From Our House to Yours Aloha www.RonaldHouseHawaii.org Newsletter of Ronald McDonald House Charities® of Hawaii Vol. XVII, Issue 3, October 2017

strangers, to face and Meanwhile, relatives It all worked out overcome. Because baby and friends back on wasn’t actually due until Kauai rallied. Even Zyli Cherisse and Erik Rita are home on October 2, it was a very Azay’s 10-year-old Kauai now, enjoying their new baby serious situation and brothers, rose to the and hoping to get back into a doctors did everything occasion. “I ask them comfortable routine, but it hasn’t they could to delay the to take more been easy. In fact, from the moment delivery. responsibility and they Cherisse began feeling contractions in “I had pre-term labor at did it,” Eric said about 26 weeks, and proudly. “We are so they recommended bed grateful to everyone rest, hydration and back home for their some medicine they support and kindness,” have to help stop the added Cherisse. contractions,” said Four days after giving Cherisse. “So I tried all birth, Cherisse was of that, and they released from the monitored me for hospital and checked about a week before into the nearby Ronald On their way home, Cherisse and Erik Rita deciding abruptly to McDonald House, took some 2me to talk about their experiences. medevac me to Oahu.” where she could stay July, it’s been a series of challenges Cherisse arrived at while Zyli Azay that has taken the support and Kapiolani Medical developed, and grew compassion of their family, friends, Center on Monday, stronger. “I didn’t co-workers, and even perfect July 10 and had Zyli know much about the Azay Rita, a baby girl, Ronald McDonald RMHC-HI on Saturday morning, House, but the nurses Board of Directors July 15. “By then I was said to check into it,” at 28 weeks,” she she said. “Thank Brian Takeda recalled. Eric had goodness. I can barely Chair joined her at the even put into words. Garet Azama hospital for the birth. It’s such an 1st Vice Chair unexpected, The Kalaheo couple overwhelming Russell Woo, M.D. has three other blessing. I felt like 2nd Vice Chair school-aged children, there was so much Dana Abe Aliyah, Cole and going on that was out Treasurer Tenzen, and Eric is of my control. This working as a plumber Clayton Kamida place gave me the Secretary and attending classes. feeling that I had at Their lives had been least some control Angela Ballard busy, but they pretty over my situation.” Anthony Froix, M.D. much had it under Meanwhile, Cherisse James Haruki control - until could be by Zyli Azay’s Wesley B. Hiyane everything changed. Welcome to the world Zyli Azay! Martin Lau “There were a lot of side every day and Robert Leopoldino things that got thrown into the mix able to witness the swift progress her Cecil Morton when this happened,” Cherisse new baby was making. “We’ve been Stacey Miyamoto explained. “It threw off our so fortunate that she hasn’t suffered Clyde Shiigi expectations. Everything had to from any major complications. The Tommy Silva change. Thankfully, Erik is an Army issues that require major intervention Markus Staib Vet and he’s got some hard core are so common in preemies, but we Thanh Tran training on how to be organized in didn’t encounter any of them,” she chaos.” Continued on page 2 Message from our President

Last month, Kidz For she had done. But when she le#, a#er follow their passion. To be the link to A Cause launched its mee2ng the children and families, she making our community be3er, 2017 campaign to understood the impact of what she had stronger, and kinder. To be the young benefit Hawaii’s done, and what helping others really heroes and champions of our next Ronald McDonald meant. It fueled her desire to do more, genera2on of leaders. House. I am so to give back, to be a Kid For A proud and excited Cause.” that RMHC-Hawaii is Jerri Chong Nicki has worked hard to grow Kidz part of this amazing For A Cause into an amazing peer-to- journey. But what peer fundraising program that has really inspires me is how a li3le girl’s raised more than $420,000 over the first visit to the “House That Love Built” years for various Hawaii chari2es. could have such a profound and las2ng And now, Kidz for A Cause has come effect on her, and ul2mately, make a full circle, back “home” to the Ronald real difference for thousands of people McDonald House, where it all began in need. 9 years ago. In 2008, Nicki Lee, a Punahou School And what started as an 8-year-old 3rd grader who loved to sing, took her pu4ng on a simple talent show Nicki Lee and Jerri Chong, 2008 love of performing and put on a talent evolved into an incredible movement show in her living room, in front of where children of all ages create family and friends, to raise money for a FUNraising events and ac2vi2es that school community service project. She inspire leadership, teamwork, selected RMHC-Hawaii as the commitment, and most of all, a beneficiary and raised $1,100 to help desire to help others, to do the children and families of the Ronald something bigger than themselves. McDonald House! But it was what came a#er, that changed Nicki and set But the unique premise of Kidz For A her on an inspired path. Cause remains the same. It’s all about kids. Kids helping kids. Kids Her mom, Cathy Lee, says “When Nicki inspiring kids. It’s about the promise arrived at the Ronald McDonald House and the power of young people to to deliver the money she had raised, make a difference when given the she was just proud of herself for what opportunity. To dream big and Nicki and Jerri, 2017

