Ronald McDonald House Charities of Rochester celebrates 25 years of being a home away from home

This year marks Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) of Rochester’s 25th anniversary. The nonprofit celebrates this milestone as one of the leading nonprofit organizations in Western New York and strives to find, create and support programs that directly improve the health and well-being of critically ill children. RMHC provides a “home away from home” so family members can stay close to their loved ones during the most difficult of times. RMHC opened its doors 25 years ago, on February 18, 1990.

“Ronald McDonald House Charities of Rochester has served over 15,000 families since opening its doors 25 years ago,” said Carol DeMoulin, president of Ronald McDonald House Charities of Rochester. “As an organization that personally impacts the lives of so many family members here in our community, we strive to keep families together. No one ever expects their child, grandchild or loved one to become critically sick, but if this does happen to you and your family, we are here. We will be here to support families for as long as we’re needed.”

Initiatives set for 2015, include:
•a new Ronald McDonald House Family Room will open this summer inside the new tower at Golisano Children’s Hospital.
•bedrooms for families at the Ronald McDonald House on Westmoreland Drive are currently being completely renovated.
•nearly $250,000 has been raised for RMHC through the Masonic fraternity’s Have-A-Heart fundraiser over the past 20 years. It is taking place now at area malls.
•RMHC will celebrate the second annual Wear Your Stripes to Show You Care Day to observe the 41st anniversary of RMHC globally and 25th anniversary locally.

“Our houses are open 24 hours a day, seven days a week,” DeMoulin added. “Every RMHC volunteer makes a difference. Every dollar donated makes a difference. I can’t express how thankful we are for the giving, compassionate community we are part of and for how many RMHC ambassadors are out there supporting us.”

In celebration of the 25th anniversary, RMHC has a list of “25 Ways to Help Ronald McDonald House Charities This Year.” Five of those ways are:
•Cook a meal at the house
•Volunteer at the RMHC Household Sale in the spring and/or fall
•Attend the RMHC Red Tie Gala in March (March 28)
•Young professionals – Join the RMHC young professionals committee, Red Tie Society
•Wear red and white stripes in support of RMHC on October 15.

To see the complete list and additional ways to help, visit rmhcrochester.org/volunteers/25-ways-help.

For information about Ronald McDonald House Charities of Rochester, visit rmhcrochester.org.

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