Lifetime volunteer Libowsky honored at McDonald House
Marty Libowsky,70, has been volunteering since he was 20 years old, and was recently given a lifetime achievement award.
Lifetime volunteer Libowsky honored at McDonald House Marty Libowsky,70, has been volunteering since he was 20 years old, and was recently given a lifetime achievement award. Check out this story on pnj.com: http://on.pnj.com/1jrVfwK
Hana Frenette, hfrenette@pnj.com Published 3:06 p.m. CT Nov. 29, 2015 | Updated 8:28 a.m. CT Nov. 30, 2015
Marty Libowsky sits on the back patio at the Ronald McDonald House of Northwest Florida on Bayou Boulevard and looks through old photos and newspaper clippings that detail his lifetime of volunteer work.(Photo: Hana Frenette/PNJ)Buy Photo
Marty Libowsky has a hundred stories. Stories about war, stories about love. Stories about his father and John Goodman discussing the Coen Brothers' film, "The Big Lebowski" and the connotations the movie brings to the infamous family name. Stories about baseball and business ventures. Chuck Norris even makes an appearance in a tale or two.
But Libowsky's favorite stories to tell are the ones about volunteering for the Ronald McDonald House -- whether he was dressing up as a doctor in the hospitals, proudly donning the world famous Ronald makeup at events, or simply cheering up children as himself.
The Ronald McDonald House Program offers a home-away-from-home for families who want or need to stay close to their hospitalized child, at little or no cost, for the duration of the child's treatment.
He often wears a yellow and gold Ronald McDonald pin on his suit lapel, and a Ronald watch on his left hand. He keeps clippings and photos of times when he has helped make a child laugh or comfort them while they're in the hospital. He walks through the Ronald McDonald House on Bayou Boulevard, saying hello to other volunteers, talking with children, and pointing out the treasure chest of toys near the front entrance, before settling on the patio.
Libowsky has been volunteering for the Ronald McDonald House since 1973 and was recently awarded the lifetime achievement award from Pensacola Ronald McDonald House Executive Director Judy Burns for his 4,000 hours of volunteer time.
Marty Libowsky received his lifetime achievement award from Ronald McDonald House Director, Judy Burns this year. (Photo: Hana Frenette/PNJ)
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"He's been involved with this Ronald House and another house for more than 40 years, in every capacity that you imagine," Burns said. "He's served on the board, he's helped us raise money for our events, and he's helped sell tons of raffle tickets."
Libowsky originally became involved with the Ronald House program when a friend, Max Cooper, called him in 1972 and asked for his help with building a Ronald McDonald House in Birmingham. A veteran furniture salesman, Libowsky was able to furnish the entire home through donations from other furniture and appliance vendors before the home was built. Since then, he and his business associates and sponsors have helped furnish 440 Ronald McDonald Houses.
"I moved to Pensacola in 1982, and I read in the paper that they were building this Ronald McDonald House, and so I called up the gentleman, his name was Harrison Wilder, who was building it," Libowsky said. "I said, 'Hey, I helped build a Ronald House in Birmingham -- can I help you?'"
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After helping to furnish the Pensacola Ronald House, Libowsky began regularly volunteering, and continues to volunteer, almost every other week during the year. He also rings bells for the Salvation Army and is helping to gather sponsors for the Gulf Breeze Arts Festival.
If there's a good community cause, Libowsky has probably helped to raise money or volunteer.
"I guess it's a knack I've got," Libowsky said.
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Burns describes Libowsky as the kind of guy who always has a trunk of toys, especially McDonald's toys, and if you're out in public with him and he sees a child, he'll run to grab a toy, talk with the child, and really do his best to make their day.
He's volunteering even when he isn't officially volunteering.
"In the time I've been with the Ronald McDonald House, I've only seen one person reach the milestone of 4,000 hours of volunteering -- and that's Marty," Burns said. "He just has this passion to help and to serve children."
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