 
What is the Ronald McDonald House of Long Island? The Ronald McDonald House of Long Island is a home-away-from-home, a temporary lodging facility for seriously ill children and their families who must travel to area hospitals for urgently needed medical care. These families stay at the House while their child is under a physician's care, whether the child is hospitalized or being treated on an out-patient basis. Residents enjoy a home-like setting, the privacy of their own room and, most importantly, the understanding of others who share the same burden of having a seriously ill child. Since opening in 1986, The Ronald McDonald House of Long Island has been home to more than 12,000 families from Long Island, across the country and around the world. A majority of these families are from the New York metropolitan area as well as Nassau and Suffolk Counties. The number of families staying at the House each year varies depending upon the length of stay and type of treatment. The House can accommodate up to 42 families each night. Respite facilities are also available for parents who are sleeping at their child's bedside, and need a place to relax and freshen up away from the hospital. Where is the Ronald McDonald House of Long Island? What is it like? The Ronald McDonald House of Long Island was opened in 1986 on the grounds of the Long Island Jewish Medical Center's campus, now part of the North Shore/Long Island Jewish Health System, adjacent to Schneider Children's Hospital, in New Hyde Park, New York. The House is situated on 3/4 of an acre of land donated by the Board of Trustees of the Long Island Jewish Medical Center. The increasing demand for more rooms to help the hundreds of families, who were being turned away, coupled with the 1998 merger of the Long Island Jewish Medical Center and North Shore University Hospital, created an even bigger need for the services that we provide. In the fall of 2001, the Board of Directors of the Ronald McDonald House of Long Island launched a $5 million capital campaign to support an expansion project that more than doubled the size of the existing facility. The result - a 44,000 square foot facility which includes 42 bedrooms, each with a private bath, children's play areas both inside and outdoors, a library, eight kitchen stations, two Kosher kitchens, a fully stocked food pantry, five laundry rooms and a Great Room where the families can socialize or watch television. For more privacy, there is a small TV room on the 2nd floor and an additional main floor lounge that is perfect for quiet activities. We estimate that we can offer an airy, cheerful and comfortable place to 500 additional families in need of respite each year. Who does the Ronald McDonald House of Long Island serve? The number of families staying at the House each year varies depending upon length of stay and type of treatment. In 2007, the House served 798 families: 575 were from the local area, 179 from other states across the United States and 44 from countries in the Caribbean, Canada, Europe, South and Central America, the Middle East, Asia and Africa. The House takes part in a number of excellent local and international outreach programs. Approximately 80% of the children whose families are referred to us are treated at Schneider Children's Hospital (currently with 154 beds), a two-minute walk from the House. Opened in 1983, it is the New York Metropolitan area's only facility designed exclusively for children as a regional, tertiary care children's hospital. The hospital is a leading regional resource providing specialized health services for acutely and chronically sick newborns, children and adolescents in both inpatient and outpatient settings. About 20% of the children served by the House are treated in other area hospitals. Families are referred to the House through a hospital's social work department. A triage approach is used with consideration given to the severity of the child's illness, the availability of bedside sleeping arrangements for parents (particularly in pediatric units), length of stay and the family's ability to travel to and from the hospital. With the additional space provided by the expansion, more rooms are available to sick children who need to stay near the hospital to recover from a major surgery or for outpatient treatments. How is the Ronald McDonald House of Long Island staffed? The House is staffed by ten full-time employees: Executive Director, Director of Development & Communications, Resident Manager, Development Manager, Program and Volunteer Manager, Executive Assistant, Development Assistant and 3 Housekeepers. The staff is assisted by a number of part time employees and by a dedicated group of 120 volunteers from the local community who do the bulk of the administrative tasks, greeting visitors, answering telephones and providing transportation for the families. Groups of specialized volunteers help us in a variety of ways: members of the Speakers' Bureau represent the House at schools and other organizations, Hospitality representatives visit our residents and their children in the hospitals and Auxiliaries hold their own fundraisers. Developing programs to attract community involvement is a major initiative