Inside RMHC-UM

The Little Things Matter Most

2012-03-07T17:14:00.007-08:00

Many of you are familiar with our volunteer meal program, Cooks For Kids, in which volunteers cook meals for the families inside the Ronald McDonald House, the House inside the hospital and the Ronald McDonald Family Room. Everyone is so grateful for the volunteers taking time out of their busy days to cook, serve and clean up. At the Ronald McDonald Family Room inside Gillette Children's Specialty Healthcare, we recently had a group of high school students who are a part of the National Honor Society at Harding High School in St. Paul. They did such a wonderful job preparing a delicious, Asian-themed meal. One thing in particular that really caught everyone’s attention was the coconut Jell-O. The volunteers made several different colors of Jell-O using food dye and then made art out of the Jell-O! Families we so appreciative! One parent commented, “It really is the small things like pretty Jell-O that brings a smile to my face these days." Thank you, National Honor Society, at Harding High School for serving families. It seems like something so small, but we know it's the little things that really matter!

Thank You, Minnesota Wild Foundation!

2012-02-29T12:14:00.003-08:00

Thank you to the Minnesota Wild Foundation and to the fans in the state of hockey! From February 14 to March 4, the Minnesota Wild and Xcel Energy Center hosted a 50/50 raffle to benefit RMHC-UM. $13,717 in prize money went to five lucky participants and more than $14,000 was raised for RMHC-UM! Plus, over 18,000 fans at 5 games got to know us a little better.

We were honored to be the beneficiary for the raffle at 5 games.

Thank you to the great volunteers who have come out to help us sell tickets.

We've enjoyed attending the games and working with the Minnesota Wild Foundation to ensure care was taken each night as winners were selected from thousands of participants. We're especially proud of the five wonderful volunteer groups who have stepped up to support us and work as cheerleaders pitching the sale of tickets in support of RMHC-UM. They've given up parts of their weekend and even braved the weather to be there and we are grateful.

The following photos chronicle the raffle at the February 28th game. We were sad to see the Wild lose, but happy to see a winner walk away with $2,000 and to bring back $2,000 to support families.

Giving the tickets a good spin for luck and safety.

Carynn Roehrick, Director of Volunteers, is eager to pull the winning ticket.

A sea of tickets and support for RMHC-UM!

Reaching in and selecting the winning ticket.

Another set of great volunteers proudly display the winning ticket!

Oscars Party at the Ronald McDonald Family Room®

2012-02-28T16:22:00.005-08:00

It is estimated 39.3 million people watched the Academy Awards last Sunday and that number includes the patients and families at Gillette Children's Specialty Healthcare who attended our Oscars party! We celebrated with caramel corn, miniature Oscars and families filled out ballots to guess winners per category. We all had a blast gushing over the gorgeous dresses and beautiful people, but the most exciting part of the night was guessing the winners. When the ballots were totaled, the family with the most correct guesses was the Glime family! With 10 correct guesses out of 24 possible categories, Melissa Glime claimed her prize of 4 Minnesota Zoo passes and a miniature Oscar! Congrats, Melissa, you sure know your movies!

Every Pop Tab Counts!

2012-02-16T16:52:00.000-08:00

Last week at the Ronald McDonald Family Room inside Gillette Children's Specialty Healthcare, I was very excited to see a patient named Gavin bring in a large bag. I asked Gavin what was inside the bag and he said “A ton of pop tabs!” In fact, it was a 12lb bag of pop tabs he had been saving for us. Gavin had his friends and family save all of their pop tabs over the last few months. He was so excited to donate them and I was equally excited to accept them! Thank you to everyone who collects pop tabs, and just as Gavin told me, every pop tab counts and makes a difference.

Pantry Donation!

2012-02-03T11:16:00.000-08:00

Thank you, Twin City Bond Club, for supporting the Ronald McDonald Family Room with your donation.

At the Ronald McDonald Family Room inside Gillette Children’s Specialty Healthcare, we are SO thankful when we receive donations of any sort. Last week, we received a donation from the Twin City Bond Club to help keep our pantry stocked! The pantry is such a wonderful part of our space and is truly appreciated by all of the families here. There is nothing like a homemade meal and feeling taken care of during a difficult time. Thanks to donors like the Twin City Bond Club, this is a reality for families at the Ronald McDonald Family Room! From all of the families and staff at the Ronald McDonald Family Room, thank you, Twin City Bond Club for making sure our pantry is full! What an amazing showing of support!

