Spring 2015 | Volume 33

A Publication of Ronald McDonald House Charities® of Tampa Bay, Inc.

Care. Comfort. Hope.®

Love Notes & 2014 Annual Report

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Executive DirectorMessage from the

Courageous, amazing, humbling, inspiring are just some of the words that spring to mind when I think of the people I’ve met and the stories I’ve heard at the Ronald McDonald House this past year. While it takes many hearts and hands to run an organization capable of housing 80 families per night, it is the conversations and notes of thanks from families, volunteers, and

donors that underscore this important mission.

Our charity has cared for 48,000 families over the past 34 years. But that number is not a true reflection of how many people we have touched, as we count each family as one, whether there are six or two people in that family. It is amazing to think that we have touched the lives of hundreds of thousands of people through the years. Children from previous years are now returning as adults with children of their own to volunteer, donate, or use our houses.

As we enter our 35th year, it is comforting to know that thousands of families, donors, supporters, and volunteers will pass through our doors and be welcomed into our “home-away-from-home”. We are so much more than buildings with doors and windows. A heart beats inside each of our houses, brought there through commitment and dedication by our hundreds of volunteers, meal donors, staff, and board members. The Ronald McDonald House is a place where love is offered freely, without hesitation.

On behalf of all the families who find solace at the Ronald McDonald House of Tampa Bay, thank you for being there when we needed you most. I wish you all the best for a healthy and happy new year.

Fondly,

JANICE L. DAVIS Executive Director & CEO

In this issueAnnual StatisticsLifesaving GiftEvents & FundraisersDonor Listings

Love Notes is published annually for families and friends of Ronald McDonald House Charities® of Tampa Bay. Comments may be directed to: Ronald McDonald House Charities of Tampa Bay, 28 Columbia Drive, Tampa, FL 33606, (813) 258-6430 www.rmhctampabay.org Writing & production Alison Barrick

2015 RMHC BOARD OF TRUSTEES OFFICERSEdward Ameen, Chairman

Dan Paone, PresidentPam Barber, Vice President

Claudia Straw, TreasurerDiane Keane, Secretary

John Iwanicki, Immediate Past President

MEMBERSTate CasperBrian DevlinSteve EavesBrian FordChris Frost

Tim GormanSteve GriggsJeff Harring

Dan HoneggerStacy HowellGeorge MeyerKerry O’Reilly

Bonnie PatchenJamie Patterson

Tom PowersBob SandersDon SchreyerJulie S. StapfAna WallrappSusan Wendt

Executive Director & CEOJANICE L. DAVIS

STAFFLisa Suprenand, Director of Facilities & Programs

AdministrationJoo Hooi Albritton, Business Manager

Alison Barrick, Marketing & Communications Manager Kelly Gicale, Development Coordinator

Ashley Messer, Events Coordinator Alexandria Ascioti, Development Assistant

St. Pete EastKaren Mathews, House Manager

Lynn Lippincott, Family CoordinatorSue Corder, Information SpecialistJodi Horvath, Assistant Manager

Denise Durocher, Overnight Asst. ManagerStania Smida, Overnight Asst. Manager

Joan Gould, Operations Assistant Sherri Latimer, Operations Assistant

Cindy Lewis, PT Operations AssistantJohn Modaff, Maintenance

St. Pete WestAnn Seidenstricker, House Manager Lise Fields, Volunteer CoordinatorCarla Sibilia, Operations Assistant

St. Pete CentralMelanie Dooley, House Manager

Kensie Yarbrough, Assistant ManagerJil Milley, Operations Assistant

Tampa HouseBetsy Wilkinson, House Manager

Maggie Somerville, Assistant Manager Yadira Lizardi, Operations Assistant

PLUS23 Assistant (Weekend) Managers!

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In 2014 we honored 22 deserving high school students from our eleven-county area at a special awards luncheon. These students received scholarships for a pre-paid two-year Florida college tuition or equivalent tuition to use at an approved accredited institution. The students, along with their families, school counselors, and administrators enjoyed a special lunch courtesy of the McDonald’s Tampa Bay Co-Op and were recognized for their hard work. McDonald’s owner/operators and RMHC Board members also attended to honor the recipients and hear about their academic and community achievements.

