Newsletter Fall 12
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The Home with a Heart Keeping families together when they need each other the most. The Newsletter for the Ronald McDonald House of Indiana Fall 2012 Pop Tabs Provide a Lesson in Compassion On June 14, this past summer, a caravan of eight SUVs filled with 30 children and 15 adults from Greencastle, IN, arrived at the Ronald McDonald House with a small U-Haul trailer in tow loaded with 1.2 million pop tabs. As the children poured out of the vehicles to unload the pop tabs, the excitement and energy in the air was palpable. The children were students from Deer Meadow Primary and Bainbridge Elementary Schools, and they had been anticipating this day for the past year and a half. Among the children was eight-year-old Eli Hardwick, who was the motivation and inspiration behind the collection. “The day we took the pop tabs to the Ronald McDonald House was a day of celebration for all of us,” said Laurie. “It was just a happy, happy day.” Eli, Laurie and Jim Hardwick present the “Pop Tab Collect-A-Million Club” plaque to Deer Meadow Principal, Gwen Morris. Almost two years earlier, then 6-year-old Eli, a first- grader at Deer While Jim and Laurie rarely left Eli’s side, they found “a very Meadow, was hit by a car in a parking lot after he darted between two special place” – the Ronald McDonald House at Riley—just steps parked cars and into the path of an oncoming car while chasing a away from Eli where they could get a few hours of sleep, soccer ball. Eli suffered critical injuries and was airlifted to Riley nourishment and support. Hospital for Children at IU Health in Indianapolis. His parents, Jim and Laurie, were with him every step of the way. “I cannot say enough about how grateful we are for the Ronald McDonald House. After three days of not sleeping we were so “Scans and tests revealed significant damage to his brain,” said thankful to have a hot shower and a comfortable bed to get some Laurie. “Doctors told us that he could be on a respirator the rest of rest,” said Laurie. “The kindness and support from the staff and his life and that he may not remember anyone. And they said people there was overwhelming. I will never forget them.” more than once that ‘he would be different.’” The Hardwicks experienced an outpouring of love and support from their Greencastle community, as well. Some of the schools in the area had already been collecting pop tabs in support of the Ronald McDonald House, but when they heard about Eli, collecting the tabs became a lesson of compassion and very personal. Even local businesses got involved. “The list of incredibly nice things our community has done for us goes on and on,” said Laurie. As the Greencastle community rallied behind the Hardwick family, Eli started to make what everyone called a miraculous recovery. After a month in the hospital Eli was able to go home and today he is back on the soccer field and, according to Laurie, “doing great in school.” “The day we took the pop tabs to the Ronald McDonald House Students and parents delivered 1.2 million pop tabs to the House this past was a day of celebration for all of us,” said Laurie. “It was just a June in honor of Eli Hardwick. happy, happy day.” A Message from Our Executive Director Dear Friends, Fall is here, which always reminds me of the wonderful events and activities just around the corner. As our sta gears up for the very busy months ahead, I am also reminded that we could never accomplish all we do without the amazing support of our community partners. Every night, 58 tired and weary families call our House “home” while their children receive lifesaving treatment at local hospitals. These families live together, cry together and laugh together. They nd strength in each other and we nd strength in you. Last year, 6,388 donors and 375 volunteers came together for one purpose; to provide a supportive home-away-from-home for 1,412 families with critically ill and injured children receiving treatment at Indianapolis-area hospitals. I encourage you to learn more about our community impact by visiting our website at www.rmh-indiana.org and reading our latest annual report. Your support and donations keep our doors open 24 hours a day, seven days a week, 365 days a year. Because of you, families get the rest they need to have focused conversations with their child’s medical team and spend quality time with their child. Please continue to make a dierence in the lives of families with critically ill children by making a gift to the Ronald McDonald House today. Warm Regards, Beth Johnson 2 Support the Ronald McDonald House by Ways You Can Support the House saving money on your house! The Ronald McDonald House of Indiana is nancially supported primarily through tax-deductible contributions from individuals, corporations and foundations. We oer exible giving options that allow you to make a gift now or in the future. Your gifts help maintain the House and provide a safe, caring place for our families. Here are 10 ways you can help the Ronald McDonald House continue to support families with critically ill or injured children: The Ronald McDonald House of Indiana will receive a $25 donation for every home that registers for a free home energy • Volunteer at the House assessment through the Energizing Indiana home assessment • Volunteer at an event program. The assessments can lower energy bills, improve • Prepare a home-cooked meal in-home air quality, and increase the value of the home overall. • Serve on a committee Inspectors will install energy-savers such as light bulbs, • Donate funds (individual and corporate giving options available) showerheads and sink aerators, and assess the heating, • Designate a gift in honor or memory of a loved one ventilation and air-conditioning systems to determine if they are • Host a fundraising event operating eciently. Once the energy assessment is complete, a • Include Ronald McDonald House of Indiana in your comprehensive report will be sent detailing what can be done to estate/gift planning start saving energy and make the home more comfortable. • Provide wish list items • Collect pop tabs For more information and to sign up for a free home energy assessment, please visit our website at www.rmh-indiana.org. Journeys to South America An Evening of fine South American Wines, Cuisine, Art, Entertainment and Silent Auction You are cordially invited to join us for “A Taste…Journeys to South America” benefiting the Ronald McDonald House of Indiana on the evening of November 2, 2012 at the Indiana Roof Ballroom. During the journey, guests will: • Take a culinary tour and discover Argentinean papas fritas, tenderloin with chimichurri, empanadas, espetinhos -- Brazil's version of shish kabob, Chilean crudite of gourmet vegetables, cheeses, and tango dipping sauces and the sweet essence from paradise, -- plantation mangos and passion fruit, prepared by the Indiana Roof Ballroom and guest Chef Lucas Trinosky, The Chef’s Academy Chef Lucus Trinosky • Savor a variety of fine South American wines presented by Monarch Beverage from Chile, Argentina and Brazil • Shop in a lavish “Mercado del Puerto" Silent Auction Market Place including more than 95 tantalizing packages of fine wine collections, travel escapes to Martha’s Vineyard, Chicago, New York and Hawaii; *Broadway shows, Colts tickets, sports collectibles, unique Chef’s dinners, and in-home wine tasting experiences, holiday décor and gifts, gourmet goodies, and tastes and treasures from around the world Anita Hall • Sizzle to the sparkling entertainment presented by Recording/Performance Artist, Anita Hall, Cathy Morris Brazilian Jazz, showcasing Argentine violin and guitars, and Tango in the Streets by Five Star Dance Studios Chuck Lofton, WTHR SkyTrak weatherman with Eyewitness News Sunrise, is our emcee and will serve as tour guide for the evening as guests experience a journey of all the senses including a Brazilian Carnaval Dessert Parade! Jill Ditmire, honorary chair and local wine 3 aficionado will share in the festivities. Cathy Morris Reserved seats are $100 each, a reserved table of 10 guests is $1,000 and table partnerships are $1,500. Tickets can be purchased online at www.rmh-indiana.org or by calling Special Events Manager, Pam Anderson, at (317) 267-0605, ext. 227. Thank You Taste Shop in the Silent Auction Market Place Partners Oct. 26-Nov. 2, 2012 Dinner Partner www.rmh-indiana.org Chuck Lofton Fifth Third Bank Experience Partners We have teamed up with the following partners to bring you the best opportunities for bidding Carrier on our silent auction and for your own personal concert, sports and theatre ticket needs: IU Health Wilson Industrial Sales Co., Inc. Entertainment Partner Barnes & Thornburg Reception Partner BSA LifeStructures Auctions By Cellular BID Smart Technology is providing unique technology prior to and during our Taste event so everyone has the opportunity to shop in the “Mercado del Puerto" Silent Auction Silent Auction Partner Market Place. The auction site opens on October 26 and closes on November 2, 2012 at 9:30 p.m. First Merchants Visit www.rmh-indiana.org for instructions on how to participate. It’s easy and fun! Wine Station *Broadway tickets for our Silent Auction are presented by our official ticket partner, ETA Tickets. The RND Group, Inc. All friends of the Ronald McDonald House of Indiana are invited to order tickets on-line at www.ETAtickets.com for any sports, concerts, or theatre events anywhere and receive an 8% Cuisine Station discount on your order.