“Aloha From Our House to Yours”, the newsletter of Ronald McDonald House Charities of Hawaii (RMHC-HI), is published three times a year. RMHC-HI, 1970 Judd Hillside Road, Honolulu, HI 96822

It all worked out connued from page 1 shared. “We are profoundly grateful.” Bank of Hawaii’s support for Ronald McDonald “Zyli Azay has overcome a lot, but we haven’t House Hawaii has been steadfast from the had to deal with half of the things that some very beginning. Over the years, BOH has HeroesOfTheHeart of the other parents I met, and now call included RMHC-HI in large-scale fundraising friends, are going through. I’m empathetic ac2vi2es within the company; provided because we have similar but different stories members for the RMHC-HI Board of Directors; and the differences are glaring to me. We have and supplied volunteers at our Houses and special become close during this shared process, and I events. Even the Bankohana, employees from feel for them,” said Cherisse. every Bank of Hawaii branch across the state, have helped hundreds of Ronald McDonald Most preemie babies are not released from House families through Live Kokua, the bank’s employee giving program. the hospital until at least their original due “Our rela2onship with the bank has always been one that extends dates, but here they were, on their way home throughout the company, to their very caring employees,” said Jerri weeks sooner. “It all worked out.” said Chong, RMHC-Hawaii President. “We are so grateful for their confidence Cherisse. “I have no idea what we would have and support.” done without Ronald McDonald House. It’s not just a bed to sleep in. It’s truly a home-away- We fondly consider Bank of Hawaii, and its many team members, special “HEROES OF THE HEART”. from-home.”

2 Kidz For A Cause 2017 - benefi+ng RMHC Hawaii

Nicki Lee, founder of Kidz For A Cause addressed the crowd (right) at the Hawaii launch event on Sunday, August 27 at Sacred Hearts Academy. Hundreds of enthusias2c students and parents a3ended and le# with the energy and tools to make this year’s campaign the biggest and best to date! Join Now!! Register online at KidzForACause.org KFAC FUNraisers inspire Kidz to Nicki feels strongly that Kidz For A “What’s so empowering is that all of use their crea2vity and passion to Cause is just as enriching for the kids these kids that want to make a help kids in need. FUNraisers par2cipa2ng as it is for the charity difference are coming together and created by Kidz have included that benefits from the campaign. using what they love to do - but all for sports clinics, bake sales, dances, a “Kidz For A Cause has become so the same common goal. Being able to carnival, talent shows and more! much more than just a way to raise collaborate and inspire each other is And, earn school community money, she explained. “We are also so powerful.” service credits just by doing what able to mentor kids and to really The focus is on kids, but Nicki is also you love! teach them leadership skills and quick to acknowledge the important To become a Kid For A Cause, communica2on skills along with role that parents and other adults play register today at philanthropy and values.” in the success of Kidz For A Cause. KidzForACause.org — elementary, “It works so well because of that peer- “Kidz For A Cause isn’t due to one middle and high school students to-peer mo2va2on and peer-to-peer person. It’s everybody coming welcome! Campaign lasts through learning aspect. It’s kids helping kids together for incredible causes. That’s February, 2018. in need.” one of the things that I love about it.”

Mee*ng the James Family on her first visit to the Ronald McDonald House was a big reason Nicki Lee became so passionate about philanthropy.

Le# photo, the day in 2008 when Nicki visited the Ronald McDonald House and met Jerri Chong and the James family. Middle photo, Dennis, Kierah, Kaylee and Angie James during a stay at the House in 2009. Right photo, recrea2ng the pose from nine years ago at a reunion on the mainland this summer. The James family now lives in Lompoc, California.

3 The 26th Annual RMHC-HI Golf Classic July 20, 2017 at Hawaii Prince Golf Club

It was another beau2ful day for our Golf Classic, and there was fun for golfers and volunteers alike! Best of all, we raised more than $100,000 to help families with seriously ill or injured children. Mahalo to everyone who made it possible!

