YEARBOOK Page 1 2014 Yearbook A SUCCESSFUL YEAR A MESSAGE FROM OUTGOING CEO DOUG PORTER AND BOARD CHAIRMAN BILL BUDIG Dear Donors, Supporters, Friends and Families: We are proud to share this 2014 yearbook with you, which highlights our charity’s commitment to serving families and less fortunate young people in our community. Through our three core programs – Ronald McDonald Houses and Family Rooms, Scholarship Program, and Ronald McDonald Care Mobile – we have been able to touch and enhance the lives of almost 10,000 people in our communities. We are fulfilled in knowing that we have served those who are going through the darkest days of their lives while their child is medically compromised. Providing assistance to academically-outstanding, community-minded, financially-disadvantaged college-bound students or providing school-age children with physicals and vaccinations are also critical parts of our mission. As Doug prepares to retire this summer, we are thrilled to welcome our new CEO, Holly Buckendahl, who will continue this commitment to providing the best in service to those in need. Holly, who comes to us having served as CEO of RMHC Kansas City for the past seven years, is uniquely qualified to assume the leadership reins here in Chicagoland. Holly has a Master’s Degree in Social Work from the University of Nebraska and while in Kansas City, she built a new House, completed a capital campaign, greatly raised standards and built a high functioning team. A special thanks to all of you who have given so much to RMHC-CNI over the past year and for the many years preceding. Without the commitment of so many, our charity would not be as strong as it is today. Onward and upward! Doug Porter and Bill Budig Page 2 2014 Yearbook FAMILY STORY THE GODISH FAMILY Brian and Jennifer Godish came to the Bradley began receiving treatment in Bradley received treatment. Parents Ronald McDonald House near Lurie early November 2014, which included a took turns spending time in the hospital Children’s when their four-year-old son stem cell transplant. All family members with Bradley while the rest of the family Bradley was diagnosed with leukemia in were tested and thankfully, his twin sister stayed at the Ronald McDonald House. late 2014. Prior to his diagnosis, Bradley Charlotte was determined to be a perfect The House became such a critical part of was a normal child until he began match to donate. the family’s life that when Charlotte woke complaining of foot pain, was running a up from her donor surgery, she asked “It was our home away from home,” fever and vomiting. Mother Jennifer took when she could return to the House. Brian said. “The House kept us going Bradley to the pediatrician, where his physically and mentally and made our The family also benefitted from spending white blood count indicated leukemia. time at the hospital so much better. time with the other families at the House. They immediately took him to their When you are trying to get your family’s “Everyone is there fighting so everyone local hospital, where the diagnosis was life on track, the House was there for comes together. Staying at the House confirmed, along with pneumonia. us,” he said. makes you feel normal,” Brian said. Seeking the best possible treatment for The family, which includes parents In April, Bradley’s treatment was their son, parents Brian and Jennifer Brian and Jennifer, Bradley’s twin sister completed and he has subsequently sought treatment at Ann & Robert H. Charlotte and baby brother Camden been determined to be cancer free more Lurie Children’s Hospital in Chicago. It became a part of the Ronald McDonald than 100 days. was at the hospital that the family was House family for almost six months while told about the Ronald McDonald House near Lurie Children’s. “I didn’t know much about the Ronald McDonald House, what it was or what it represented,” Brian said. When the family toured the House, they realized it was where they needed to be if they were going to keep their family together. Page 3 2014 Yearbook 10 YEARS OF SCHOLARSHIP SUPPORT SCHOLARSHIP WINNERS Jillian Dixon received an RMHC-CNI Jillian will graduate in the spring of 2015 scholarship in the summer of 2011 upon with her degree and hopes to work at Riley graduation from Griffith High School in Hospital for Children in Indianapolis and Griffith Indiana. She began attending Indiana to continue volunteering with the Ronald State University to pursue a bachelor’s McDonald House. degree in nursing. During her time in college, “The scholarship gave me the opportunity she was an active member of Chi Omega to go to college and gave me a greater Sorority, and volunteered her time with awareness of Ronald McDonald House the Ronald McDonald House of Indiana in Charities and the children and families it Indianapolis. serves,” Jillian said. Brianna Winbush received an RMHC-CNI/ While at the university, Brianna launched AAFA scholarship in 2011 as a graduating her