Ronald Mcdonald House Charities Of Eastern Wisconsin Inc

TO KEEP FAMILIES TOGETHER AND PROMOTE THE HEALTH AND WELL-BEING OF CHILDREN.

HOUSE PROGRAM - RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE CHARITIES OF EASTERN WISCONSIN, INC. PROVIDES GUEST ROOMS AND OFFERS SUPPORTIVE FAMILY PROGRAMS. SINCE 1984, MORE THAN 50,000 FAMILIES FROM AROUND THE WORLD HAVE CALLED THIS RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE "HOME". LAST YEAR, WE SERVED 1,009 FAMILIES. WHILE OVER 75% OF OUR FAMILIES COME FROM WISCONSIN, MANY FAMILIES TRAVELED FROM ACROSS THE UNITED STATES TO SEEK THE LIFE-GIVING MEDICAL CARE AT CHILDREN'S WISCONSIN, ROGERS BEHAVIORAL HEALTH, AND OTHER AREA HOSPITALS. WE SERVE UP TO 70 FAMILIES EACH DAY AND WERE ABLE TO SERVE ALMOST EVERY FAMILY WHO NEEDED OUR HOUSE DURING 2021. ON AVERAGE, OUR FAMILIES STAY WITH US FOR JUST OVER 11 DAYS; HOWEVER OVER 56% FAMILIES STAY WERE FOR LONGER THAN 30 DAYS. EACH FAMILY WHO STAYS AT THE RMHC CAN STAY FOR AS LONG AS THEIR CHILD IS RECEIVING MEDICAL TREATMENT. WE SUGGEST A DONATION OF $20 A NIGHT FROM OUR FAMILIES, WHEN THE COST IS OVER $92 PER NIGHT. LAST YEAR, ONLY 21% OF OUR FAMILIES WERE ABLE TO CONTRIBUTE THE SUGGESTED $20 A NIGHT, HOWEVER, NO ONE IS EVER TURNED AWAY FOR THEIR INABILITY TO PAY. THE MAJORITY OF OUR SUPPORT COMES FROM PRIVATE FUNDING THROUGH SPECIAL EVENTS AND DONORS. ALTHOUGH THE MCDONALD'S CORPORATION DOES NOT PROVIDE DIRECT FINANCIAL SUPPORT, THE MCDONALD'S OWNER/OPERATORS AND ITS CUSTOMERS IN SOUTHEASTERN AND NORTHEASTERN WISCONSIN AND THE UPPER PENINSULA OF MICHIGAN GENEROUSLY PROVIDE SUPPORT THROUGH VARIOUS FUNDRAISING ACTIVITIES INCLUDING DONATION BOXES AT MCDONALD'S RESTAURANTS. LAST YEAR, THESE IMPORTANT EFFORTS CONTRIBUTED TO ABOUT 5% OF THE ANNUAL REVENUE. OUR PROGRAMS WOULD NOT BE POSSIBLE WITHOUT OUR COMMUNITY OF OVER 500 VOLUNTEERS. EVERY SINGLE DAY, OUR VOLUNTEERS HELP KEEP THE HOUSE RUNNING SMOOTHLY AND EFFICIENTLY THROUGH A HOST OF RESPONSIBILITIES INCLUDING ORIENTING OUR FAMILIES WHEN THEY CHECK IN, CLEANING THE ROOMS AFTER THEY CHECK-OUT, DRIVING THE SHUTTLE VAN TO AND FROM THE HOSPITAL, SMALL MAINTENANCE PROJECTS AND SHARING OUR STORY IN OUR COMMUNITY. WE WOULD NOT BE ABLE TO KEEP OUR DOORS OPEN WITHOUT OUR CARING AND LOVING VOLUNTEERS.THE RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE OFFERS MORE THAN A PLACE TO STAY. PARENTS AND CHILDREN FIND A WARM AND COMPASSIONATE ENVIRONMENT WITH MANY PROGRAMS AND INITIATIVES TO SUPPORT THEM DURING A VERY STRESSFUL TIME IN THEIR LIVES. IN ADDITION TO COMFORTABLE ROOMS, WE HAVE KITCHENS, A COMPUTER LAB, LAUNDRY FACILITIES, PLAY AREAS AND A REFLECTION ROOM. WE ARE ALSO PROUD OF OUR PROGRAMS AND A FEW HIGHLIGHTS FROM LAST YEAR INCLUDE: SINCE MARCH OF 2020, THE COVID PANDEMIC RESULTED IN ADDITIONAL RESTRICTIONS PUT IN PLACE TO MINIMIZE THE VIRAL SPREAD. WE PROUDLY WERE ABLE TO REMAIN OPEN AND CONTINUE WELCOMING FAMILIES TO RMHC. ALTHOUGH OUR OPERATIONS HAVE BEEN DIFFERENT DUE TO COVID PROTOCOLS, WE WERE STILL ABLE TO OFFER COMPASSIONATE CARE TO 1009 FAMILIES FOR 10,544 NIGHTS.FAMILY DINNER PROGRAM - THIS PROGRAM PROVIDES A WONDERFUL WAY FOR FAMILIES TO SUPPORT EACH OTHER AS WELL AS FURTHER REDUCE THEIR FINANCIAL BURDEN. SINCE MARCH 2020, DUE TO COVID RESTRICTIONS, WE CATERED IN MEALS THREE TIMES EACH WEEK FOR FAMILIES. WE WERE ABLE TO PROVIDE 266 MEALS TO OUR FAMILIES IN 2021, INCLUDING VOLUNTEER-PREPARED LUNCHES-2-GO AND MAKE-AHEAD MEALS.EXPRESSIVE THERAPY - OUR ART THERAPISTS USE A CREATIVE PROCESS TO GUIDE FAMILIES TOWARDS A PLACE OF HEALING, RECONCILIATION AND HOPE. THERAPISTS PROVIDE SUPPORT AND A SAFE PLACE FOR FAMILIES TO REFLECT ON THE INTENSE FEELINGS SURROUNDING A CHILD'S ILLNESS OR INJURY AND ITS AFFECT ON THE ENTIRE FAMILY USING CREATIVITY AS THE PRIMARY METHOD OF COMMUNICATION. THE RESULTS HAVE BEEN INSPIRING. OUR FAMILIES HAVE OPENED UP THEIR HEARTS, EXPLORED THEIR FEARS AND SADNESS AND ALLOWED THEIR EMOTIONAL NEEDS TO BE HEARD WHILE REBUILDING A SENSE OF WELL-BEING AND HOPE. PET THERAPY - THIS PROGRAM PROVIDES THE OPPORTUNITY TO HEAL THROUGH ANIMAL ASSISTED THERAPY. IT PROMOTES SOCIAL AND EMOTIONAL SUPPORT PROVIDED BY SPECIALLY TRAINED PROFESSIONALS. DOGS AND THEIR RESPECTIVE HANDLERS VISIT THE RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE MULTIPLE TIMES EACH WEEK. IN 2021, WE HAD 69 SUCH VISITS.SECRET GARDEN - ADJACENT TO THE HOUSE IS A BEAUTIFUL OUTDOOR GARDEN WITH A WALKING PATH, GAZEBO, WATER ELEMENT AND A PATIO EQUIPPED WITH GAS GRILLS. OUR FAMILIES FIND SOLACE AND FRESH AIR IN THE BEAUTIFUL ENVIRONMENT. THE GARDEN IS MAINTAINED AND CARED FOR BY 18 VOLUNTEER MASTER GARDENERS WHO PLANT, PRUNE, WEED, AND CARE ON A DAILY BASIS TO KEEP IT PRISTINE AND BEAUTIFUL. GARDEN EDUCATION OCCURS EACH WEEK DURING THE GROWING SEASON. IN 2021, 929 OF VOLUNTEER HOURS WERE PROVIDED TO MAINTAIN THE GARDEN. TWENTY GARDEN EDUCATION CLASSES TOOK PLACE IN 2021. THE SECRET GARDEN WAS A RESPITE DURING THE YEAR WHEN COVID PREVENTED US FROM HAVING LIVE INDOOR PROGRAMING. ABOVE ALL, THE RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE OFFERS THE EMOTIONAL SUPPORT AND COMMON FRIENDSHIP OF OTHER FAMILIES IN VERY SIMILAR SITUATIONS OF HAVING AN ILL OR INJURED CHILD IN THE HOSPITAL.

HOSPITALITY CART - OUR BIG, BRIGHT, HAPPY WHEELS HOSPITALITY CART BRINGS CHEER TO CHILDREN'S WISCONSIN (CW) FAMILIES. IN 2021, THE HAPPY WHEELS CART MADE 102 TRIPS THROUGHOUT THE HOSPITAL, DELIVERING SNACKS, TOYS, BOOKS AND OTHER ITEMS TO 1,669 PATIENTS AND FAMILIES. WHEN COVID-19 PREVENTED THE CART FROM MAKING ITS ROUNDS DUE TO SAFETY CONCERNS, THE CART CONTINUED TO OFFER ITEMS ONE DAY EACH WEEK IN ITS FAMILY RESOURCE ROOM.

FAMILY ROOM PROGRAM - IN AUGUST OF 2021, THE ORGANIZATION'S FIRST FAMILY ROOM PROGRAM OPENED. LOCATED WITHIN THE ROGERS BEHAVIORAL HEALTH'S LADISH FAMILY CENTER ON ITS OCONOMOWOC CAMPUS, THIS 2,500 SQUARE FOOT SPACE OFFERS FAMILIES RESPITE, SNACKS, BEVERAGES, GAMES AND OTHER AMENITIES AS THEY SUPPORT THEIR CHILD IN THEIR HEALTH JOURNEY. DURING 2021, 233 FAMILIES MADE A TOTAL OF 2,062 VISITS TO THE FAMILY ROOM.