Ronald McDonald House Charities of Kansas City

House News
Kansas City
News, Stories, and Insights from Ronald McDonald House Charities of Kansas City - Fall 2010
We have launched a new look for our
website and our publications. You can
now create a login on our website and
have a more direct & personal experience
online. What do you think? We love to
hear your feedback.
www.rmhckc.org
Our Impact
We have provided 1,721
Family Stays to date this year
in our Houses.
We have logged nearly
28,000 visits to the Family
Room to date this year.
Focus on Families
Brice is like any other 14-year-old. He enjoys skateboarding, listening to music, drawing,
playing drums, and fighting the bad guys in video games.
But Brice is also fighting something else…Cancer.
Earlier this year, a biopsy of a tumor in his left leg revealed bone cancer. Brice has been
through round after round of chemotherapy since. In April, doctors removed his left leg.
It’s a lot for anyone to handle, much less someone who’s only in the eighth grade. Chemotherapy
robs Brice of his energy and his appetite. But he somehow manages to smile when he can. It’s
often an exhausted smile, but it still lights up the room.
A trooper, Brice’s mom Jenny calls him. A trooper with a heart of gold.
When they first learned Brice had cancer, Jenny says she fell to the ground. But Brice’s reaction
stays with her – and still inspires her – today.
“He was shocked and overwhelmed, but thankful they caught it. He was very hopeful. He takes
each day as a gift.”
One of the gifts they felt they have been given is their time staying at the Ronald McDonald
House near the hospital where Brice is in treatment.
“I have been amazed by the generosity and caring here,” Jenny says. “You feel overwhelmed
by the kindness. It takes on a whole new meaning of caring.”
Like other families who stay at the House to be near their hospitalized child, Jenny and Brice
can enjoy cooked meals, do laundry, and find support from other families going through a
similar ordeal. It gives them a home to go to – a place to unwind after long days of tough
treatments.
Brice and his mom plan to stay at the House until Brice is in remission. Meanwhile, he
takes each day as it comes. Jenny says he has good days and bad days that really test his
strength, but he’s resilient in a way that few adults would be.
“He is fighting hard, and he has the spirit of a thousand angels,” says Jenny. “And he is hopeful.”
Keep a Routine...
Daily routines… we all have them. During
the week my alarm clock rings early
and my husband and I begin the morning
ritual of starting our day. Besides
ourselves we rally our 4 and 8 year old
girls out of bed prodding them to join
the morning hustle to eat breakfast, get
dressed, brush their teeth and hair, grab
the backpacks, etc. without any major
hiccup or delay. When the day is over
another routine takes center stage… dinner,
homework, piano practice, soccer, baths, books, and then
off to bed.
Families staying at Ronald McDonald House Charities have
a different morning routine. Most are awake, have eaten
breakfast, and are at the hospital by 6:30 or 7:00am. They
sit at the bedside of their child, eager and prepared for early
morning doctor’s rounds where they will learn the plan for
the day. Days are filled with tests, surgery, specialist visits,
x-rays, medication routines, nursing rounds, and/or the
ever so difficult task of simply “waiting” for some good news
or answers to the rollercoaster ride they are on. Families
facing childhood illness put normal routines like yours and
mine on hold for a new, unfamiliar routine that is often
completely beyond their control.
The community’s support of volunteer time, goods and
services, and financial resources are vital to making our 2
Houses and Family Room comfortable and ease the burden
of childhood illness. Please help us share the importance
of what we do by reaching out to your networks to become
involved. If you are facebook users, we have a goal of
getting 5,000 fans to “like” us by the end of December. We
have daily posts that share the impact of our mission. So
check us out at facebook.com/RMHCKC and don’t forget to
click the Like button.
Holly Buckendahl, CEO/Executive Director
Mission Statement
2010 Board of Directors
The mission of Ronald McDonald House Charities
is to reduce the burden of childhood illness on children
and their families. We accomplish this by:
Executive Committee
Don Swartz, CBIZ Accounting, Tax & Advisory Services
Courtney Kounkel, Centric Projects
Marshaun Butler, Children’s Mercy South
Jami Waggoner, American Century Investments
• Providing comfortable lodging convenient to
local health facilities.
2
With your help, we bring some routine and normalcy to their
struggles by making sure that dinner is always ready for
them by 5:30pm daily, that the refrigerator and kitchen pantry
are stocked, that their mail and packages appear in their
mailboxes by 3pm, that their shuttle arrives on time to take
them to the hospital, that computers with internet access
are available to connect with family members and friends,
and that other basic needs, such as access to laundry and
toiletries, are ready when they need them.