PLATINUM SPONSORS First Insurance Company of Hawaii, Ltd. Hawaii Medical Service Associa2on Alternate Energy, Inc. Island Insurance Company of Hawaii, Ltd. Honolulu Star-Adver2ser Crazy Shirts McDonald’s of East Hawaii (Hilo) HPC Foods, Ltd. Golden State Foods McDonald’s of Kehalani Koga Engineering & Construc2on, Inc. (2 Teams) Hamasaki Construc2on, LLC (2 Teams) Newtown Veterinary Clinic, Inc. Loca2ons Founda2on J. Kadowaki, Inc. Par Hawaii Matheson Gas Leu, Okuda & Doi, A Law Partnership Sky River Management (2 Teams) Merit Proper2es McDonald’s Restaurants of Hawaii The Coca Cola Company Midas Auto Service & Tires McDonald’s of Hawaii – GAMA (2 Teams) SILVER SPONSORS Mitsunaga Construc2on Meadow Gold Dairies American Savings Bank Mutual Underwriters Midas Auto Service & Tires BAMA/Century Products PAMCAH – Local 675 Coop Fund (2 Teams) Pasha Hawaii Commercial Sheetmetal Company, Inc. Premier Insurance Agency T&T Tin2ng Specialists Egami and Ichikawa CPAs R. K. Oshiro Door Service, Inc. GOLD SPONSORS Goeas Group Wealth Consultants of Raymond Seal Masters of Hawaii ARYZTA, LLC James Servco Employee Benefits Consultants Burt’s 76 Service Grace Pacific, LLC Sheraton Waikiki Chung Restaurants of Kauai, LLC Ham Produce & Seafood Stuart S. L. Chun Insurance Broker ConAgra Foods HawaiiUSA Federal Credit Union Sunrun

Prize Donors and Hole Sponsors over $500 Aqua Aston Hospitality Hawaii Prince Golf Club and Prince Waikiki Sheraton Waikiki Aston Waikiki Sunset Holua Resort at Mauna Loa Village Superb Sushi B. Hayman Co. Hya3 Regency Maui Resort and Spa The Coca Cola Company California Hotel & Casino K & K Distributors, Inc. The Honest Company CQ Communica2ons, Inc. Ka‘anapali Beach Hotel Tiki’s Grill & Bar Diamond Bakery Company, Ltd Kaha Lani - Castle Resorts & Hotels Tony Group Autoplex Dr Pepper Snapple Group Keoki’s Lau Lau Turtle Bay Egami & Ichikawa CPAs, Inc. Kuoha Culinary Waikiki Beach Walk Five-0 Photo L H Gamble Company, Ltd. Waikiki Parc Hotel Four Seasons Resort Maui at Wailea McDonald’s Restaurants of Hawaii Wailea Beach Resort Marrio3, Maui Francis I‘i Brown Golf Courses Meadow Gold Dairies Mr. Bruce Yanagihara Grand Hya3 Kauai Resort & Spa Paradise Beverages, Inc. Hawaii Coffee Company Ruth’s Chris Steak House

4 Join us at the 2017 Ronald McDonald House Chari*es of Hawaii Annual Gala Dinner on Saturday, November 18, 2017, at the Sheraton Waikiki Help us celebrate 30 years of providing a Hotel! “home-away-from-home” for families with seriously ill children at our biggest event of the year. Get ready for the Incredible entertainment! Delicious Dinner! Warm Fellowship! Silent and Live Auc2ons! The There is something for everyone at Country Store! the Gala’s Silent Auction! Get ready to click, bid and win! You can Being a Table Sponsor is a great way even participate in our silent auction to par2cipate: from home! Koa Sponsorship - $15,000 Browse auction items and register to bid at rmhchawaii.cbo.io from November 15 Maile Sponsorship - $10,000 – November 18, 2017 Ilima Sponsorship - $5,000 Pikake Sponsorship - $3,000 Individual seats - $250 Can’t make it on November 18, but s2ll want to help? Sponsor a table for families currently staying the Ronald McDonald House, or donate auc2on items!

30th anniversary “MALL-HALO” events all across the islands! Thank you for joining us at , Kona Commons, Kapolei Commons, Prince Kuhio Mall, Queen Kaahumanu Center, , , and during 2017!

5 Ways The Community Supports Us Mahalo!

Honolulu Federal Credit Union’s (HOCU) Keiki Miracle Day was a smashing success on August 26. The benefit for RMHC- Hawaii, which took place at HOCU’s Moiliili branch, included a “Trash and Treasures” market; baked goods; cra# fair; retail pop ups; food; keiki I.D.s; games and more!

Sam Choy’s In Our Kitchen!

