Fall 2012 Newsletter - Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central

1027 East Genesee Street, Syracuse, NY 13210
P: 315.476.1027 | F: 315.476.5022 | cnyronaldmcdonaldhouse.org
Non-Profit
Organization
US Postage
paid
A publication of Ronald McDonald House Charities®
of Central New York..
Baldwinsville Big Chill
and Polar Bear Plunge
Friday, Jan. 25, and
Saturday, Jan. 26, 2013
Baldwinsville, N.Y.
Syracuse, NY
Permit No. 999
away from home
CNY Ronald McDonald House®
Welcomes Boy from Haiti
Staff Members
Beth M. Trunfio,
Executive Director
Jennifer Saraceni Leitgeb,
Development Director
Joe Walsh,
Business Manager
Lee Wilder,
House Program Manager
Brian Hayes,
Special Event Coordinator
Karen Hynes,
Administrative Office Assistant
Anne Dashnaw,
Housekeeper
home
Save the date!
Fall 2012
Ronald McDonald House Charities® of Central New York
© 2012 McDonald’s
Chris Geiger,
President
Leola Rodgers,
1st Vice President
Aaron Hugo,
2nd Vice President
Maureen Dunn McGlynn,
Immediate Past President
Patrick D. Leitgeb,
Treasurer
Kathleen Kotz,
Secretary
Jean Czarniak
Steven Gross, MD
Justin Hummel
Douglas K. Lattner
Yvonne Annese LoRe
Mike Madigan
Henry Pearl
Mark Renquin
Paul Ross
Matt Schiro
Colleen M. Schmidt
Brian Sickora
© 2012 McDonald’s
2012 Board of Directors
OUR HEARTS
ALWAYS
HAVE ROOM
FOR MORE .
VISIT CNYRONALDMCDONALDHOUSE.ORG
TO SIGN UP FOR OUR NEW E-NEWSLETTER
Fourth Annual Bella Casa Celebrity Fashion Show
Is A Success!
More than 65 local celebrities walked the runway at the Fourth Annual Bella Casa Celebrity
Fashion Show on May 3 at the Holiday Inn in Liverpool, N.Y. A record-setting 625 guests
turned out to see the latest fashions from Elsbeth Rose East, Eva’s Boutique, Giovanni’s Men’s
Fashion & Formal Wear, Jet Black, Koolakian & Manro Menswear, Manny’s, Melissa James
Dress Salon, Mr. Shop, Oleander at Armory, Showoffs Boutique and Spybaby Boutique. More
than $65,000 was raised to help fund the ongoing operations of Ronald McDonald House
Charities of CNY.
The event began as we welcomed back special guests Kate and Brian Sickora. The Sickoras
were guests at the CNY Ronald McDonald House more than three years ago when their
triplets, George, Marlene and Virginia, were born prematurely at Crouse Hospital in Syracuse.
On the evening of the show, Kate graciously shared her story with the audience, explaining
what life was like for the family during their two-month stay at the CNY Ronald McDonald
House. At the conclusion of a slideshow about the Sickoras and their triplets, the audience
was stunned to see the three beautiful, healthy children come out and walk the runway.
Special thanks go to our major sponsors: CNY Central, CNY Cosmetic & Reconstructive
Surgery, Empower Federal Credit Union, Hotel Clarence, JAG Environmental LLC, Summit
Automotive Group, Syracuse.com, Welch Allyn and 93Q.
The Ninth Annual Ronald McDonald House Invitational was held on Sept. 13 at
Turning Stone Resort Casino. More than 160 golfers participated and enjoyed
a warm, sunny day of golf. The tournament was held on the Shenendoah and
Kaluhyat courses at Turning Stone. Due to the tremendous support of sponsors
and players, the tournament raised more than
$80,000. A special thanks to our major sponsors:
CNY Central, Dr Pepper, Fuccillo Automotive Group
and Turning Stone Resort Casino.
Pictured are: Mike Schattner, Tim DeMore, Bill Tully, and Chris Harrigan.
Save the date!
Baldwinsville Kiwanis
Club Turkey Trot
Thursday, Nov. 22, 2012
Baldwinsville, N.Y.
25th Annual Billy Leader
Memorial Race
Saturday, Jan. 5, 2013
Walt’s Hobby Shop
Syracuse, N.Y.