•
Creating a caring and uplifting environment.
•
Leveraging community partnerships with affiliated
programs that comfort and assist children with
health concerns and their families.
•
Undertaking resource and fund development
activities that support our facilities, programs
and services.
Directors
Charlie Ammeen, SKC Communication Products
Marilyn Dobski, McDonald’s Owner/Operator
Lisa Essig, McDonald’s Owner/Operator
Laura Fizmaurice, MD, Children’s Mercy Hospital
Diane Gallagher, JPMorgan Retirement Plan Services
David Gentile, Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas City
Kevin Kramer, UMB Bank
Curtis Landherr, Garmin
Marsha Laner, Stewart Title Guaranty Company
Jon Lewis, UMB
Kay Martin, Community Volunteer
Cassie Nelson, McDonald’s Corporation
Ed Nelson, KC Hopps
Blaine Proctor, Hotel Phillips
Matt Salzman, Stinson Morrison Hecker, LLP
John Snyder, Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal LLP
Vernon Williams, Bernstein-Rein
The Family Room
During the first few
weeks of managing the
family room, I found it
to be somewhat surreal.
Having been a family
that stayed here during
the worst time of my
life, I couldn’t help but
think how unusual and
remarkable the whole
journey has been. I’ll
never forget coming into
the family room for the
first time and thinking, “No
way, they have homemade
lasagna!” I came in and
remember grabbing a plate,
inhaling my dinner and hurrying right back to my daughter’s
room on the oncology floor. I am certain the meal was good,
but mostly, I remember it was quick and easy.
After our little girl was diagnosed with a cancerous brain
tumor, we were warned this would be a long and hard journey. We were 3 hours away from home, in an unfamiliar
city without our extended family. We had five other children
at home. We obviously were unable to tend to our “everyday,
usual lives” as we were sitting in the passenger seat of this
runaway train called CANCER. The Ronald McDonald House
Right: M&S Grill celebrated five
years with us in September.
Charities staff, volunteers and families quickly became our
extended family during our intense 18 month battle.
I recall coming to the family room and seeing smiling faces and
feeling warm hospitality. I recall using the facilities here. I
recall “trying” to take a nap; however, it was hard to sleep
away from my little princess. Rest and taking care of me
was not a priority. Taking care of her was! Now looking
back, it was good to know that the staff and volunteers were
looking out for us even if we weren’t. They were gentle,
kind, genuine, warm, hospitable and very good listeners. I
couldn’t believe that they had a “house” inside of the hospital.
It was such a blessing.
Now, as the new manager of the Family Room, and just a
few days past the 2 year anniversary since diagnosis, I can
genuinely say I am in the right place. I recall as a parent . . . the
tears, anxiety, powerlessness, pain and yes, even joy - it will
always be fresh to me. However, I am determined to make
the biggest test in my life be a guiding force in the work I
do with our families. If for a brief moment, we can provide
warm respite for one mother, father, aunt, uncle, grandparent,
sibling, I can leave the Family Room and know that our
mission was served today!
~Sylvia Hernandez, Family Room Manager
joined RMHC staff in May 2010
In Loving Memory
Ronald McDonald House extends its deepest
sympathy to the families of the very special
children we served from July ‘09 through June ‘10.
Below: The new Tom Murphy
Memorial Playground at our
Cherry Street House donated
by the NASCAR Foundation
opened on May 21st.
Right: We appreciate the support of our
Kansas City Police and Fire Departments,
especially their willingness to help with
Pop-Tab Pandemonium.
Cesar Alvarado
Sasha Alvarado
Liliana Alvarez-Hernandez
Kenna Bradley
Violet Burrell
Bradley Dickey
Kari Eash
Kristen Eckels
Damaris N. Enciso
Brody Erion
Elizabeth J. Guenther
Colin Harvey-Poore
Ella Hibbs
Emmet C. Horine
Tyaun Jones
Kingston King
Aniya M. McKelvin
Alexander Peters
Jacinta Schibi
Brianna Tafoya
Jordan B. Willard
Aleesa Wilmore-Conley
Landis Wolken
3
THANK YOU to our 2010 Eve
May 14, 2010
Heart & Sole Sponsor
June 7, 2010
Presenting Sponsor
Sleek Stilettos
Jerry Hansen Susquehanna Foods, Inc.
