2012 Board of Directors & Staff Heartfelt Thanks to our Lead Welcome Event/House Sponsor for 2012 Officers Honorary Life Members Fall 2012 Wish List… Deborah Virgiles, President Harry Granader, in memoriam NEW Board MEMBER! Cynthia Bechill, Vice President Ginny Hayes We want to give a warm welcome to our newest board …for the Ronald McDonald House of Detroit! John Jackson Jack Hertzler Make your holiday donation today! Immediate Past President Dr. Jimmie Leleszi member, Teresa Saputo, who was elected in April 2012. William Moran, Treasurer Dan Levitsky We look forward to her service to our chapter. There are many ways you can help us provide a home away from Lenny Williams, Secretary Mary Pat McDougall A Publication of Ronald McDonald House Charities of Southeastern Michigan home for families in need. You could prepare a meal for the families Mary Renkiewicz Home Front Board Members at the House or supply the House with non-perishable food items. Barbara Wachler Cary Adragna Jerry Young Canned food drives are a wonderful gift to the House! And we always Gary Bradt need toys for children that stay at our House. Kelly Donaldson Emeritus Check out our website! Gail Gotthelf Remember, its cash and gifts-in-kind that will help the families that Alan Frank www.rmhc-detroit.org The Szott Family Gary Granader John G. Levy stay at the Ronald McDonald House of Detroit. Look over the list Yvonne Haddix Paul Pellerito below and see if you can help with any of these much needed items. Tom Haggerty Hope, Love and Melvin Jones RMH Staff Please make your donation today! Contact Jennifer Litomisky, John Kostecki Jennifer Litomisky Commitment Executive Director at 313-745-5911 for more information. Scott Langenburg, M.D. Executive Director Do you ‘LIKE’ us? A BIG Thanks Kyla Marcial Jackie Kennedy House Manager ince 2004 the Szott family has been a staunch Frank Martin S …to Our Major Donors! Urgent Needs: Cleaning & Laundry Irma Hudson Follow us on our Face Book Fan Page at supporter of the RMD House and Children’s Joel McCormick Resident House Manger • Hand-held Games for • Dow® bathroom cleaner, Ronald McDonald House Charities of SE Teresa Mullins Mike McCoy Hospital of Michigan. When the Szott’s son Shane ® Michigan. Be sure to press the LIKE button to • Art Van Furniture • McDonald’s SEMMOA the Children @ the House: Windex Teresa Saputo Special Events and became extremely ill due to an e coli infection, the PSP® + Games, Nintendo DS® House Maintenance Director keep up on events, stories and House updates! • Bissell • MGM Grand Detroit • Laundry and dishwasher Gwen Seay Szott family stayed at the RMH for 28 days. Within + Games. detergent (powder) Errol Service Linda Porter • CBS • M and M ® ® Event Consultant the first 48 hours at Children’s Hospital, Shane’s • WII or PS 3 with Games • Fabric softener sheets Thad Szott And don’t forget to follow us on ® Tim Turcyn Jeannine Monkowski kidney function failed completely. His diagnosis • Children’s Hospital • McCann Foods • Target Gift Card – ® Data Entry Manager • Bleach (Color Safe Clorox ) Rebecca Walsh Twitter at RMHC_Detroit of Michigan Auxiliary or any Gift Cards ® ® Tim Cowley evolved into Hemolytic Uremic Syndrome (HUS) • McDonald’s; • Comet cleanser, Pine Sol Len Williams Accountant and he was placed on dialysis. Shane’s condition • Coca-Cola McDonald’s Staff Food & Kitchen Supplies • Air fresheners spray worsened as his blood pressure, heart function, and • Detroit Yacht Club and SEMMOA • Sugar, flour • Air fresheners – solids We were successful and room 12 is now beautiful. (Southeast Michigan respiratory system all started failing. A team of wonderful • Cooking oil • Glade Plug-Ins® and sprays Additionally, we got our management staff involved • Dr. Pepper McDonald’s Owner/ doctors at Children’s Hospital released them from their • Canned soup (any brand or • Carpet Fresh® with the house, and every other month we pay a visit to • The English Touch – Operators Association) type) • Paper towels nightmare – Shane recovered. As far as the Szott family is the house and cook a breakfast. After spending nearly Heather Roberts • ME Consultants • Paper plates concerned, the doctors performed a miracle. Office Supplies a month at Children’s Hospital while sleeping at RMH • Ford Motor Company • Mike & Lora Mlinarcik • Cups and glasses • Batteries – Owning three Chrysler dealerships gives the Szott family • Gary Granader • Plastic utensils continued onpage 4 • Pepsi Bottling Co. AA, AAA, C, D and 9 volt The mission of theRonald McDonald House of Detroit an additional opportunity to use social media and to • Zip Loc® bags (all sizes) • Georgia-Pacific • Quicken Loans • Light bulbs – post information at their dealerships to get other people • Plastic wrap • General Motors sizes 60, 75, and 3 way is to provide a home away from home and support services involved with both Children’s Hospital and the RMH. • Radisson • Silverware Special Thanks… • Forever