INDIANAPOLIS — The Ronald McDonald House will honored the legacy of Larry “The Can Man” Van Ness Monday morning.
Van Ness, who was known for collecting pop tabs in order to raise money for the Ronald McDonald house, tragically passed away in October after being hit by a car.
Van Ness was about to reach his 27 millionth pop tab donation for the Ronald McDonald house before his accident.
His friend and caregiver, Rachel Lee Landers continued to keep “The Can Man” legacy alive by collecting 800,000 pop tabs to contribute to his goal.
"He's keeping me just as busy as he ever did, even without him being here,” Landers said. “He started something 19 and a half years ago that he had no idea what it would be at this point in time. The legacy he’s leaving behind is pretty amazing."
Landers was present at the Ronald McDonald house event to drop off the tabs and to receive a plaque celebrating 27 million pop tabs — a tradition started to honor Van Ness after every millionth tab he collected.
The Madison County community also contributed by collecting over 550,000 pop tabs to finish “Larry’s Last Million.”
Van Ness’s efforts have raised more than $12,000 for the Ronald McDonald house.
-
Selfie worthy Fridays at the 2025 Indiana State Fair
INDIANAPOLIS — When you take in all the sights at the 2025 Indiana State Fair, make sure you're camera-ready! The Selfie Station Photo Trail at the Fair will help you capture those summer memories. For our Selfie-Worthy Fridays Series, WRTV gives you a glimpse of the best photo spots.
Renovation of iconic City Market faces delay
Since March 2024, when the City Market closed its doors, the space has remained empty. The city is shifting its focus to Whistler Plaza in an effort to revitalize the area first.
Taste of Bloomington returns after lengthy post-COVID hiatus
The annual Taste of Bloomington festival dates back to the 1980s, but it looked to be a permanent victim of the COVID-19 pandemic.
Carmel seeking public's assistance in new neighborhood design
As the city of Carmel nears full buildout, officials are inviting the public to help shape the future of a major redevelopment opportunity on the former CNO Financial Group campus near downtown.