CLIENT:
D AT E :
Trent Green Family Foundation
DAWN PLASENCIA
P R O D U C T I O N / F O R U S E O N LY O N :
04.18.07
Ruby Slippers
RMHC GOLF 1/4 PAGE COLOR
FILENAME:
C11113.1
Platinum Sponsors
4.25"W x 5.5"H
Gold Sponsors
Media Sponsors
Team Sponsors
NOTE: Color representations are approximations of actual production.
1685 Viewpond, S.E.
Grand Rapids, MI 49508
616-455-2424
PRODUCTION RIGHTS for designs are reserved for Ross and Associates.These
designs are intended to be placed into production and sold for actual field use only
through the CHANGE-OF-VIEW program. No field agency or other organization is
authorized to locally produce materials using these designs without specific
authorization from, and /or payment of appropriate fees to, Ross and Associates.
NOTE: This art to scale only on legal-size copies.
Approved by:
[Client]
Released by:
[Ross & Associates]
Mayer
Hoffman
McCann P.C.
Media Sponsors
An Independent CPA Firm
The Hansen Family
In-Kind Sponsors
McYano Management
Partner Sponsors
Advertising. Marketing. Understanding.
Century
Products LLC
In-Kind Sponsors
12 Baltimore Cafe
AMC Entertainment, Inc.
BCS Financial
Bernstein Rein
Capital Grille
Corie English Photography
Dean & Deluca
Digital Design, LLC
Dr. Pepper
EW Saad
Heathman Hotel
Hotel Phillips
Italian Gardens
4
j.nicole creative Photography
Kansas City Airport Marriott
Lucky Strike Lanes & Lounge
The NASCAR Foundation
Plattform Advertising
Ed & Sharon Rush
Stricker’s Auction Co.
Studio Dan Meiners
Sugar Mamma’s
Talco Direct
Trabon Companies
Dr. Brad and Barbara Warady
Connie Wollenhaupt
810 Sports Zone
AMC Theaters
Backwoods
BCS Financial
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas City
Boulevard Brewing Co.
Brandsource
Central States Beverage Co.
Chipotle Mexican Grill
The Coca-Cola Company
Dr. Pepper
Garmin
Trent Green
KC Hopps
KJO Media
Little Debbie
McDonald’s
Molle Toyota
Osage Marketing
Prairie Farms
Rheuark Marketing
SKC Communications
UPS
U.S. Foodservice
USA Today
ent Sponsors!
Plaza
Pzazz
2010
September 19, 2010
Diamond Sponsors
Platinum Sponsor
Gold Sponsors
Silver Sponsors
The Hansen Family
Friends of the House
Kick off the Holidays with RMHC’s
Friends of the House
Friends support RMHC by:
•
•
•
•
Preparing meals at the Longfellow and
Cherry Street Houses
Supporting the operations for our general store
Supporting volunteerism through our children’s charity
initiative – “kids helping kids”
Raising funds to help support our operational and
programming needs
Friends of the House is gearing up for their 2nd annual
“Light Up the House” campaign. The Campaign starts
October 15th and will run through December 2nd. As
donations are made the virtual house windows will be
“lit up”. A celebration, combined with a “jail and bail” of
popular Kansas Citians will occur on December 2nd at the
810ZONE on the Plaza Thursday, DECEMBER 2nd from
5:00 to 7:00pm, featuring a Happy Hour with free appetizers
and drink specials. Please support this campaign and
help us light our home! For more information please
contact Angie LaRose Witt at alwitt@rmhckc.org.
Ruby Sponsors
American Equity Mortgage, Inc.
Anesthesia Associates of Kansas
City
Bank of America
Bank of Blue Valley
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas
City
Laura Fitzmaurice Amick & Mickey
Amick
Halls Kansas City
Husch Blackwell Sanders, LLP
Isle of Capri - Kansas City
King’s Management Company
Layne Christensen Company
Lee Jeans
Tom & Kay Martin
McYano Management, Inc.
Meyer Complete
Nichols Charitable Trust
PriceWaterHouseCoopers
Searles Associates
Patron Sponsors
Barco Uniforms
Melanie & Brandon Bell
Centric Projects LLC
Dr. Pepper
Dan Engle
Financial Counselors, Inc.
Hubbard, Ruzicka, Kreamer,
& Kincaid LC
Anne Hickok
Inergy, L.P.
Ironwood Pharmaceuticals
Kissick Construction
Marsha & Joel Laner
Major Brands
McCownGordon Construction
MyCollegeOptions.org
Polsinelli Shughart PC
Reece & Nichols Realtors, Inc.
