Ronald McDonald House, The House that Love Built, is Growing to Meet the Need

A home away from home can make all the difference in the world to ensure a parent is available to comfort their child and participate in being an advocate for their child's medical treatment. While their children undergo life-saving medical treatment for critical illnesses at the Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital, parents want to remain close to their child. Oftentimes, they commute from distant cities to the hospital, or sleep in hallway chairs until their child is in recovery. Commuting or sleeping uncomfortably adds stress to family members. With its current 21 rooms and team of compassionate staff and volunteers, the Loma Linda Ronald McDonald House (LLRMH) has provided a home away from home for thousands of families in Southern California since 1996; however, as populations continue to grow, more space at the House is in high demand. About six years ago, the LLRMH Board of Trustees began its hotel program, which placed families in need into nearby hotel rooms when the House was full. But, explained Board President Derek Hanson, that was a short-term “band aid” solution to the problem they now face: too little space. Bolstered by two generous grants – a $5.6 million grant from the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians and a $1.25 million donation from the McDonald’s Operators’ Association of Southern California— the LLRMH Board of Trustees made the decision to do away with its hotel program and instead expand by more than double the size of the current House. Although hundreds of families have been turned away from the hotel program due to an exceeded capacity in the previous year, the LLRMH’s “Growing to Meet the Need Campaign” will provide additional comfortable rooms to families by constructing additional 33 guest rooms, adding kitchen space and a community room, which will be available to nearly 7,500 individuals every year. “Every parent here understands what a child is going through, how difficult it is for the child and how heartbreaking it is as a parent to feel helpless. One of the best things we can do is to provide comfort and relief in difficult times,” said Hanson on Sunday, Sept. 13, at the official Growing to Meet the Need groundbreaking ceremony that kicked off the expansion of the House. San Manuel Band of Mission Indians Tribal Chair Lynn Valbuena and Tribal Secretary Ken Ramirez spoke about their partnership with LLRMH to help them reach the $12 million expansion goal. “Our partnership with the Ronald McDonald House is a reflection of togetherness, a desire to help others find a close community when they need it the most,” said Valbuena. "There are three goals the San Manuel Band of Mission Indians have. Those are health, education and welfare. We partner with Loma Linda University Medical Center and Ronald McDonald House because we are a part of the larger community, and it's about what we can do together." Valbuena recalled some of the hard times the tribes endured not too long ago. "It feels good to be blessed in such a way that we can go from pouring water on our corn flakes to being able to give back in such a meaningful way," she said. Candy Spiel, a McDonald’s owner/operator and one of the founding members of the LLRMH, also addressed the “importance of keeping families together when children go through life-saving treatment.” Spiel spoke of a tour she took at Loma Linda University Medical Center, seeing parents who slept overnight in their cars or in hospital corridors. Because of the parents’ need to be near their children during devastating times, Spiel explained she immediately saw the need for the LLRMH. Spiel and her husband Tom have been long time supporters of both the House and Ronald McDonald House Charities. At the ceremony, two families described their experiences at the LLRMH. Lisa and John Parsons’ son, Brent, had his first open-heart surgery when he was three days old. The family moved from hospital to hospital before coming to Loma Linda University Children’s Hospital. After discovering LLRMH, the Parsons were able to stay close to Brent while he was in surgery, rather than commute from the High Desert where they live. “We were able to stay here for the first time back in November 1997, and he had two more surgeries after that,” Lisa said. “It’s so helpful and it relieves so much stress for you to know that you have a place to stay and a place to clean up and be close to your child.” Brent, who recently underwent a heart transplant at LLUCH, said knowing his parents were across the street at the Ronald McDonald House gave him peace of mind. Lying in his hospital bed, he was unable one day to reach his buzzer to call for the nurse. "I couldn't reach the buzzer, but I could reach my cellphone," he said. "I was able to call my parents and because they were right across the street they could come to my aid immediately because of Ronald McDonald House." LLRMH continues to ask for the public’s support as they strive to provide more space for families who need to stay closer to their children and the hospital while they receive intensive care for catastrophic illnesses. The “Growing to Meet the Need” campaign is currently running through Oct. 27 and is funded in part from matched funds. Any donations made by the public will be matched, creating double the impact. The challenge is to reach $50,000 in 50 days. If the LLRMH raises this $50,000 during the campaign, they will receive another $50,000 in funding. Currently the campaign has raised nearly $9 million of its total $12 million goal, and another $3 million must still be given to meet the goal by mid-October. LLRMH invites the public to join them in their campaign to donate and contribute to this extraordinary cause. You can donate by visiting the LLRMH fundraising site: www.classy.org/50Kin50days. LLRMH thanks the following donors for their generous support, who have given gifts of $50,000 or more: * San Manuel Band of Mission Indians * McDonald's Operators' Association of Southern California * Dan Carlone Construction * Ronald McDonald House Charities * Fontana Foundation of Hope * The Sanchez Family Corporation * McSpi, Inc. * Mestas Family McDonald's * The E. Rhoades and Leona B. Carpenter Foundation * Anonymous Donor