own website — thebossup.com — a high school senior from St. Joseph High site committed to women and includes daily School in Westchester, Illinois. celebrity gossip, fashion trends, lifestyle tips She immediately began her four-year college and everyday motivation. Brianna has also career at the University of Michigan where served as a Resident Assistant for the past she began studying psychology. While two years, assisting freshmen with a variety at the University of Michigan, she was a of issues as they transition to college life. committed volunteer with ECO Girls, whose Brianna credits the scholarship with mission is to foster environmental awareness permitting her to have a very special college and stewardships, ecological literacy, experience. “The scholarship award allowed cultural education, friendship building, me to be a student and to find myself,” self-confidence, and leadership skills for Brianna said. “Without the scholarship, it elementary and middle school girls in the would have probably been very hard for my southeastern Michigan cities of Ann Arbor, parents to find the funds to send me to the Ypsilanti, and Detroit. University of Michigan,” she said. RONALD MCDONALD CARE MOBILE In 2014, the Ronald McDonald Care a month in the Park Ridge area, in addition increased its outreach by 5% in 2014, Mobile expanded its outreach beyond to its already scheduled visits to the thus providing much needed health care the Southside of Chicagoland to include Southside four to five days a week. to over 2,500 children. children in need in the northwest area. Thanks to these additional days, our The Care Mobile now visits schools twice Ronald McDonald Care Mobile has Page 4 2014 Yearbook PROGRAMS AND SERVICES RONALD McDONALD and University of Chicago Comer In 2014, more than 2,500 children were HOUSES Children’s Hospital provide a haven of served on the Care Mobile. Our five Ronald McDonald Houses help respite and hospitality to families whose us implement our mission by providing children are in treatment at the hospital. SCHOLARSHIP PROGRAM a ‘home away from home’ to keep Located just outside the pediatric 2014 marked the tenth year of our families together. Located near Advocate intensive care unit and outpatient service multiyear scholarship program, which Children’s Hospital, Loyola University area, these spaces provide a home-like provides $4,000/year, renewable Medical Center, University of Chicago atmosphere away from the stress of scholarships to academically Comer Children’s Hospital, Ann & Robert the hospital. outstanding, community-minded and H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago, economically challenged young people. and Central DuPage Hospital, the RONALD McDONALD CARE Many of these young people are Houses allow families to eat, sleep and MOBILE pursuing degrees in the medical field, find the emotional support they need RMHC-CNI’s Care Mobile program, in have volunteered at one of our Ronald - just blocks from where their child is partnership with Advocate Children’s McDonald Houses or have experienced being treated. In 2014, we served almost Hospital, provides essential health the benefits of the Houses through 5,000 families for more than 38,000 services to children in underserved a personal family experience. Since “family nights”. areas in a mobile environment. Children the program’s inception, many of our receive check-ups, immunizations, and winners have also spent significant time RONALD McDONALD referrals for specialty care, including at our Houses as interns or employees. FAMILY ROOMS asthma, cardiology, and allergies. Our The Ronald McDonald Family Rooms goal is to find a “health care home” for inside Edward Hospital, Lurie Children’s all the children seen on the Care Mobile. STATISTICS • Provided 38,000 “family nights” for the • Served 2,500 children on the Ronald • Expanded service area for Ronald families of hospitalized children McDonald Care Mobile® McDonald Care Mobile to north side of Chicago • Provided services to almost • Provided financial assistance to 10,000 people through our three core 40 college students • Saved families a collective $11 million programs in housing and food costs • Converted two sleep rooms located • Broke ground on fifth Ronald inside Ann & Robert H. Lurie • 2,124 meals were served McDonald House® near Central Children’s Hospital of Chicago and • 117,013 Volunteer hours contributed DuPage Hospital University of Chicago Medicine Comer Children’s Hospital to Family Rooms, • 729 family activities provided at • Achieved 4 star rating from expanding our services to families the Houses Charity Navigator Page 5 2014 Yearbook PARTNERSHIPS Craig has been involved with RMHC-CNI since 1990 when he realized that life had been very good to him and he was ready to give back. His father, who owned Foltos Tonsorial Parlor before Craig took over, was always helping other people and instilled the importance of giving back to others to his son.