and accomplishment of the House. The Dinner Program has successfully engaged many philanthropic organizations, schools and corporations to provide five to seven meals per week for the families. With the "Little Hands Helping Little Hands" program, initiated to educate younger children about the benefits of giving back to the community, supervised groups bake treats in our kitchens. Other organizations and volunteers also donate freshly baked breads twice a week and cookies and cakes on a daily basis for the residents. Community-driven programs contribute toward a fully stocked pantry, toiletries in each room and special welcome gifts for the families. Is there a fee for the families who stay at the House? Families are kept united at a time when mutual support is often as critical as the medical treatment itself. Residents are asked to contribute a nominal fee of $25 per night. If a family cannot afford this, the charge is lowered based on a sliding scale. How is the Ronald McDonald House of Long Island funded? The Ronald McDonald House of Long Island must cover its operating expenses through private donations and contributions. The House coordinates a number of ongoing fundraising campaigns: donor acknowledgement programs (Walk of Love, Tree of Love, Heart Wall), a year-end appeal as well as a number of annual Special Events. Fund raising efforts have resulted in financial support from foundations, corporations, elected officials and individuals as well as in-kind donations of important goods and services. What is the relationship between McDonald’s Corporation and the Ronald McDonald House of Long Island? The relationship between the House and McDonald’s is two-fold. On a local level, the McDonald’s New York Tri-State Owner/ Operators organization plays a major role in the House. They guaranteed half of the original mortgage. In 1994, they rescued the House with a $200,000 gift to correct drainage problems that had caused a major flood. In 1996, they contributed more than $100,000 toward a much-needed renovation project. Three years ago, they committed $1.8 million to the expansion of the facility. The Tri-State Owner/ Operators also help promote many House fundraising events, such as the Annual Lloyd Frazier Memorial Golf & Tennis Outing and the Annual New York Mets Event. In addition, six Owner/Operators are members of our Board of Directors. On a national level, the Ronald McDonald House Charities, based in Oak Brook, Illinois, give each newly established House $25,000 seed money as well as the license to use its name. It also provides a host of administrative services and operating standards and secures support from national donors. Examples of such donors are Coca Cola, which provides beverages to the Houses nationwide and Select Comfort, a company that supplies bedding and mattresses. Although the majority of the operating budget is our responsibility, the relationship with McDonald’s is crucial. While they are a substantial partner to the House, our operating funds are sustained through fundraisers, legislative grants and the generosity of the community. Where did the idea for the Ronald McDonald Houses originate?The first Ronald McDonald House opened in October 1974, as the result of the perseverance and dedication of Fred Hill, a former Philadelphia Eagles football player. After Hill's daughter, Kim, was treated for Leukemia, he and his teammates were determined to do something to benefit families of hospitalized children. A joint effort by the Eagles and Philadelphia area McDonald's restaurant owners raised enough money to build the first Ronald McDonald House in Philadelphia, PA. The Ronald McDonald House of Long Island House is the 100th House of 274 Ronald McDonald House programs around the world in 30 countries - 161 are in the United States. Each House is an independent, not-for-profit 501(c) (3) corporation responsible for raising its own funds and maintaining the operation of the facility under the leadership of a volunteer Board of Directors. Does the House need more volunteers? Volunteers are the “heartbeat of the House.” We welcome the participation of volunteers on many levels. Speakers' Bureau – Represent the House at schools, community groups and corporations to raise awareness about our mission In-House Volunteers – Contribute time at the House for one of the various four-hour shifts, which are scheduled seven days per week. Many administrative functions are handled by the volunteers who work on these daily shifts Event Volunteers - Represent the House at various community events distributing information to the public Auxiliaries - see below What are the Ronald McDonald House Auxiliaries?Auxiliaries are independent groups of individuals who raise funds and hold events to benefit the House in their own communities. The auxiliaries create and sponsor events of their choice and work together with the House staff to ensure their success. The House is always seeking to establish new auxiliaries in Nassau, Suffolk and Queens communities. |
| The Ronald McDonald House of Long Island 267-07 76th Avenue, New Hyde Park, NY 11040 Phone: (516) 775-5683 or (718) 343-5683 Email: mail@rmhlongisland.org |
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