Janice Swanson & Steve Graff at Pebble Beach

When husband and wife team, Steve Graff and Janice Swanson, joined the planning committee for the 2011 Mike Rich & Friends Present RMHC Golf and Social, they didn’t realize it would eventually lead them to play one of golf’s most storied courses for an opportunity to raise additional money and visibility for Ronald McDonald House Charities® of Oregon and Southwest Washington.

As new residents of Portland, Janice, the Regional Managing Director, and Steve, an Underwriting Consultant for The Principal, were looking for volunteer opportunities when Janice met RMHC Executive Director Tom Soma at an estate planning council conference.

“We got involved with Ronald McDonald House for two important reasons,” Janice says. “We wanted to help families and children in need. We wanted to personally get involved in the community, and for Steve and me being new, it was a way to meet more people.”

In addition to coordinating for The Principal to cook meals for families, Janice and Steve joined the planning committee for an annual golf tournament, the second largest fundraiser for RMHC. The Principal stepped up and became a tournament sponsor, and as part of the committee, Janice and Steve also helped secure an amazing sponsored experience through Lexus of Portland – a spot for two in the Lexus Champions for Charity National Championship.

Held at Pebble Beach Resorts each December, the Lexus Champions for Charity hosts a twosome from each local tournament to represent their charity in this three day event and compete to win a portion of a $100,000 charity prize purse.

In trying to help raise more dollars for the Ronald McDonald House at the auction, Janice and Steve ended up winning the trip, and in December joined other donors on the links of Pebble Beach, Spyglass Hill and The Links at Spanish Bay.  “We were able to golf three of best courses in the country,” Steve said, “meet some wonderful people, and help Ronald McDonald House.  It truly was a “December to Remember.”

While Janice and Steve might not have finished in the money at the Lexus Champions for Charity, their photos show an experience that they won’t soon forget, and they continue to be involved with the planning of the 2012 Mike Rich & Friends Present RMHC Golf and Social – which will be held Sunday, July 29th at Nike and Monday, July 30th at Pumpkin Ridge.

A full house of RMHC supporters gathered downtown at Le Cordon Bleu’s Technique restaurant last week for the debut of the Dinner and a Movie series benefiting Ronald McDonald House Charities. After enjoying a meal inspired by the movie Big Night, participants walked the short distance to Living Room Theaters to watch the movie in person about a struggling Italian restaurant run by two brothers, who plan an enormous feast to save their business.

The Dinner and a Movie series continues in March with two events.

Wednesday, March 21, 6 pm – Breakfast Club
Five high school students, all different stereotypes, meet in detention, where they pour their hearts out to each other, and discover how they have a lot more in common than they thought. $30 per person.

Tuesday, March 27, noon – Spring Break Lunch and a Movie for Kids: Ratatouille
Remy, a young French rat, makes an unusual alliance with a restaurant’s new garbage boy, beginning culinary and personal adventures for the duo. $15 children / $20 adults.

Click here to purchase tickets!

Earlier this month, I joined 105 Executive Directors from the U.S. and Canada for our annual gathering in Tucson. It’s always helpful to compare notes, commiserate, and catch up with colleagues who’ve become friends over the years. And it’s refreshing to hear the heartwarming stories that make our jobs so rewarding.

This year, I was especially impressed by the increasing sophistication of our organizations—particularly Chapters like ours with larger Houses and multiple programs or facilities. Despite the economic pressures, changes in health care, and challenging family dynamics that effect operations, we’re all persevering with confidence and hope.

What’s most encouraging is the reminder that what we do here is also occurring at more than 300 Ronald McDonald Houses around the world! Every day, up to 8,000 families are being cared for by thousands of staff members and volunteers, and tens of thousands of donors.

Everywhere there are sick children far from home. Everywhere there are worried families who need a place to stay while their children receive medical treatment. And nearly everywhere (in more than 50 countries), Ronald McDonald Houses are helping. That’s amazing!

I’m reminded of Mother Teresa’s observation: “We can do no great things—only small things with great love.”

There’s great love here. In the end, that’s no small thing…

Tom Soma, Executive Director

Vic Atchison passed away last week. I worked for Vic 17 years ago at Lewis & Clark College, and our paths continued to cross periodically through the years. He was diagnosed with cancer about three years ago. Since last summer, we’d been having breakfast together once a month.

While Vic’s body gradually failed him, his spirit never wavered. Even a few days before his death—when he could no longer talk—he took my hand firmly (the way he always shook).

One of the things I admired about Vic is that he never called attention to himself. He led quietly, confidently, almost invisibly (in the true Taoist sense) through the extension of opportunity and tolerance rather than pontification. Another colleague described Vic as “the most adult” of his professional mentors.

Far too often, we don’t have the opportunity (or we simply fail) to express appreciation to those who have touched us. Fortunately, I had several occasions to reminisce with Vic, and I remain especially grateful for our final exchange.