Baldwinsville Big Chill and
Polar Bear Plunge
Friday, Jan. 25, and
Saturday, Jan. 26, 2013
Baldwinsville, N.Y.
Fifth Annual Bella Casa
Celebrity Fashion Show
Thursday, May 2, 2013
Holiday Inn
Liverpool, N.Y.
For more information about
upcoming events, visit
www.cnyronaldmcdonaldhouse.org.
For event ticket, advertising
or sponsorship information,
please contact Brian Hayes at
315.476.1027 or EventCoordinator@
cnyronaldmcdonaldhouse.org.
In May 2009, Pelensky Joassin, an 8-year-old boy from Haiti, was run over by
a truck on his way to school and suffered massive internal bleeding, a skull fracture
and serious excretory system injuries. He underwent emergency surgery in
Port-au-Prince.
Since his accident, Pelensky has had multiple infections and has been hospitalized
several times – the longest for 22 days. Pelensky’s father, Hyvernat, has taken
him to 14 hospitals and clinics in Haiti in an unsuccessful effort to get him the
appropriate care. Hyvernat estimates he has accompanied his son to more than
100 doctor visits in the past three years. As a result, Hyvernat has lost his teaching
job and the family has no regular source of income. Pelensky, the second oldest
of six children, can no longer enroll in school because he has accumulated too
many absences.
Pelensky and his father traveled from Haiti to Syracuse in June so Pelensky could
get the best in medical care at Upstate Golisano Children’s Hospital. Working with
the Partners In Health Right to Health Care program, the Central New York Ronald
McDonald House hosted the father and son while they were in Syracuse. The two
returned to Haiti after Pelensky was released from doctors’ care in August.
New House Update
Our new House will be ready
to open this November, and we
are getting very excited as we
continue to make progress on
some of the finishing touches.
Thanks to a recent matching grant
from The Allyn Foundation, we
are now less than $100,000 from
our $6 million fundraising goal!
A public open house will
be held Tuesday, Nov. 20
from noon to 6 p.m. to
allow the community
to tour the new House.
We have naming opportunities on the first floor, along with three
guest rooms that are still available for individuals, companies and
organizations interested in joining our team. Also, please check with
your company or organization to see if it offers a matching-gift program.
For more information, contact Jennifer Saraceni Leitgeb at jsaraceni@
cnyronaldmcdonaldhouse.org or 315.476.1027.
It takes many hearts to make this one home. To make a donation today, visit
www.cnyronaldmcdonaldhouse.org.
Thank you to all those who have helped make our new House
a reality.
1027 East Genesee Street, Syracuse, NY 13210 | cnyronaldmcdonaldhouse.org
RMH_0167_RMH_Fall2012NL.indd 1-2
10/30/12 9:12 AM
letter
from the director
Thank You
Thank you to all the individuals and
groups who continue to dedicate their
time and talents to raising money for
“The House That Love Built.”
Anchor QEA – Curling for a Cause
$1,300.00
Aquatic World – Trip Raffle
$860.00
Bryant & Stratton College, North Campus – Business Club product sales
$300.00
Canastota High School – Future Business Leaders of America
CenterState CEO – Staff fundraiser & matching gift
$205.00
$100.00
Collamer United Church – Pocket Change collection
Mike Diehl, Auburn, N.Y. – Stampin’ Up Bingo Fundraiser
$530.00
We are excited to announce that through
the hard work, dedication and help of
many hearts, we are now putting the
finishing touches on our new House,
and will open our doors to families this
November. This is such a memorable time
in the history of the Central New York
Ronald McDonald House® – it is an event
to celebrate, and a moment that we have
been looking forward to for several years.
First Niagara – Jeans Day for Charity
$348.00
At this time, on behalf of Ronald McDonald House Charities
of CNY, the thousands of families that have stayed with us
over the past 30 years and the thousands that will stay with
us in our new House, it is with gratitude that we say thank
you. Thank you to those who have spent nights, weekends
and holidays preparing meals for our guest families. Thank
you to those who held bake sales and raised money for
our organization. Thank you to those who volunteered
to decorate the House at the holidays and cleaned up the
grounds after a long winter. Thank you to those who reached
into their pockets or made an in-kind donation toward our
new House. And thank you to those who have supported us
over the past 30 years and helped keep families exactly where
they belong…Together.