Craig & Maryanne Roepke
SKC Communication Products
Brad & Brenda Stasiulis
Don Swartz & Karen Glickstein
UMB
Wabash
“Virtual House” – visit www.rmhckc.org on October 15th
Activities at our area McDonald’s restaurants benefit our
Kansas City Ronald McDonald Houses and the Family Room.
To learn more about our relationship with McDonald’s,
please visit www.rmhckc.org.
Your change adds up…
BIG. Last year $175,000 was
dropped in the donation boxes.
Media & In-Kind Sponsors
Capitol Electric
Celebration Party Rental
The Coca-Cola Company
Digital Design
Dr. Pepper
DSS, Inc.
Fresh Take Marketing
Glazer’s Midwest
Highwoods Properties
Kansas City Parks & Rec
M&S Grill
Red Bull
Rosehill Gardens, Inc.
Seasonal Concepts
Sports Associated, Inc.
Superior Linens
US Foodservices
A penny from every Happy Meal
purchased comes to us.
Dollars raised from paper hands
sold from November 10November 20 comes to us.
5
Who has the Key to Our Heart?
Over the past ten years, Ronald McDonald House Charities
has built a pop-tab program that reaches across Kansas
City. More than 140 schools, plus youth groups, sports
teams, Scouts, “green teams” at local businesses, and
countless families and individuals collect pop-tabs. We
raised over $14,000 last year recycling donated pop-tabs
in Kansas City.
Why pop-tabs? Pop-tabs remind us of an important lesson:
even little things make a big difference. Families rely on
Ronald McDonald House for a safe and comfortable “home
away from home” while their children receive medical care.
RMHC relies on your energy and stick-to-it-tive-ness collecting
pop-tabs, a fun and easy way to help us thrive despite the
economic downturn.
In 2010, RMHC began a new recycling program, in tune
with our “green” Longfellow House. Bring us your keys! All
pul
l
At Ronald McDonald House, love comes in all shapes and
sizes. Love is made out of chocolate, flowers, pop-tabs, diamond
rings. Wait a minute! Pop-tabs? Those little aluminum rings
on beverage and food cans? How on earth do pop-tabs
support Ronald McDonald House? What can you do with
a pop-tab?
r the
fo
ve
Hou
o
se that L
Bu
ilt®
those keys filling up drawers and boxes…keys that you
wonder what they once opened, keys you are sure you will
need, but when?
Why collect and recycle old keys? Because this is a great
way to clear out old stuff, plus eco-friendly recycling benefits
Ronald McDonald House Charities financially. Keep the
environment clean and raise money to support RMHC: a
timely answer meeting two “key” needs in our community.
Pop-tabs and keys: good things happen when people work
together. Kansas City Ronald McDonald House Charities
– where hope finds a home. Who holds the keys to The
House That Love Built? You do!
For more information about pop-tab and key recycling,
please contact Alan Lubert: alubert@rmhckc.org or (816)
421-1753 x118.
Fundraising for RMHC…Easy as 1-2-3!
Third Party Events are critical to the success of raising
resources for RMHC. 3rd party events are organized solely
by volunteers for the purpose of raising funds to support our
mission. We need your help to reach our goal of raising
$80,000 this year through events like these. A snapshot of
ideas include:
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Jeans Day – At your place of employment, have each
employee donate $5 to allow them to wear jeans on a
given day.
Chores for Charities – Have kids at your school collect
allowance money from weekly chores and donate to
RMHC.
Host a party – Whether it’s your birthday, anniversary
or holiday, ask guests to bring donations for Ronald
McDonald House Charities in lieu of a gift.
Hold a pledge event – walk-a-thon, teeter-totter-a-thon,
run or activity and ask participants to collect pledges.
Pledges can be per mile, bowling pin, pool lap, etc.
Host a tournament – golf, bowling, poker
Hold a sale – garage sale, bake sale, art sale,
lemonade stand
Hold a car wash, benefit concert, or silent auction
To support your efforts, RMHC….
•
•
•
•
•
has a fundraising guide to help make your event a
success.
will list your event on our website and may include
information about the event in a previously scheduled
e-blast or e-newsletter if space is available.
can send a representative to speak at your event or at
the start of your fundraising campaign if requested.
has a limited number of brochures, donation envelopes
and other supplies are available to help build awareness
of your event and the cause.
can provide a DVD story to you to show to your group
or organization to help share the mission of RMHC
and rally support.
