06 May Kerry’s Corner: May 2020
When we began 2020, we were looking forward to a year of celebrating our 35th anniversary. We planned for cake, friends, and events to honor this great milestone that we’re so very proud of.
Then a global pandemic unfolded.
So, even though there won’t be balloons or a huge party right now, we know that there is still so much to celebrate this year.
You see, it’s our 35-year foundation that is bringing us through this hard time. The immeasurable community support that brought the dream of the House to fruition in 1985 is the same support that is continuing to provide a “home-away-from-home” for families who are in the Valley for critical medical care for their children today.
Pediatric illness doesn’t stop during moments of crisis. Our mission of keeping families together while they care for their sick child doesn’t stop either. Families are still searching for a place to rest and rejuvenate while their children fight for their lives. Ronald McDonald House® is still here to serve them.
Although day-to-day activity at the House is different – I’m missing the daily giggles and hugs from our littlest guests — we are still providing families with a place to call home at the end of really hard days. Our Dinnertime Heroes are still coming through with meals for the families. Our staff is still giving 110% of their hearts to best serve our guests. And most of all, our families are still able to be by their child’s side to help them fight their hardest battles.
To say that is year hasn’t gone to plan for any of us is an understatement. But what we do know is that even through the storm, our community has remained by our side so that we could continue to give families what they need most right now – each other. Thank you for continuing to show them such love!
Brighter days are surely in front of us. There will come a time to commemorate the journey that has brought us to our 35th anniversary. There will be cake, and balloons, and friends like you there to celebrate with us. But until then, we thank you for continued support. We couldn’t do it without YOU.
With gratitude,
Kerry Schulman
Chief Executive Officer