Frankfort-Schuyler High School – An Evening of Sweets and Songs
Bank of America recently spent time at the
House as part of their yearly volunteer efforts.
The group, led by Erin Acker, prepared a
wonderful dinner of spinach lasagna, salad and
garlic bread for our guest families.
$1,000.00
Fust Charles Chambers LLP – Dress Down Day
$255.00
G&C Foods – 50/50 raffle
$526.00
G. Ray Bodley High School – Future Business Leaders of America – Can Drive
$218.70
Tina & Giorgia Hess – Cookie sale at garage sale
$119.00
Heuvelton Central School District – Student Mini Walk-a-Thon
$845.33
ITT Goulds Pumps – Jeans Day
Our friends at CenterState CEO prepared a
“Leap Day Feast” for us earlier this year. The
feast included a turkey, mashed potatoes,
vegetables, rolls, homemade pies, cookies
and cakes. The staff at CenterState CEO
includes several entities such as the Downtown
Committee of Syracuse, CenterState Chamber
of Commerce, Syracuse Convention & Visitors
Bureau and Benefit Specialists of NY. They held
baking and cooking contests leading up to the
“Leap Day Feast.” The staff each paid $1 to
participate in the contests and voted for the best
entries. Through the contests and a matching
donation, the employees raised $1,400 for the
CNY Ronald McDonald House.
$66.85
Lincoln Middle School – Capital Project Fundraiser
$152.00
Jenni McIntosh, First Presbyterian Church, Chittenango – Bake Sale
The Melting Pot, Syracuse – Preview Nights
$310.00
$3,652.00
Niagara Mohawk Pensioners Club – 50/50 Raffles
$260.00
NYS Amateur Trapshooting Association – N.Y. State Trap Shoot
$3,710.00
OCM BOCES, Cortland, Medical Assistant Program – Bake Sale
Oswego Speedway – Racing for Ronald McDonald House
$450.00
$2,775.00
Dr. Mark Paciorek – Patient Appreciation Party
$576.00
Pine City Elementary School, Elmira, N.Y. – Fundraiser in honor of Simeon Stearns
$60.00
Pyramid Management Group – Dress Down Day
$650.00
Courtney Randall, New Milford, Pa. – Bracelet sale
$80.00
Roger Sterling Memorial Motorcycle Ride
$1,533.00
Ron Bush Oil – Cans for Causes
$308.35
Saving Face Barbershop – Third Annual Barber-Q
$1,147.00
Sutherland Global Services – Dress Down Days
$5,136.00
Syracuse Crunch/Denny’s – Score for Charities
$175.00
Syracuse University Athletics – Casual Friday
$37.35
Syracuse University, Hospitality Management Senior Class – Annual Gala
$4,293.58
Syracuse University, Shadows of Health – Hoops for Health
$444.00
Temple Society of Concord – Tzedakah collection
$250.00
Kelsey Thomas, Excellus – Jacob’s Lemonade Stand/Bake Sale
$883.00
Westmoreland Elementary After School Program Inc. – Penny collection
$189.90
Woodland Elementary School, East Syracuse, N.Y. – Third-grade class fundraiser
It takes many hearts to make a home.
The first D&S Disaster Kleenup Golf Tournament was held
in July at The Pompey Club in Pompey, N.Y. It raised more
than $6,400 for Ronald McDonald House Charities of CNY.
Beth Trunfio
Executive Director
Corporate Connection
$40.86
Dear Friends,
We would not be able to reach these milestones without the
support and generosity of our community, businesses and
individuals who have donated their time and resources to the
CNY Ronald McDonald House.
Ronald McDonald House Charities® of Central New York is hosting a virtual housewarming party to help make our new House feel like a “home away
from home” for guest families. The new House is in need of basic kitchen and dining items, in addition to home décor accessories. Ronald McDonald
House Charities of CNY is registered at Target, Macy’s and Sissy’s Boutique in Baldwinsville. The registries feature kitchen and dining needs, select
outdoor décor, home décor and gift cards. For more information about the virtual housewarming party, visit www.cnyronaldmcdonaldhouse.org.