An awesome episode of Sam Choy’s popular TV show was taped at our Judd Hillside House on July 28 and aired August 27 on KHON2 - hope you had a chance to watch it! If not, be sure to mark your calendar for October 22 at 6:30 p.m., when it will be rebroadcast. In this segment, Chef Sam Choy enlists the help of RMHC-Hawaii’s President Jerri Chong and current guest at the House, Duke Au Hoon, from Maui. They use food from the community refrigerator and pantry to create a meal for all the families.

Chef Choy has been a long-2me supporter of Ronald McDonald House, hos2ng fundraisers at his restaurants for us, playing in our golf classics, visi2ng the House and interac2ng with the kids - even shoo2ng a previous TV show in our kitchen almost ten years ago!

6 Ways The Community Supports Us Mahalo!

Workplace Giving Changes Lives

Workplace giving programs provide essen2al support for RMHC-HI families, and many donors find it to be an easy and convenient way to make their annual tax-deduc2ble dona2ons. #70680 If you are a federal government employee (civilian or military), please consider designa2ng a por2on of your Combined Federal Campaign gi# to Hawaii’s Ronald House by selec2ng #89629 on your pledge form. If Aloha United Way is your op2on for workplace giving, you can choose to direct your gi# of $48 or more per year, by going to “Invest My Gi# – Agency Support” on your pledge form and filling in code #70680. #89629 Mahalo for your support and we salute you for changing lives!

Thanks to friend of RMHC-Hawaii Chrissy Schechter, who is the Publisher and editor-in-chief of Kauai Family Magazine, the Henrys, a family staying at the Judd Hillside House from Kailua-Kona, got to enjoy the excitement of Sesame Street Live!

Your wheels can help too! When you donate a vehicle to RMHC-HI, you are helping to keep families together and close to their child in difficult 2mes. 1. Contact us at (855) 227-7435 or go to onecarhelpsrmhc.com 2. At no cost to you, your vehicle is towed by our vendor (I.A.A.) to the nearest auc2on loca2on AmazonSmile is a simple and automa2c way for you to 3. I.A.A. sends you a receipt. Your dona2on may support RMHC-HI each 2me you shop, at no cost to you. qualify for a tax deduc2on When you shop at smile.amazon.com, you’ll find the exact 4. The proceeds from your same low prices, vast selec2on and convenient shopping dona2on make a huge impact experience as Amazon.com, with the added bonus that Amazon will donate a por2on of your eligible purchases to on a family in need RMHC-HI. Your trucks, Log in to your Amazon account at motorcycles, boats smile.amazon.com. At the top le# and RVs can also corner, search for and select “Ronald McDonald House make a difference Chari2es of Hawaii” and start for so many families! shopping!

7 ® Ronald McDonald House Charities of Hawaii Non-Profit Org. 1970 Judd Hillside Road U.S. Postage Paid P.O. Box 61777 Honolulu HI Permit No. 635 Honolulu, Hawaii 96839-1777 Phone: (808) 973-5683 [email protected] www.RonaldHouseHawaii.org

RETURN SERVICE REQUESTED

Our House is more than a cozy place to sleep – It’s a Home Away From Home Sign Up to Be a Family Support Services Program Volunteer! Volunteer Spotlight

We are recruiting volunteers for our Family Support n Home For the Holidays - Plan an Easter egg hunt, Services Program! Come be the first friendly face to prepare Mother’s Day bouquets, fill Halloween buckets, welcome and assist those visiting or staying at Hawaii’s decorate Christmas trees - help make holidays special for Ronald McDonald Houses. Our volunteers will serve as families. House ambassadors, and help provide a supportive n Have a special skill or talent? Whether you’re crafty, environment for families who call the Ronald House artsy, or have another unique skill, we can plan activities “home”. Because the caring touch is most often the and arrange it to take place during your shift. healing touch. n Help us gather informa2on and resources for the COMMITMENT families. n Daily Shifts available: 8:30 a.m. to 12:30 p.m. and SKILLS 12:30 p.m. to 4:30 p.m. n Friendly, positive attitude n n Minimum two shifts per month Compassionate n n Minimum six month commitment Reliable and consistent n Responsible RESPONSIBILITIES n Understand the need for confidentiality n Staff reception and welcome desks We’re excited to meet you and work with you! Email n Provide House tours to families and visitors Volunteer Services Manager Lindsey Tolentino at n Like to cook or bake? Be a Snack Attack Program [email protected] or call 973-5683 ext. 241 to learn volunteer, and you can help make lunch items, snacks and more! sweet treats for our families to enjoy. n “Recipes from the Heart”- Help us collect family recipes and stories for the upcoming RMHC Hawaii cookbook!