Scholarship Program

The Ronald McDonald House offers families a place to call home while their child is receiving critical medical treatment in area hospitals. For 34 years, our Ronald McDonald Houses have provided a “home-away-from-home” for 48,000 pediatric families in need of comfort and care during a most difficult time in their lives. Annually, 2,000 families come through our doors looking for a quiet place to rest and find solace. There are three Houses in St. Petersburg that care for families with children receiving treatment at All Children’s Hospital: St. Pete East, St. Pete West, and St. Pete Central. Our fourth House, located on the campus of Tampa General Hospital, cares for families with children at Tampa General, St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital of Tampa, and Shriners Hospital.

At Ronald McDonald House families receive much more than accommodation; they find a safe, convenient, and home-like environment. Volunteers at each of our Houses strive to engage families and help them through difficult times by offering pet therapy, arts and crafts, bingo, game nights and so much more. Community organizations like the Florida Aquarium, Alligator Attraction and Boyd Hill Nature Preserve have all brought wildlife to our Houses to entertain the families, while Legoland’s giant-sized characters delighted the kids. The stories we hear from families repeatedly state that they do not know what they would have done if Ronald McDonald House had not been available for them. No other charity in our local community provides this service to pediatric families.

Ronald McDonald Care Mobile® The Ronald McDonald Care Mobile is a partnership with the University of South Florida’s Department of Pediatrics. This specially-designed vehicle houses two patient exam rooms, a laboratory, reception and medical records area to provide healthcare to underserved children in Hillsborough and Pasco Counties.

In 2014, the Care Mobile cared for 607 patients. In addition to providing health and dental care to children who would not have access to this care otherwise, the program also functions as an educational opportunity for USF pediatric residents, medical students, and nurse practitioner students. Currently, 69 pediatric residents, three nurse practitioner students, and four BSN nursing students participate in the Care Mobile program as part of their rotations. They experience first-hand the challenges uninsured and underinsured children and their families face in receiving quality health care. The Care Mobile helps prepare these future health care providers for the role of child healthcare advocate within the community.

MISSION STATEMENTRonald McDonald House Charities of Tampa Bay provides comfort, care, and support to children and their families through the operation of core programs like the Ronald McDonald House, the Ronald McDonald Care Mobile, RMHC College Scholarships, and grants to other non-profit organizations that assist children.

The Ronald McDonald House® of Tampa Bay provides a home-away-from-home for families of pediatric patients in area hospitals.

Ronald McDonald House®CORE PROGRAMS

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2014ANNUAL REPORT

*A copy of the audited Financial Report of RMHC of Tampa Bay, Inc. and complete statistics are available on our website. The industry standard is not to exceed 25 percent for fundraising and management costs.

Ronald McDonald House Charities® of Tampa Bay

EXPENSE by Percentage

Program Service 83%

Management 6%

Fundraising 11%

INCOME by Percentage

Donations 75%

Special Events 12%

Investment Income

10%Family Donations 3%

ACCOMPLISHMENTS 4 St. Petersburg RMH East – second and third floors renovated

Providing a more comfortable and updated environment for families

4 Teen room renovated by Aaron’s at St. Petersburg RMH East Full range of video games, computers and movies to entertain teens

4 Adopt a Room program launched – 26 rooms adopted to date Raising $170,000 to underwrite house operations

4 ImageFirst Laundry provides free laundry services to all houses Clean linens free up staff resources and help speed up family check-outs

4 Ronald McDonald House Charities worldwide celebrates 40 years of care: #forRMHC Show our stripes a huge success around the world, including Tampa Bay

4 Pro bono energy study completed Helps contain costs, increase efficiencies, and leave a greener footprint

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1,194Community prepared

meals

2014 HOUSE STATISTICS

325House volunteers

54 Teen volunteers

Average length of stay

74%Occupancy

9 nights 3,182Day use visits

Central House

Top Five Florida CountiesPolkPascoHillsboroughSarasotaManatee

Top Diagnosesby # of nights stayed

NeonatologyCardiology

Bone Marrow Transplant

Critical CareGeneral

Pediatrics

Vo lunteerHours

19,563House volunteer hours

1,639 Teen volunteer hours

Countries/ Territories

BahamasBrazilCanadaCayman IslandsColumbiaEcuadorFrance

GermanyGuatemala

MexicoPeru

Puerto RicoSweden

US Virgin Islands

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1,837Families served

$1,654,160(1837 families x $80/night)

20,677Nights