Santa made an early visit to the Ronald McDonald House last night – bringing gifts and good wishes to all the children at the house. Each child got to sit on Santa’s lap, and tell the big man in red what they were hoping for this Christmas. Santa had a big bag of toys, and his assistants helped him select just the right present for each child. We appreciate him taking time out of his busy schedule at this time of year to visit the house!
Employees with Marquis Companies visited the Ronald McDonald House this week to deliver holiday gifts for families. The gifts were collected by staff and residents at Marquis assisted living homes across Portland. Thank you to everyone who took part!
Register yourself for a three course, movie inspired, meal at Le Cordon Bleu’s Technique Restaurant – 600 SW 10th Avenue – and then walk down to Living Room Theaters – 341 SW 10th Avenue –to watch the movie which inspired the dinner.
$30 per person
Or save $10 per person if you purchase the whole series for $80!
Click here to buy tickets online!
Featured Movies
Big Night – Wednesday, January 18th – 6:00 p.m.
A failing Italian restaurant run by two brothers gambles on one special night to try to save the business.
Babette’s Feast – Wednesday, March 21st – 6:00 p.m.
Babette prepares the feast of a lifetime for the members of the tiny church in Denmark.
Eat Pray Love – Wednesday, May 15th – 6:00 p.m.
After divorce a woman discovers the true pleasure of nourishment by eating in Italy; the power of prayer in India, and, finally and unexpectedly, the inner peace and balance of true love in Bali.
Spring Break Lunch and a Movie for Kids!
Kids (of all ages) will love the chance to enjoy a lunch out followed by a Disney classic – Ratatouille.
Ratatouille – Tuesday, March 27th – Noon
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 per child and $20 per adult
All proceeds benefit Ronald McDonald Charities of Oregon and Southwest Washington.
Students at Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts raised $728 through selling pumpkin and apple pies for the Ronald McDonald House this Thanksgiving. James and Gordon, Student Ambassadors who helped make the pies, visited the Ronald McDonald House to deliver the check and to tour the house. Thanks to everyone who put in their orders to support RMHC!
Well-known local blogger Jack Bogdanski is donating $1 for every visit to his website today. Ronald McDonald House Charities is one of several organizations that will benefit. We encourage you to visit today. All you need to do is click on the link below to be counted as a site visitor. Help us spread the word by sharing with your friends. 5,000 visits = $5,000.
The wishbone from my Thanksgiving turkey remains on the window sill above my kitchen sink. I’m saving it for my youngest daughter—despite the fact that she’s 25!
Isn’t it interesting how we reserve our fondest wishes for our children? I see that every day at the Ronald McDonald Houses. But instead of good grades or admission to a select college, the parents here yearn for just one thing: the return of their child’s health.
Fortunately, that wish does come true most of the time. And once a child is on the path to healing, parents and children alike find themselves on the receiving end of several unspoken wishes—especially at year end, when the community goes out of its way to help make the holidays happy.
This year, we launched a new “Holiday Store” at both Houses. Upon arrival, every family is given vouchers to redeem for gifts at the store. The gifts have been donated by friends and sorted into categories for kids of all ages. So we’re spreading considerable holiday joy to everyone here during December.
It’s been fun to watch the reaction of “shoppers.” I was especially touched by a family from the coast, whose medical challenges have taken them to Ronald McDonald Houses in two states. Witnessing the simultaneous delight and gratitude of both a 40-year-old father and his 10-year-old daughter, I was reminded of just how little it takes to make us happy.
I suppose there’s another reason I’ve left that wishbone untouched. These days, I’m content to leave the wishing to others—and thankful for the opportunity to see so many wishes (both spoken and unspoken) fulfilled here every day.
Happy Holidays!
Tom Soma, Executive Director
PS. If you’d like to help fulfill an organizational wish (specifically, free money!), there’s a special opportunity tomorrow (Tuesday, December 20). Just click on Jack Bogdanski’s blog http://bojack.org/ and RMHC will receive a slice of a potential $5,250 pie. Jack, a widely followed local blogger, has been conducting his annual “Buck-A-Hit Day” day (supporting six charities) for many years. Last year, RMHC was the big winner, with a donation of more than $700! With your help, we can top that this year!
