RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE CHARITIES OF NORTHEAST OHIO INC

RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE PROGRAMS PROVIDE FAMILIES WITH ILL OR INJURED CHILDREN A WELCOMING AND SUPPORTIVE PLACE TO STAY NEAR THE HOSPITAL. MORE THAN 1,200 FAMILIES CALLED EITHER THE AKRON OR CLEVELAND RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE HOME FOR A TOTAL OF 22,011 NIGHTS OF REST. THESE GUESTS WERE ABLE TO ACCESS CARE FOR THEIR CHILDREN WITHOUT WORRYING ABOUT WHERE THEY WOULD STAY OR HOW THEY WOULD PAY FOR IT, TRAVELING FROM 13 COUNTRIES, 43 STATES, AND 68 DIFFERENT OHIO COUNTIES. AT FULL CAPACITY, RMHC NEO CAN ACCOMMODATE 95 FAMILIES PER NIGHT AT THE AKRON AND CLEVELAND HOUSE LOCATIONS. OHIO RESIDENTS MADE UP 67% OF FAMILIES, WITH THE TOP TEN OHIO COUNTIES BEING MAHONING, STARK, TRUMBULL, COLUMBIANA, WAYNE, LORAIN, LUCAS, SUMMIT, CUYAHOGA AND TUSCARAWAS. 32% OF GUESTS CAME FROM OUT OF STATE AND 1% WERE INTERNATIONAL FAMILIES.NO FAMILY IS EVER CHARGED A ROOM FEE. THOUGH THE NIGHTLY ROOM COST IS APPROXIMATELY $161, FAMILIES ARE NEVER ASKED TO PAY. SOME FAMILIES CHOOSE TO DONATE TO ASSIST WITH CONTINUED OPERATIONS, SUPPORTING FUTURE FAMILIES WHO WILL STAY AT A HOUSE. MOST OF THE NIGHTLY ROOM COST IS SUPPORTED BY GENEROUS DONORS.FAMILY MEALS HELP KEEP FAMILIES STRONG SO THEY CAN FOCUS ON WHAT MATTERS MOST THEIR CHILDREN. IN 2023, 94,722 MEALS WERE SERVED ACROSS THE PROGRAMS, SAVING FAMILIES MORE THAN $1.4 MILLION. IN CLEVELAND, 47,100 MEALS WERE PROVIDED; THE AKRON HOUSE PROVIDED 20,726 MEALS. THIS IS IN ADDITION TO 24/7 SELF-SERVE SNACKS, GRAB AND GO ITEMS AND BEVERAGES AT BOTH LOCATIONS.BEYOND THE HOUSE, 18,440 MEALS WERE SERVED AT FAMILY ROOMS AND 8,456 MEALS WERE PROVIDED TO THE AKRON CHILDREN'S AKRON AND MAHONING VALLEY CAMPUSES. BOXED LUNCHES ARE DELIVERED REGULARLY TO THE AKRON CAMPUS, AND BREAKFAST BAGS TO THE BEEGHLY CAMPUS AND MERCY HEALTH ST. ELIZABETH'S NICU IN MAHONING VALLEY.VOLUNTEERS PROVIDE ESSENTIAL SUPPORT TO OPERATE OUR PROGRAMS. IN 2023, 408 INDIVIDUAL VOLUNTEERS CONTRIBUTED MORE THAN 26,000 HOURS, AN ESTIMATED VALUE OF MORE THAN $833,000. TEN PET THERAPY PARTNERS VISITED 55 TIMES, PROVIDING A CALMING AND NORMALIZING EXPERIENCE FOR FAMILIES. TRULY THE VALUE PROVIDED BY VOLUNTEERS CANNOT BE CONVEYED IN DOLLARS. THE CARE, COMPASSION AND COMMUNITY OF SUPPORT GIVEN TO FAMILIES BY VOLUNTEERS IS PRICELESS.OUR ANNUAL VOLUNTEER RECOGNITION EVENT TOOK PLACE AT THE CLEVELAND METROPARKS ZOO, WITH A CELEBRATORY BRUNCH AND CEREMONY. AWARDS WERE GIVEN FOR YEARS OF SERVICE, AND SPECIAL HONORS WERE GIVEN FOR EXEMPLARY SERVICE IN EACH PROGRAM.

RONALD MCDONALD FAMILY ROOM PROGRAMS IN FOUR CLEVELAND-AREA HOSPITALS (CLEVELAND CLINIC CHILDREN'S, CLEVELAND CLINIC FAIRVIEW HOSPITAL, METROHEALTH MEDICAL CENTER AND UNIVERSITY HOSPITALS RAINBOW BABIES AND CHILDREN'S) OFFER A SPACE FOR FAMILIES TO REST AND RECHARGE JUST STEPS FROM THEIR CHILD'S TREATMENT ROOM. EACH FAMILY ROOM IS EQUIPPED WITH A KITCHENETTE STOCKED WITH SNACKS AND BEVERAGES, COMFORTABLE SITTING AREA WITH TV, SMALL PLAY AREA FOR CHILDREN, AND COMPUTERS WITH INTERNET. SOME ALSO INCLUDE A PRIVATE RESTROOM WITH SHOWER AND LAUNDRY FACILITIES, AND OVERNIGHT RESPITE ROOMS (ASSIGNED BY HOSPITAL STAFF). HAPPY WHEELS MOBILE HOSPITALITY CARTS BRING COMFORT TO THE BEDSIDE FOR THOSE WHO CANNOT STEP AWAY. IN TOTAL, 4,226 FAMILIES VISITED FAMILY ROOM LOCATIONS MORE THAN 30,000 TIMES. THERE WERE 18,440 MEALS SERVED, 18,678 KITCHENETTE USES AND, WHERE AVAILABLE, 2,400 LOADS OF LAUNDRY WERE WASHED, AND 1,706 SHOWERS TAKEN. HAPPY WHEELS CARTS VISITED UNITS 321 TIMES, DELIVERING 21,560 GIFTS OF COMFORT AND JOY. THERE WERE 136 OVERNIGHT STAYS IN THE RESPITE ROOMS OF THE FAMILY ROOM AT FAIRVIEW. PROVIDING SUPPORT, TEACHING, AWARENESS AND RESOURCES, RONALD MCDONALD STAR PROGRAMS ARE FUN AND WELCOMING LEARNING ENVIRONMENTS FOR CHILDREN WHILE THEIR SIBLINGS RECEIVE CARE. THE STAR CENTER AT CLEVELAND CLINIC CHILDREN'S OUTPATIENT CENTER OPERATED ALL YEAR AND A NEW STAR CORNER OPENED IN MAY WITHIN THE EMERGENCY DEPARTMENT OF AKRON CHILDREN'S MAHONING VALLEY CAMPUS IN BOARDMAN. THE PROGRAMS ALLOW CAREGIVERS TO TURN THEIR FULL ATTENTION TO THE CHILD RECEIVING TREATMENT. COMBINED, 2,794 CHILDREN RECEIVED LESSONS ON HEALTHY HABITS, NUTRITION AND MORE. 407 FAMILIES REGISTERED 557 CHILDREN WHILE 2,237 CHILDREN RECEIVED LESSONS IN THE WAITING ROOM. IN ADDITION, 5,423 GIVEAWAYS FROM THE HAPPY WHEEL CART (TOYS, SNACK, ACTIVITIES, CRAYONS, ETC.) HELPED CALM CHILDREN IN WAITING AREAS AND UNITS.