Stamps Thad, who sits on the board of directors at the RMHC • Hansons Window – • Ronald McDonald ® to familiesof hospitalized children. • Styrofoam take-out container • Avery® Labels 5160 1-800-HANSONS House Board Members of SE MI, organized ‘Wheelin’ for Ronald’ an off-road or equivalent to the • Home Depot – Bedroom/Bathroom Jeep fundraiser this past September for the House. •s Sander’ • Computer diskettes Lake Orion Store • Pillow protectors This first time event raised close to $2,000! Children’s Hospital • Southwest Airlines • Queen and twin size or Re-writable CD’s Please remember the • IADT – Detroit Campus • UAW-Ford mattress pads • Copy paper “We knew the day Shane was released that we would be of Michigan • JC Plumbing • Pilot Rolling Ball® pens – Ronald McDonald House of Detroit involved in giving back to both Children’s Hospital and • USA Today • Clock radios Auxiliary for their • Johnson Controls Inc. • Toilet paper, Kleenex® all colors the RMH. We had the opportunity to get in front of our • Deborah Virgiles • Scissors, Scotch® tape, for your year-end, local Chrysler dealers with the hopes of getting a large generous $50,000 • Kyla Marcial – Children’s Stuff ® • Walmart staples and Wite-Out Mrs. Michigan 2010-11 ® enough donation to do a room makeover at the House. • Games for Wii • Permanent markers – tax-deductible donation. unrestricted Grant. • Wisner Electric • La-Z-Boy • Newly released family DVDs Sharpies® all colors • Lachinva and Loverich • Disposable diapers • Colored file folders Donating is easy. • Portable cribs BIG ITEMS www.rmhdet.org Visit Please Note: The enclosed donation slip and return envelope is part of …and to all of the donors, sponsors and • Strollers • White appliances ® our RE-RALLY for RONALD fundraising appeal. Please remember the Ronald volunteers who have given their time, • Legos and pay by PayPal! • Microwave ovens McDonald House of Detroit for your year-end, tax-deductible donation. energy and love to our charity! • Educational toys • Room Renovations 5 UPCOMING December 1, 2012 RECAP! Spring and Summer Events bring fun and funds for RMHD! More fun Spring and Summer Events! EVENTS The Szott Family… at a Glance: continued from page 1 right next door, you quickly learn just December 1st Denim and Diamonds Garden Jubilee! McBikers August 24th RETRO 70’s Cruise on the how special these places are. All the – Holiday Tea at the Everyone grabbed their best On Sunday, July 15th, McDonald Owner/ River was a Blast from the PAST! people, from the employees to the Townsend Hotel, cowboy boots, fancy Stetson Hat Operator, Peter Donaghue and his wife, Nancy, volunteers, to the families sharing their Last year’s Detroit Princess Cruise was so successful and Birmingham and had some delicious food as hosted their annual ride in Waterford, Michigan. struggles and hopes together, are just Holiday Tea at the Townsend so much fun, that we decided do it ONE more time! March 2013 they enjoyed the jubilee in the This event was bigger and better than ever! amazing. Going through a crisis like we This year we danced, did makes you develop an even greater – Annual Event garden at the Ronald McDonald Big thanks to Peter and Nancy Donaghue! The Ronald McDonald House of Detroit will host House of Detroit! danced, danced…like appreciation for life, family, friends, June 7, 2013 the 7th Tea at the Townsend scheduled for Saturday, KC and the Sunshine these two special places, and more than Chair of this new garden event, December 1st at the Townsend Hotel, from 12:00 p.m. Band – up and down anything, our kids.” – Vinni Golf Outing Deborah Virgiles, hosted the to 2:00 p.m. Tickets are $60 per adult and $25 per child. the Detroit River. – Thad Szott June or October, 2013 event and close to 80 guests Over 100 guests (and the Szott Family). – Garden Event Every year over 90 guests join the festivities where there enjoyed the beautiful gardens of is a small auction and beautiful party gifts for each guest. the Detroit Ronald McDonald enjoyed an evening of Please make your tax-deductable July 2013 TBD There will also be appetizers, small bite desserts, and House! Guests kicked up their Volunteer, Bob Angelinas and fun, food, music and year-end donations today and – McBiker plenty of yuletide fun for those who attend the Tea at heals to the modern country Resident Manager, Irma Hudson enjoy nostalgia. Watch your the Townsend benefit. music of Julianne Ankley! the Denims and Diamond Event! mail for the NEW help other families, like the Szott October TBD 2013 event. This event sells out every year, so those interested in The delicious country meal and desserts were provided by Family, have a comfortable, safe – RMHC Gala reserving a spot at this holiday extravaganza should contact Levi Restauarants; Cindy Randolph and Bob Angelinas this year! Staff member, Linda Porter (right) and her guests and peaceful stay at the Detroit the Ronald McDonald House of Detroit at 313-745-5911.