For more information about third party fundraisers for Ronald
McDonald House Charities of Kansas City, please contact
Megan Harding: (816) 842-8321 x101 or mharding@rmhckc.org.
6
Planned Giving and Tomorrow’s Hope Legacy Society
Ronald McDonald House Charities of Kansas City, Inc. has
been serving children with critical illness or injury since
1981. As long as there is a need in our community, the
strength, stability and continuity of
service RMHC provides, must be
maintained for future generations.
The purpose of planned giving and
Tomorrow’s Hope Legacy Society is to
continue to strengthen the mission with
giving opportunities. Generous donors
who thoughtfully include RMHC in
their estate planning with a minimum
gift valued at $10,000 will qualify for
membership in Tomorrow’s Hope
Legacy Society.
Legacy Society members continue
Ronald McDonald House Charities’ tradition of committed
people serving others, while ensuring our strength, well
into the future. Qualifying gifts include bequests, charitable
trusts, annuities, remainder interests in property, retirement
plan assets and IRAs, survivorship designations and life insurance.
Legacy Society members will receive recognition in the
form of whimsical acrylic stained glass
hearts, dedicated in their names. The
heart tiles, imagined and created by
artist Chris Duh, will make a spectacular
presentation, catching sunlight and
inspiring guests and residents at the
Longfellow House.
Those who inform RMHC by midJanuary 2011 that they’ve included
RMHC in their estate planning will be
considered charter members of Tomorrow’s
Hope Legacy Society. Charter members’
hearts will be noted in a special way,
along with our endless gratitude.
If you’d like more information or if you’ve left a planned gift
to RMHC, please contact Anne Dykes: (816) 842-8321
x151 or adykes@rmhckc.org.
Volunteer Corner
Volunteers really are the heart of Ronald McDonald House
Charities. Solely due to the kindness and generosity of
these individuals, our guests return from the hospital with
home cooked meals waiting for them, shop for toys and gifts
in our General Store, are greeted by warm and compassionate
faces upon arrival, and much, much more. In addition to
creating a comfortable place of respite for our families,
volunteers provide administrative support to RMHC staff,
support that is an essential piece of the day to day operation
of both Houses and the Ronald McDonald Family Room.
Volunteers also act as ambassadors for the Charity in the
community, and as a result, prove to be excellent volunteer
recruiters.
Lee’s Summit Christian Church youth are new volunteers
who helped with some landscaping projects.
Marnie Robinett, a long time House Warmer, recruited her
friend and co-worker Debbie Hanefield. Debbie is now a
regular fixture at the Longfellow House, and we couldn’t be
more thrilled. We’d like to thank Annie Walsh for introducing
her friend Amber Famuliner to the House. Amber is now a
part of the RMHC family, and you will find her at the Cherry
Street House and many special events. Anne Miller became
involved through Cathy Robinson, a volunteer who has
made an indelible impact on the House during the past eight
years. It is no surprise that Anne is dedicated, enthusiastic,
and capable.
We truly have the most wonderful volunteers. It is a gift to
our families and staff when current volunteers encourage
and recruit even more wonderful people to get involved in
the House. Thank you for all that you do!!
www.rmhckc.org
Amber and Annie have become regular faces around
the Houses and at special events.
7
Top 10 Wish List
Save the Date
• QT Gas Cards
Nell Hill’s Shopping Event
• Kleenex
• Diapers (size 3 or larger)
• Liquid Dish Soap
• Cooking Oil
• Kitchen Trash Bags
• 30-40 gal.Trash Bags
Nell Hill’s at Briarcliff Village
November 7, 2010 12-5 pm
Wine Reception hosted by Alpha Delta Pi Alumni
Association 2-4 pm
Tickets available at www.rmhckc.org
Trent Green Golf Classic
Shoal Creek Golf Course
June 6, 2011
Red Shoe Shindig
• Sugar
• Disinfectant Wipes
• Disposable Razors
For a more complete list of our House needs, please
visit our website at www.rmhckc.org. Click on How
You Can Help.
Hangar 10 - Charles Wheeler Downtown Airport
September 10, 2011 7-11 pm
facebook.com/RMHCKC
For the protection of our families, we request that all
donated items are brand new. Thank You.
RMHC Kansas City, Inc.
2502 Cherry Street
Kansas City, MO 64108
United Way
Please “donor designate”
Ronald McDonald House
Charities of Kansas City
during this year’s United Way Campaign!
Non Profit Organization
U.S. Postage
PAID
Permit No. 979
Kansas City, MO