RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE CHARITIES OF SOUTHWEST FLORIDA INC

SINCE 1996, RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE CHARITIES (RMHC) OF SOUTHWEST FLORIDA HAS PROVIDED TEMPORARY HOUSING TO THE FAMILIES OF SERIOUSLY ILL CHILDREN HOSPITALIZED AT THE ADJACENT GOLISANO CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL OF SOUTHWEST FLORIDA. SERVICES HAVE EXPANDED TO INCLUDE THE RONALD MCDONALD CARE MOBILE PROGRAM AND A RONALD MCDONALD FAMILY ROOM INSIDE GOLISANO CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL. RMHC PROVIDES STABILITY AND VITAL RESOURCES TO FAMILIES SO THEY CAN GET AND KEEP THEIR CHILD HEALTHY AND HAPPY THROUGH THE CHARITIES' CORE PROGRAMS: 1) RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE PROVIDES A "HOME AWAY FROM HOME" FOR FAMILIES WITH CHILDREN UNDERGOING MEDICAL TREATMENT AT GOLISANO CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL AS WELL AS LONGER-TERM OUT-PATIENT MEDICAL FACILITIES IN THE AREA. 2) THE RONALD MCDONALD FAMILY ROOM ON THE SECOND FLOOR OF GOLISANO CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL PROVIDES FAMILIES OF HOSPITALIZED CHILDREN SPACE TO REST AND RE- GROUP ONLY JUST MINUTES AWAY FROM THEIR CHILD'S BEDSIDE. 3) THE TWO RONALD MCDONALD CARE MOBILES PROVIDE MEDICAL AND DENTAL SCREENINGS, TREATMENT, AND SEALANTS TO UNDERSERVED CHILDREN OF COLLIER, LEE, CHARLOTTE, AND HENDRY COUNTIES. THROUGH OUR PARTNERSHIP WITH GOLISANO CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL, OUR GUESTS AND VISITORS CAN EASILY BE WITH THEIR PRECIOUS NEWBORNS WHO CAME INTO THIS WORLD A LITTLE SOONER THAN PLANNED OR AT THE BEDSIDE OF THEIR CHILD HOSPITALIZED DUE TO ILLNESS OR INJURY. HOWEVER OUR PATHS CROSS, IT IS A TRUE GIFT TO BE PART OF THIS "HOME-AWAY-FROM-HOME" FOR MOMS AND DADS, GRANDPARENTS, AND SIBLINGS DURING THE MOST CHALLENGING TIME OF THEIR LIVES. AT RMHC, EACH FAMILY RECEIVES PRIVATE AND SAFE ACCOMMODATIONS, NOURISHING MEALS, CLOSE ACCESS TO HEALTHCARE, AND THE KINDHEARTED SUPPORT OF OUR STAFF, VOLUNTEERS, AND OTHER RMHC FAMILIES FACING SIMILAR CHALLENGES. THE GIFT OF TOGETHERNESS PROVIDED BY OUR HOUSE ALLOWS PARENTS AND CAREGIVERS TO FOCUS ON THEIR TOP PRIORITY: THE HEALTH AND HEALING OF THEIR CHILD. IN 2024, WE WELCOMED 82 FAMILIES TO OUR 12-BEDROOM RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE, REACHING FULL CAPACITY ON 36 NIGHTS, BUT ON AVERAGE, 71% OCCUPANCY FOR THE YEAR. THE AVERAGE LENGTH OF STAY FOR FAMILIES IN 2024 WAS 34 NIGHTS, DOWN FROM 38 THE PREVIOUS YEAR. VOLUNTEERS AT THE RONALD MCDONALD FAMILY ROOM AT GOLISANO CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL WELCOMED 3,799 PATIENT FAMILY VISITS, OFFERING SANDWICHES, SNACKS, TREATS, AND BEVERAGES TO MAINTAIN THEIR STRENGTH WHILE REMAINING CLOSE TO THEIR CHILD'S BEDSIDE. THROUGH OUR PARTNERSHIPS WITH HEALTHCARE NETWORK AND FAMILY HEALTH CENTERS, MORE THAN 8,400 UNDERSERVED CHILDREN IN COLLIER, LEE, AND HENDRY COUNTIES RECEIVED MEDICAL AND DENTAL SCREENINGS, PREVENTIVE AND RESTORATIVE DENTAL CARE, EYE EXAMS, PHYSICALS, AND HEALTH EDUCATION ABOARD OUR TWO RONALD MCDONALD CARE MOBILES. VOLUNTEERS ARE THE HEART AND SOUL OF RMHC. THIS YEAR, 10,290 VOLUNTEER HOURS WERE DONATED TO THE CHARITY THROUGH REGULARLY SCHEDULED SHIFTS AT THE RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE, THE RONALD MCDONALD FAMILY ROOM, AND OUR FOUR MAJOR FUNDRAISING EVENTS. IN ADDITION, VOLUNTEER "CHEFS" PARTICIPATED IN OUR FAMILY MEAL PROGRAM BY PREPARING 330 HOT MEALS FOR OUR GUEST FAMILIES DURING THEIR STAY. THEIR DEDICATION AND SELFLESSNESS MAKE OUR MISSION POSSIBLE. THE BUSINESS COMMUNITY SUPPORTS RMHC IN MANY WAYS. FOR SOME, IT IS AN ANNUAL FINANCIAL CONTRIBUTION; FOR OTHERS, IT IS PARTICIPATING IN OR SPONSORING ONE OR MORE OF OUR FUNDRAISING EVENTS.