We here at Crippen are looking to make 2017 a record year for giving back to our communities. We are holding monthly intraoffice fundraisers to benefit 12 different charities this year through our new Crippen Cares™ initiative. Our non-profit spotlight is on this month’s fundraiser recipient, Ronald McDonald House Charities of North Central Florida and of Central Florida.
Helping a sick child fight their illness takes a big enough emotional toll on a family. Adding a financial strain can make it all almost too much to bear. Ronald McDonald House Charities of North Central Florida and of Central Florida help address those problems. Many families travel far from home and spend several weeks or months to get treatment for their seriously ill or injured children – a long time to be away or to divide a family. And, for children facing a serious medical crisis, nothing seems scarier than not having mom and dad close by for love and support. A Ronald McDonald House provides a place for families to call home so they can stay close by their hospitalized child at little to no cost. Their houses are built on the idea that nothing else matters when a family is focused on the health of a child – not where they can afford to stay, where they will get their next meal or where they will lay their head at night to rest. RMHC believes that when a child is hospitalized, the love and support of family is as powerful as the strongest medicine prescribed.
The Ronald McDonald House Charities allow families to face the weight of illness together. Families are stronger when they are together, which helps in the healing process. By staying at a Ronald McDonald House, parents also can better communicate with their child’s medical team and keep up with complicated treatment plans when needed. They can also focus on the health of their child, rather than grocery shopping, cleaning, or cooking meals. Their goal is to allow children to get the best care possible, as well. When a child is sick, families want the best care possible – even if it is hundreds or thousands of miles away. The Ronald McDonald House allows families to access specialized medical treatment by providing a place to stay at little or sometimes no cost.
At every House, families can enjoy home-cooked meals, private bedrooms, and playrooms for children. Depending on the House, families may also have access to special suites for children with suppressed immune systems, accredited education programs, recreational activities, non-clinical support services, and sibling support services. The generosity of volunteers and donors make it all possible. In return, families either stay at no cost or are asked to make a donation up to $25 per day, depending on the House. The RMHC Global Policy is that families are never turned away; if it’s not possible to pay, the fee is waived.
In 2016, RMHC impacted the lives of more than 5.5 million children and their families around the world. These families saved an estimated $830,110,411 in out-of-pocket lodging and meal expenses due to the presence of Ronald McDonald House and Ronald McDonald Family Room programs.
For more information on how you can help, contact the Ronald McDonald House Charities. You can find the RMHC of North Central Florida here or on Facebook, and the RMHC of Central Florida here or on Facebook.