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Ronald McDonald opening new home to aid families of sick kids

Pat Rooney, Special to the Rocky

Published January 28, 2008 at 12:30 a.m.

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Ronald McDonald is getting an impressive new house.

In late February, Ronald McDonald House Charities will open a building at 932 Potomac Circle in Aurora, enabling the foundation to better serve the new Children's Hospital and other facilities at the Anschutz Medical Campus.

The new Ronald McDonald House, which provides temporary lodging and support services for families with seriously ill or injured children that require extended hospital stays, will join the house opened in April 2001 at 1300 E. 21st Ave. in Denver.

Pam Whitaker, executive director of Ronald McDonald House Charities of Denver, discussed what the new facility will mean to the group, which has applied for Season to Share funding.

How exciting is it for your organization to expand its ability to help families?

This past year, we had 2,800 or so requests that we could not help because we did not have enough space. So it is going to be wonderful.

Besides lodging, what other services does Ronald McDonald House provide for families dealing with ill children?

We have a camp for kids with cancer called Sky High Hope Camp, and this summer will be our 28th summer of that camp. We have community grant programs where we work with other agencies and we give scholarships out in the community to students graduating from high school.

Is there a recent case that illustrates the depth of the services the organization provides?

Right before the holidays we had six families here that were either waiting for a heart transplant or had recently gotten a heart transplant. Those families can stay with us for many, many months before they get a transplant. And then they have to stay in the Denver area for at least three or four months after they get a transplant. Some of those families stay as long as a year. I think that's an amazing story, that we had so many kids like that.

Right now, we have a family waiting for their second child to get a heart transplant and there is a potential for a third that is going to need one in this family. Every single story here is amazing.

How tough is it to work with young children going through such terrible things?

It's tough, but it's also so encouraging and rewarding. You see kids that have miraculous recoveries and are doing fabulous. You see a kid that's blue and can barely make it up the stairs, and then they get a heart and they are reborn again. Those are the joys of the job.

And the appreciation of families. If I said to someone that they have to go to New York City and live there for six months, and just find a place and make yourself at home. . . most of us can't do that. We have a home, we have a job and all of those sorts of things. That's the joy, that people can relax. They can stay here, and we ask for $15 a night, but if they can't pay they stay for free. It's a huge relief.

Ronald McDonald House Charities

* Mission: To provide low- cost temporary housing and support services to families with a seriously ill or injured child receiving treatment at area hospitals.

* Founded (in Denver): 1979

* People served: About 2,000 from about 680 families

* Staff: Three full time, four part time

* Volunteers: More than 300

* Budget: About $1.2 million; budget will increase with the opening of the new facility

* Web site:

ronaldhouse.org

Comments

  • April 15, 2008

    10:54 p.m.

    Suggest removal

    ES writes:

    It is very good to see a Big Company help out in the community. You are pretty liberal. But your heart is in the right place. You help people. This is the best aspect of Capitalism. A company that brings jobs, supports the economy and gives back to the community. All of the best aspects of America.

    Thanks guys. Keep up the good work. I will keep supporting you.

  • July 29, 2008

    11:03 a.m.

    Suggest removal

    peter303 writes:

    Cheers for a good corporate citizen!

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