|
1. What
is the Ronald McDonald House?
The Ronald McDonald House of the Twin Cities is the
cornerstone project of Ronald McDonald House Charities,
Upper Midwest.
Since 1979, the Ronald McDonald House of the Twin
Cities has been a home-away-from-home for families
living farther than sixty miles from the Twin Cities
who have children with cancer or another life threatening
illness who must travel to area hospitals for urgently
needed medical care. Our purpose is to support and
strengthen families during this critical time in their
lives by providing lodging, emotional support, and
educational resources. Currently, we can provide housing
for 48 families each night.
Families stay at the House while their child is under
a physician's care, whether the child is hospitalized
or being treated on an out-patient basis. Residents
enjoy a home-like setting, the privacy of their own
room, recreational facilities, and most importantly,
the community of others who share the same challenges
of having a seriously ill child.
The average length of stay for bone marrow or solid
organ transplants is 140 days. All other families
average 40 nights.
» Top
2.
Where is the House? What is it like?
The Ronald McDonald House of the Twin Cities, a cornerstone
project of Ronald McDonald House Charities, Upper
Midwest, is situated on the East Bank of the University
of Minnesota, just two blocks from University of Minnesota
Children’s Hospital Fairview. The 76,000 square
foot House includes 24 rooms, each with a private
bath. An additional 24 rooms are two-room suites,
including a sitting/eating area to accommodate families
with the lengthiest stays. All rooms have a TV/VCR,
and most have a DVD player.
We offer:
| |
• |
House
managers available 8:30 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. every
day |
| |
• |
Six
kitchen stations, a stocked food pantry, and
a community kitchen for groups to use when preparing
(almost) nightly meals |
| |
• |
A
24-hour laundry room (with soap), as well as
laundry rooms on every second floor |
| |
• |
Numerous
family activities such as BINGO, arts &
crafts, and a bouncy house |
| |
• |
Two
family areas for families to socialize or watch
television |
| |
• |
Two
children’s indoor play areas and two outdoor
play areas – both fenced in, offering
parents an opportunity to relax while their
children play |
| |
• |
A
resource room with a library and eight computers
with internet access and current Microsoft software
for parents to send email or electronically
telecommute |
| |
• |
A
one-room schoolhouse for patients and siblings
to continue their studies. The school has a
full-time licensed teacher, a part-time teacher’s
aide and is supported by regular weekly volunteers |
| |
• |
An
after-school program for kids that includes
cooking, crafts, games, music, art & pet
therapy |
| |
• |
A
24-hour state of the art workout facility |
| |
• |
Two
24-hour game rooms, with video games and a pool
table (for family members 16+) |
| |
• |
A
1⁄2 court gymnasium open 9 am to 9 pm
every day |
| |
• |
Roll-down
shutters on every window to enable families
to sleep during the day if needed |
| |
• |
A
movie room with children’s movies shown
twice a week |
| |
• |
Bedding
and towels and all paper products are provided.
Toiletries are also available |
| |
• |
Transportation
to a Super Target is provided twice a week |
| |
• |
Extensive
video and new release DVD library |
» Top
3.
Who stays at the House?
Families who live farther than sixty miles from the
Twin Cities, and who have a child, 19 or under with
cancer or another life threatening illness who are
being treated by area hospitals, are eligible to stay
at the House. Families are referred to the House by
their hospital social worker. In 2006, 371 individual
families made 490 visits to the Ronald McDonald House
of the Twin Cities, totally 20,228 nights of lodging.
Minneapolis/St. Paul provides a number of the world's
most advanced medical treatment hospitals for pediatric
critical care. Families travel to the Twin Cities
from communities across Minnesota, the United States,
and around the world:
| |
• |
46%
Minnesota |
| |
• |
33%
Surround Four States |
| |
• |
20%
Remaining United States |
| |
• |
1%
International |
Families come with children that have the following
conditions:
| |
• |
28%
NICU (Premature Birth) |
| |
• |
22%
Cancer |
| |
• |
14%
Cardiac |
| |
• |
10%
Solid Organ Transplants |
| |
• |
9%
Storage Disorders |
| |
• |
4%
Anemias |
| |
• |
4%
Esophageal Atresia |
| |
• |
2%
Cystic Fibrosis |
| |
• |
1%
Immune Deficiencies |
| |
• |
6%
Other |
The average length of stay for families who came to
receive a bone marrow or solid organ transplant was
138 nights. All other families average 41 nights.
Most nights there is a waiting list of families hoping
to stay at the House.
» Top
4.
How is the Ronald McDonald House staffed?
Ronald McDonald House Charities, Upper Midwest has
18 full-time staff members, which include an Executive
Director, House Manager, Child Life Specialist, Director
of Volunteer Services, and maintenance personnel.
They are assisted by four weekend managers, a 24-hour
on-site resident manager, and more than 4660 volunteers.
Volunteers help run the House by using their talents
as house warmers (providing comfort and meeting the
needs of families), working in the office, serving
on the Speaker’s Bureau, driving the van, gardening,
and maintaining the House by painting, etc.