House guests visiting the Ronald McDonald House during the holidays have had a special experience this year in our Holiday Stores. Both of Portland’s Ronald McDonald Houses have opened temporary stores with a wide variety of gifts for all age groups. When guest families check into the house, each person is given vouchers to select free gifts out of the stores. The gifts are provided by donations from the community, and help families celebrate the holiday season, even when their child is sick and money may be tight. The stores guarantee that every guest goes home with presents from the Ronald McDonald House this December, regardless of when during the holidays they happen to stay at the Houses.
Click here to find out more about our holiday gift program.
Nike employees helped set up the East House Holiday Store
We wish to thank the Garcia family from southern Oregon, who generously offered to share their story to raise support for Ronald McDonald House Charities. The Garcias are featured in a letter mailed to RMHC donors this month, in which they describe the medical emergencies that brought them to the Ronald McDonald House. They are also featured on RMHC’s website, and in advertising that promotes the charity in Portland Monthly and McDonald’s restaurants. In 2010-2011, the Garcias spent more than 7 months at the Ronald McDonald House in Portland, while 13-year-old Marcos underwent treatment for kidney failure. The whole family, including Marcos, him mom Reyna, his brothers Ruben and Eli, and sister Isabelle, stayed at the house for an extended period.
Click here to read a letter from the Garcia Family.
Click here to contribute to Ronald McDonald House Charities.
Tom joined in the motorcycle ride in 2010.
With the holidays upon us, I’ve already attended a couple parties full of unfamiliar faces. It doesn’t take long for the inevitable question: “So, what do you do?”
While simply sharing my title is enough to evoke a warm response and pleasant exchange, I’m more apt to reply, “I say please and thank you a lot.” It’s true. And this time of year, I do plenty of thanking.
What’s interesting is the variety of contributions for which I have the opportunity to voice gratitude. How often does someone show up on your door with 125 new Beany Babies? When was the last time you had thousands of leather-clad motorcyclists pull into your driveway with bags of toys? And have you ever had Santa Claus call to ask when he might drop in for a visit? That happened Tuesday—and I was nearly speechless! Fortunately, I recovered in time to convince skeptical staff members that it really was Santa!
Mine is a privileged role—one I enjoy and feel honored to hold.
Most of the time, saying thanks is easy. Given our dependence on the kindness of others, I’m genuinely grateful. And often I know the person on the other end of the phone—so it’s a chance to catch up with a friend.
But there are times I find myself so overwhelmed by a donor’s generosity that I feel a mere “thank you”—no matter how sincere—isn’t enough. It’s not necessarily the amount of a gift that prompts the feeling. More often, it’s a touching quality—the donor’s age or other special circumstance. And always, I feel that way when thanking someone who continues to give, year after year, often in increasing amounts.
I wish, someday, I could call to report that there were no more sick kids—so we wouldn’t need further support. Or that we had a $50 million endowment—the interest on which would cover our budget indefinitely.
Unfortunately, that’s not the case. So, I’ll continue saying please and thank you a lot. Honestly, I can’t think of a better way to spend my time—especially this time of year.
Tom Soma, Executive Director
On Saturday, Le Cordon Bleu held its first half-day cooking class benefiting RMHC at its culinary college in downtown Portland. The course, titled, “New Year’s Celebration,” taught participants tips and techniques to impress their friends with their own sumptuous New Year’s feast. The class was taught by Chef John, a Le Cordon Bleu Master Chef, and included dishes like crab cakes, veal scallopini, and duck breast with a raspberry sauce. The one-day classes cost $99 each, and continue through June.
Upcoming Classes:
Saturday, February 4. Seasonal Cooking 101: Valentine’s Chocolates
Saturday, April 14. International Cuisine 101: Tapas – A Taste of Spain
Saturday, June 9. Seasonal Cooking 101: Barbecuing
