Our January eNewsletter went out today. If you didn’t receive it directly to your email, you can read it online here, with the latest news and updates from the Ronald McDonald House.
You can sign up to receive our eNews directly to your inbox every two months by clicking here.
We’ve launched a new guest survey for 2011 at rmhcoregon.org, giving families a way to share feedback about their stay at Portland’s two Ronald McDonald Houses. Any family that has stayed with us recently is welcome to fill out the evaluation.
Executive Director Tom Soma was in Minnesota over the weekend, and took the opportunity to be in the audience for A Prairie Home Companion, the popular radio show broadcast on public radio stations nationwide every Saturday. Tom submitted a message during the listener comments segment to all of the staff at the Ronald McDonald Houses in Portland, which host Garrison Keillor read live on stage during the broadcast.
Click this link to hear Keillor read Tom’s message. Advance the audio player to the 71st minute.
The DECA marketing class at Prairie High School in Clark County raised almost $200 for Ronald McDonald House Charities in one minute at a recent Girls Varsity basketball game. DECA programs across Washington raise money for RMHC through special efforts like these Miracle Minute fundraisers. DECA students and cheerleaders at Prairie collected change from fans at the game. Thanks to everyone who took part and contributed!
When the House is as full as it has been over the past few days I have noticed a natural accentuation of the beauty of this unique community. Things are different here at night than they are during the day. The House comes alive.
Three moms conference in the living room about the different types of G-tubes and maintenance tips. Kiddos hold up their shirts, comparing and noticing similarities. Both the parents and the kiddos realize they are not alone.
I watch veteran families take new families under their wing and guide them through the kitchen. Two of our Spanish speaking moms head out to do a grocery store run together.
I notice our 13-year-old Evelyn anxiously wait for a new family, with a fellow “tween,” to finish up with their check-in so she can introduce herself. Not more than an hour later, they are watching a movie together in the Oregon room.
Last week Evelyn’s name was randomly selected in a drawing for an I-Pod. Although I wasn’t there for the moment, Tommy said their faces were priceless. Evelyn jumped with excitement and her dad beamed with happiness and relief. It’s amazing how things work out. Maybe it’s the magic of Ronald.
Simply put, it is a privilege to be witness to the magic of the House and I wanted to share.
-Lindsay Dance, East House Resident Manager
Last September, Claudine Tanner was the winning bidder at RMHC’s Hearts & Hands auction on a package to have her name included in an upcoming Stone Soup comic strip. Her name appeared in the strip which ran this last Sunday. Click on the gallery below to read the strip frame by frame!
If you have stayed at either of Portland’s Ronald McDonald Houses, we would love to hear from you! Submit a message about your experience, and we’ll post it to our Family Guest Book. You can even share a photo, to let us know how you are doing now.
It’s never too early to mark your calendar for RMHC’s 2011 special events. Circle these dates, and we’ll let you know when registration has opened!
Mike Rich & Friends Present RMHC Golf & Social:
Sunday, July 17 – RMHC Social
Tiger Woods Center, Nike Campus
Monday, July 18 – Golf Tournament
Pumpkin Ridge Golf Club
Hearts & Hands Auction:
Friday, September 23
Portland Art Museum
Another busy holiday season is over, but we want to share our thanks with the community! The support we receive during the holidays makes a difference throughout the year for the 1,500 families with seriously ill children who stay at Portland’s Ronald McDonald Houses. Whether through financial contributions or in-kind donations, these gifts keep the lights on and the doors open to welcome families from across our state and region. From all of us at Portland’s two Ronald McDonald Houses, thank you for your support!
Holidays at the Ronald McDonald House:
