Ronald Mcdonald House Charities Of Northwest Florida Inc

TO BE THE BEST HOME-AWAY-FROM-HOME AND SOURCE OF RESPITE AND RESOURCES FOR CHILDREN AND FAMILIES SUFFERING A MEDICAL CRISIS.

THE RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE (RMH) CHARITIES OF NWFL, INC. PROVIDES A 26 BEDROOM HOME AWAY FROM HOME FOR FAMILIES WITH SERIOUSLY ILL OR CRITICALLY INJURED CHILDREN BEING TREATED AT HOSPITALS IN THE PENSACOLA AREA. THESE FACILITIES INCLUDE SACRED HEART HOSPITAL, NEMOURS, BAPTIST HOSPITAL AND WEST FLORIDA HOSPITAL. RMH SERVES FAMILIES PRIMARILY FROM THE BAY, WALTON, OKALOOSA, SANTA ROSA, AND ESCAMBIA COUNTIES, BUT HAS SERVED FAMILIES FROM OTHER STATES AND COUNTRIES. THE HOUSE INCLUDES A FULLY STOCKED KITCHEN, LAUNDRY ROOM, FITNESS ROOM, PLAYROOM, NURSING NOOK, FREE WIFI, COMPUTERS AND AN OUTDOOR PLAYGROUND WITH A BASKETBALL GOAL FOR FAMILIES STAYING AT RMH. OTHER COMMUNITY PROGRAMS INCLUDE ART THERAPY, ANIMAL THERAPY, MASSAGE THERAPY, AND ACTIVITIES THROUGHOUT THE WEEK. OUTSIDE COMMUNITY PARTNERS PROVIDE DENTAL AND EYE CARE FOR THE FAMILIES IN THE HOUSE. THESE SERVICES ARE AT NO COST TO THE FAMILIES. DURING 2021, WE WERE INSTRUCTED TO KEEP MAXIMUM CAPACITY AT 75% AND MINIMIZE THE NUMBER OF VOLUNTEERS COMING INTO THE HOUSE AT ONE TIME. SINCE WE WERE UNABLE TO GET ALL FAMILIES INTO THE RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE DUE TO COVID RESTRICTIONS, WE USED THE AIRBNB GRANT TO PAY FOR HOTELS STAYS TO CONTINUE OUR MISSION. WITH ALL THE COVID OBSTACLES IN 2021, THE RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE SERVED 281 INDIVIDUAL FAMILIES, STAYING 329 TIMES, WITH AN AVERAGE LENGTH OF STAY OF 11 NIGHTS. THE AVERAGE OCCUPANCY FOR 2021 WAS 43%. OUR OTHER PROGRAM, THE RONALD MCDONALD FAMILY ROOM (RMFR), PROVIDES US THE ABILITY TO SERVE MORE FAMILIES WHO DO NOT WANT TO LEAVE THEIR CHILD'S BEDSIDE AND FAMILIES WHO LIVE LOCALLY. THE RMFR IS MINUTES FROM THE LEVEL III NICU,LOCATED ON THE 2ND FLOOR OF THE STUDER FAMILY CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL. THE RMFR HAS SEVERAL COMMON AREAS: FULL KITCHEN, DINING AREA, LIVING ROOM, LAUNDRY ROOM, PLAYROOM AND A QUIET ROOM WHERE FAMILIES CAN HAVE PRIVACY. THE COMMON AREAS ARE OPEN EVERY DAY FROM 8A-8P TO ANY FAMILY WHO HAS A CHILD RECEIVING TREATMENT AT THE STUDER FAMILY CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL. AT THE RMFR, THEY CAN ENJOY QUIET MOMENTS OF RESPITE, A CUP OF COFFEE, SNACKS, A MEAL, START A LOAD OF LAUNDRY, AND FRESHEN UP WITH A SHOWER. THE FAMILY ROOM ALSO FEATURES THREE SLEEPING ROOMS, FOR FAMILIES WHO NEED TO BE STEPS FROM THEIR CRITICAL INFANT'S BEDSIDE. UNFORTUNATELY, THE PANDEMIC ALSO AFFECTED OUR RMFR SINCE WE WERE INSTRUCTED TO CLOSE THE COMMON AREAS FOR MOST OF 2021. THE RONALD MCDONALD FAMILY ROOM SERVED 53 FAMILIES AND 130 VISITS. THE OVERNIGHT BEDROOMS SERVED A TOTAL OF 51 FAMILIES FOR 568 NIGHTS. VOLUNTEERS PLAY A SIGNIFICANT ROLE IN SERVING OUR FAMILIES. DURING THE PANDEMIC, VOLUNTEERS CONTINUED TO PROVIDE THEIR TIME EITHER MAKING MEALS IN OUR KITCHEN, WORKING IN THE FAMILY ROOM, OR AT RMH EVENTS. BECAUSE OF OUR VOLUNTEER SUPPORT DURING SUCH A DIFFICULT TIME, WE WERE ABLE TO SERVE 2,800 MEALS AND 916 VOLUNTEERS LOGGED IN 3,869 HOURS. FAMILIES ARE ASKED TO CONSIDER A DONATION OF 10 PER NIGHT, BUT NO ONE IS EVER TURNED AWAY FOR INABILITY TO PAY. THE ACTUAL COST PER NIGHT TO HOUSE A FAMILY, AS WELL AS PROVIDE MEALS AND SERVICES, IN 2021 WAS 101. RMH IS LICENSED BY MCDONALD'S CORPORATION TO USE THE BRAND NAME WHICH IS UNIVERSALLY RECOGNIZED TODAY. MCDONALD'S CORPORATION CONTINUES TO PROVIDE OUR PROGRAMS WITH VALUABLE TRAINING AND NETWORK OPPORTUNITIES, HOWEVER, LIKE EVERY RMH, WE DEPEND ON OUR COMMUNITY FOR THE MOST OF THE ANNUAL FINANCIAL SUPPORT, PRIVATE FOUNDATIONS, CORPORATE AND INDIVIDUAL GIFTS AND PLEDGES, AND IN-KIND CONTRIBUTIONS. AN INDEPENDENT ADVISORY FINANCE COMMITTEE OVERSEAS THE FIDUCIARY RESPONSIBILITIES, INCLUDING WORKING WITH AN INDEPENDENT CPA FIRM TO PROVIDE AN OUTSIDE AUDIT. AN INDEPENDENT ADVISORY INVESTMENT COMMITTEE OVERSEES INVESTMENTS ON A QUARTERLY BASIS.