Ronald McDonald House Charities, Upper Midwest is
governed by a twenty-four member Board of Directors
and, in addition to House employees, is supported
by development, marketing and communications, and
finance/accounting staff.
» Top
5.
Is there a fee for the families who stay at the House?
Families are asked to pay $15.00 per night per family. No
family is turned away due to an inability to pay.
Families can choose to pay weekly, monthly or at the
end of their stay.
» Top
6.
How is the Ronald McDonald House Charities, Upper
Midwest funded?
Ronald McDonald House Charities, Upper Midwest is
85% funded by our local community through contributions
and gifts in-kind. It costs $92 per night to provide
the warmth, security and community our families need.
» Top
7.
What
is the relationship between McDonald’s Corporation
and the Ronald McDonald House Charities, Upper Midwest?
McDonald’s restaurants have been a significant
partner in the development of all Ronald McDonald
Houses around the world. Each Ronald McDonald House
is independently owned and operated and develops an
individual relationship with the restaurants in their
community. Our partnership is unique and extremely
beneficial, but often misunderstood by the general
public.
The McDonald’s Corporation provides a license
agreement allowing each of Ronald McDonald House to
use the trademarks of the corporation. The name recognition
and the outstanding reputation of Ronald McDonald
House Charities are a tremendous asset to our organization.
Each Ronald McDonald House is governed in full by
a separate Board of Directors, establishes its own
mission and policies and manages its own budget and
fundraising process. Assets are not co-mingled.
Our local McDonald’s Restaurants wholeheartedly
support the House by participating in various fundraising
activities that happen inside the restaurants. The
prominent placement of change canisters in restaurants
make it easy for the community to support families
facing a medical crisis. Our local restaurants also
participate in local and national promotions and provide
valuable advertising in each store on behalf of the
Ronald McDonald House of the Twin Cities. The funds
that are collected through the local restaurants contribute
between 20-25% of our annual operating budget. A member
of the local McDonald’s owner-operator community
serves on the Charities’ Board of Directors,
as does a local McDonald’s Corporation employee.
Additionally, our local owner-operators and their
suppliers personally provide financial support and
in-kind product donations to the Ronald McDonald House
of the Twin Cities. Our local restaurants pledged
$1 million in our most recent capital campaign, allowing
us to expand our property to accommodate more families
in need. Through McDonald’s, the Houses have
access to the services and support of national donors
and suppliers. For example, The Coca-Cola Company
supplies vending machines and free bottled water,
juices, and soda to all Houses nationwide. Houses
collect and use the change from the machines for programs
for families.
» Top
8.
Where did the idea for the Ronald McDonald Houses
originate?
The first Ronald McDonald House opened in October
1974, as the result of the perseverance and dedication
of Fred Hill, a former Philadelphia Eagles football
player. After Hill’s daughter, Kim, was treated
for leukemia, he and his teammates were determined
to do something to benefit families of hospitalized
children. A joint effort by the Eagles and Philadelphia-area
McDonald’s restaurant owners raised enough money
to build the first Ronald McDonald House in Philadelphia.
Currently there are 265 Houses in 50 countries around
the world, 158 of which are located in the United
States. The Ronald McDonald House of the Twin
Cities opened on October 2, 1979 and was the 8th Ronald
McDonald House in the country.
» Top
9.
Does the House need volunteers?
Volunteers are the “heartbeat of the House.”
We welcome the participation of volunteers on many
levels.
House Warmers – Help families
by providing day-to-day support, including: cleaning,
restocking the food pantry, laundry, sorting and culling
donations, decorating, etc.
Family Support Programs – Lead
activities such as the bounce house, yoga activities,
birthday parties, BINGO, arts & crafts, etc.
Cooks for Kids – Provide a
meal – either dinner or brunch for families.
Duties include purchasing groceries, prep and clean-up.
School – Volunteers assist
the teacher in providing educational resources and
emotional support for patients and siblings
Gardening – Caring for flowers,
the lawn, and raking leaves so that families can increase
their enjoyment when they stay at the House
Group Activities – Gardening,
cleaning windows, decorating for the holidays, and
other activities are available
Ambassador Program (Speaker’s Bureau)
- Brings information about the House to community
groups, corporations and schools
Special Events Volunteers – Assist
in a variety of capacities including securing auction
items, helping at the Gala or annual golf tournament,
and providing administrative assistance prior to events.
May occasionally represent the House at a community
event or check presentation
Administrative/Office Volunteers –
Fold and stuff thank you letters, send out tribute
cards, address invitations/thank you cards, answer
phones, greet visitors and accept donations
» Top
10.
Are there other ways to be involved with the House?
Members of the community are needed to provide comforts
to families such as blankets or quilts, stuffed animals,
basic food and beverages, toiletries, toys, videos
& DVD’s, books (for the school, as well
as individual children), school supplies, Holiday
and birthday gifts, etc. Our Wish
List (PDF) shows
the current needs of the House.
» Top
|
|
|
|
|