Each time we visited these last several months, I wrote, I’ve been reminded of two very important lessons—one about life, the other about leadership. When it comes to life, attitude makes all the difference—and yours has been positive every minute (even in some dark hours). I appreciate the fact that you always had and continue to maintain an upbeat manner. And you’re living proof that optimism serves us well. As it relates to leadership, what I value most is your simple approach: hire good people, empower them, encourage them, and get out of their way. Thank you for both the opportunities and leeway you afforded me. Now that I’m at the helm of an organization, I’ve done my best to emulate you—which I suppose is the ultimate tribute. I hope you continue to celebrate the lessons you’ve imparted and the gift you’ve been to those you managed over the years. I’ll continue to savor the memories and try to follow your example.

That same day, I received this response from Vic:

Your note struck my heart strings beyond words. It has been my honor and good fortune to work with the likes of you and I am grateful that we had some good times. “Leadership” has flowed both ways. It has always been my good fortune to work with staff who were smarter and more talented than me. So whatever we imparted to each other has been a true blessing for me. I thank each for what I’ve been given and I cherish the memories and friendships I’ve gained.

That note prompted what would be my final written correspondence (though I would see him twice thereafter):

Your words are equally touching to me, I wrote, and once again, I’m grateful. I’m reminded of a piece I read many years ago—the interlude from a song by Gregory Norbet, called, Wherever You Go:

“When the time of our particular sunset comes, our thing, our accomplishment, won’t really matter a great deal. But the clarity and care with which we have loved others will speak with vitality of the great gift of life we have been for each other.”

Thank you, Vic. You spoke with vitality. And you’ve been a great gift. Rest in peace.

Tom Soma, Executive Director

The House staff has put together a new guest survey for 2012. If you have stayed with us recently, we encourage you to fill one out the survey online, if you weren’t able to do so in person before you left the house. The guest survey is the best way that we can monitor our service to families, and learn about ways we can improve our program to help our guests.

Click here to complete the survey online.

Our House Managers have updated the House Wish List for the New Year! The Wish List is made up of everyday items that our Houses use the most. Anyone can print the list off our website, and take it with you the next time you go to the store, to buy items for the Ronald McDonald House. When you’ve purchased items, you can stop by either Portland house to drop off the supplies in person. The list is also a great resource for organizing a collection drive.

Click here to print the House Wish List at rmhcoregon.org.

Dinner and a Movie – Big Night
Wednesday, January 18, 6 pm

Technique Restaurant – 600 SW 10th Avenue

The Master Chefs and students of Le Cordon Bleu have organized a three course dinner based on the movie Big Night to include:

• Anti-Pasta Platter with sautéed grapes, olvilitini (small mozzarella balls), and marinated tomatoes and garlic.
• Tri-Colored Risotto and Big Night Timpano.
• Torta al Vino wine cake with grapes.

After dinner you’ll walk down to Living Room Theaters – 341 SW 10th Avenue – to watch the movie that inspired the dinner.

Big Night – A failing Italian restaurant run by two brothers gambles on one special night to try to save the business. Starring Stanley Tucci, Isabella Rossellini, Minnie Driver and Ian Holm.

$30 per person (includes dinner and movie). All proceeds benefit Ronald McDonald House Charities® of Oregon and Southwest Washington.

Click here to purchase tickets.

2012 has only just begun, but it’s never too early to save the date for our upcoming events later this year. Mark these dates now on your calendar, and we will make sure to keep you informed of other updates!

Mike Rich and Friends Present Ronald McDonald House Charities Golf And Social
RMHC Social
Sunday, July 29

RMHC Golf
Monday, July 30

Hearts & Hands Auction
Friday, September 21

Tom's temporary replacement.

I recently returned from a trip to find my office chair occupied by a large stuffed horse—an amusing reminder of the precarious nature of my job. Supplanted by a child’s toy—and I’m sure there are days when staff members prefer the horse!

Such playful moments ease the challenges for everyone here. Laughter’s a big part of the healing process. During the dark times (think winter in Oregon), it’s especially important to savor the light—and I’m amazed at the ability of our guests to do so. Of the 20,000 families we’ve hosted during my 13-year tenure, I’ve not heard a single one complain that they had it “the worst.”

I had a lovely conversation last week with a man whose daughter remains under medical care years after their stay here. “We’ve learned to take things day by day,” he observed at one point. “That’s all we can do,” I replied.

One day at a time. One smile, one laugh, one kind word, and one stuffed animal at a time. That’s really all any of us can do. Hopefully we will, whenever the opportunity arises.

Tom Soma, Executive Director

ServiceMaster of Portland raised more than $3,000 for Ronald McDonald House Charities of Oregon and Southwest Washington through promotions in 2011. The company provides residential and commercial cleaning and damage restoration services. They donate to RMHC each time a customer returns a customer service survey, and between September and December, they contributed $20 to RMHC for every water mitigation job. During the holiday’s this year, the Portland office also collected gifts to help families celebrate the season. We appreciate our partnership with ServiceMaster.

Click here to visit the ServiceMaster website.