing on digital public relations for multiple hotels.

Alicia is a member of the Public Relations Association of Louisiana (PRAL), Southern Public Relations Federation (SPRF), a board member of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) New Orleans Chapter and a member of the New Orleans Regional Leadership Institute. An accredited public relations practitioner (APR), Alicia is also certified in crisis communications, organizational leadership, content marketing and social media.

A well respected and trusted public relations practitioner, Alicia has been recognized by SPRF as a ‘Senior Practitioner of the Year’. Dubbed early on in her career as one to watch, she also received the ‘Rising Star’ award by PRAL and was profiled in St. Charles Avenue Magazine as part of their Young Bloods series. Most recently, she was recognized at PRSA’s annual Fleurish Awards and received four Awards of Excellence for her work along with the ‘Plate Spinner’ award for her efforts on the board of directors for the chapter.

An LSU graduate, Alicia received a bachelor's degree in mass communications with a concentration in public relations and minors in business administration and leadership development. She is a frequent speaker and presenter on public relations topics, most recently presenting at the Jefferson Economic Development Commission and SPRF annual conference.

When Alicia is not at work, you can find her at the ballpark with her three boys or cheering on the Tigers in Death Valley.

Acadiana Cane Cutters to host benefit game for Ronald McDonald House Charities of South Louisiana

Ticket sales, auction proceeds and special promos will support Acadiana families in need.

Volunteers of America Southeast Louisiana seeks community support to fill backpacks to help students reach their full potential

Manning Family Children’s makes history as Louisiana’s first sickle cell gene therapy patient rings the bell