$1,400.00
Chittenango High School – Future Business Leaders of America
Thirty years ago on Thanksgiving Day, the first guest family
walked through the doors of the CNY Ronald McDonald
House. Since that day, more than 17,000 guest families
have found a place to live, and get a warm meal and caring
support during some of the most difficult times in their lives.
Now, 30 years later, we are eager to welcome even more
families into our “home away from home.” A home that is
now handicap-accessible, and larger, with more privacy. It’s
a place where expectant moms can prepare for labor and
where grandparents, parents and siblings can find comfort in
our kitchens and common areas.
Join Our Virtual Housewarming Party
$39.12
Kids Helping Kids
Megan Osetek’s sixth-grade class at Ray Middle School in Baldwinsville created little animals
called “BooBoo Bunnies.” The animals were little, soft washcloths that were made into
shapes of bunnies and given to our guest families to use when their children weren’t feeling
well. The bunnies also came with a get well wish that
included the name of the child who made it.
The students in the medical assistant program at OCM BOCES
and their instructor, Jill MacNeil Sidle, recently held a bake
sale that raised $450 for the CNY Ronald McDonald House.
Megan Golden, 17, and her cousin, Jessica Golden, 6,
recently stopped by the House to present us with a donation.
The two girls had come across a large box of unique items
at their grandmother’s house and became curious. Their grandmother
explained to them that she was planning to donate the box to the CNY
Ronald McDonald House. The girls embraced the idea of donating and
decided to organize a bake sale and lemonade stand to raise money for
Ronald McDonald House Charities of CNY as well. The girls’ 94-year-old
great-grandmother even pitched in by donating some beautiful knitted
items. Thank you to Megan, Jessica and their families for the extremely
thoughtful efforts!
For the Love of Food
The TaeKwondo America school in Oswego has
been a fantastic new addition to our “For the Love
of Food” program this year. Bernadette and Janet
Cali have taken the lead in preparing a meal for
our families twice a
month. The meal always
includes fresh fruits and
vegetables. In addition
to delivering the meal,
Bernadette, Janet and a
group of students also
drop off wish list items
each month.
Busy Volunteers
Volunteer Luke
Tynan, a SUNY-ESF
alum, takes a few
minutes out of his
day each week
to visit with our
guest families. Luke
recently spent time with our guest Pelensky Joassin,
from Haiti. During his visits, Luke makes sure our
soda machine is full and our recycling is being
done properly. We enjoy our visits from Luke, and
Pelensky enjoyed beating him at thumb wrestling!
The McBride family joined us on a recent Sunday
afternoon for a cookout. They had a wonderful
time grilling in the backyard with our guest
families. Aimee McBride and her family wore
“Motorcycle
McBride” aprons
in memory of her
son Michael, who
loved motorcycles
and passed away
last year from cancer
at the age of 6. We
are grateful for the
McBride family’s
support of the
CNY Ronald
McDonald House.
(Donations made from Jan. 16, 2012, through Sept. 1, 2012)
Remember Our
Donation Boxes
Whether you’re driving through
or dining in, please remember
our charitable donation boxes at
your local McDonald’s. Your spare
change directly supports the
children and families of Ronald
McDonald House Charities.
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Volunteer Spotlight
Community Volunteers
A Visit from NASCAR
Longtime volunteer Phyllis Rice has been creating and
donating picture books for our guest families every
month since 1999. Rice estimates she has made more
than 1,860 books for our guests. She was recently
recognized for her dedication to Ronald McDonald
House Charities of CNY with a presidential citation
given by the Veterans of Foreign Wars’ Ladies
Auxiliary. Thank you, Phyllis, for
always keeping our guests close
to your heart.
Kristin Nesci stops in to volunteer weekly at the
CNY Ronald McDonald House. Kristin enjoys
helping the staff at the House, no matter what the
task is. Some days you may find her straightening
up the toy room, but she spends most of her time
in the kitchen. Kristin loves to bake for us; our
House favorite is her Funfetti cake!
We welcomed NASCAR driver Jeff
Burton and staff from Watkins Glen
International this summer. Burton,
along with the Watkins Glen pace car,
visited the House before heading to
his race. We appreciate his taking the
time to visit with our guest families.
Many thanks to all the individuals and groups who dedicate their time and talents to raising money for “The House That Love Built®.”
10/30/12 9:12 AM