A Family's Journey

2011-08-29T11:00:00.000-07:00

By Steph Boehmer, Assistant House Manager - Chicago Avenue
Ronald McDonald House inside Children's Hospital, Minneapolis

When I arrived to work at RMH-Chicago Ave this afternoon, I was met with great news. A little boy who had undergone major heart surgery had been discharged after morning rounds and the family had headed home. I couldn’t help but reflect back on the difficult journey I witnessed the family endure in just a matter weeks and found great joy in the positive outcome. I had first met this family when they walked through the door the evening prior to their son’s surgery. The mom was exhausted; which was evident in her stance and eyes. The child's father was doing his best to provide whatever comfort he could to mom. Together they explained they were in search of somewhere to get a good night of rest before the rough day they had ahead of them. Sleeping bedside provided no relief due to the constant beeping of machines, nurses passing by on rounds and lack of a comfortable bed. While filling out the registration sheet, the mother struggled to focus on the information provided on the form. The dad stood patiently beside her, guiding her through each portion. I walked them to their overnight room and as I opened the door and turned on the lights, an instant look of relief washed over their faces as they took in the sight of the warmly decorated room with a queen sized bed and private bathroom. The dad exclaimed it was exactly what they needed, while mom expressed heartfelt thanks. The family faced many ups and downs following the surgery, but were able to find refuge in the house; staying many nights in the overnight room and using the hospitality area for meals and respite. There was an evident change in the child's mother, who soon went from looking tired and weary to rejuvenated and focused. Just last night, the father, with a huge smile on his face, came to inform me it would probably be their last night at the House, as they were expecting to be able to return home the next day. I later saw the parents with their older daughter out on the patio enjoying one last Cooks For Kids meal, talking, laughing and looking carefree. It was a complete 180 from the first night I had met the family. Stories like theirs are a great illustration of the journey a family can take, and how the comforts of home can aid them in facing challenges head-on. I feel honored I get to witness the spirit and resiliency of these families, and I will never grow tired of celebrating with them upon hearing that their child is being discharged.

A colorful week at the RMH - Oak Street

2011-08-17T07:46:00.000-07:00

What a colorful week at the RMH - Oak Street.

Color abounded at the Oak Street House last week.
One outing was to see the new Smurfs movie...it was very blue and smurfy!!

And we made 51 very colorful, very beautiful tee shirts. We love to see our kids get creative!

There are a few steps to creating these beauties:

First, you need to wrap up the boring, plain white tee shirt with rubber bands....

then the fun begins.... adding all sorts of fabulous colors!!

After adding all that color... the shirt soaks it all in overnight...

and then...... the shirts are unwrapped, rinsed and washed

and then we get to see how each one turned out....

unique and gorgeous - just like each person who created them.

Johnstech International Cooks for Kids!

2011-08-16T14:41:00.001-07:00

The volunteer meal groups through our Cooks for Kids program make our mission possible. Tonight's group at the RMH - Oak Street is Johnstech International, currently setting up a carnival-themed evening for families. They even brought a cotton candy machine!

Interested in getting involved with Cooks for Kids? Click HERE to learn more!

A crazy, wonderful week at the RMH - Oak St!

2011-07-19T08:52:00.000-07:00

WOW! Last week was so great... field trips (rock climbing and seeing some fun movies), go cart rides, a cook out, BINGO, a lemon-aid stand and 144 new beds donated by Tempur-Pedic!

So many wonderful folks from the community helped us...

The Aquatenniel Ambassadors helped with our lemon-aid stand.

A group of volunteers from St. Paul Heating, Plumbing and Air and students from the U of M helped unload the 3 semis full of mattresses, box springs and frames.

A group from C H Robinson came and helped put the new bed frames together.

The Anoka High School football team ran the stairs of the house while lifting the mattresses and box springs.

Our neighbors at the dental and medical fraternity helped out as the final beds were put into the rooms as the sun went down!

Many of our regular volunteers came in for extra shifts to help and staff members and their families pitched in too.

Last, our amazing families even pitched in - moving beds, putting the frames together, vacuuming and being flexible with the chaos.

Here are a couple of fun slide shows of all the excitement....
be sure to open the slide show to see the captions...

The kids rock climbing....
The Lemon-Aid stand...

Check out these happy, helpful faces... we couldn't have done it without all of you. To those folks who were too speedy to be caught by the camera, thank you!

A show of Paula and Anna in their pink shirts moving mattresses!! They worked hard... and notice Paula walking backward.

2 days of bed moving = crazy fun!

Wow, that was a great week. We all hope next week is this fun! Well, maybe we don't need beds next week!

New PSA Donated By FOX Sports North!

2011-07-06T10:17:00.000-07:00

Hey Minnesota Twins fans, keep an eye out for our brand new PSA thanks to the generosity of FOX Sports North! They worked with us to create a 15-second PSA that will play throughout the season on FSN.

Watch it here first and let us know what you think!

Summer Events to Benefit RMHC-UM

2011-06-09T10:18:00.000-07:00

Summer is a fun yet BUSY time for most of us, that's why we have a calendar of our 3rd party event fundraisers on our website. From motorcycle rides to Lemon-Aid stands, we have all the components of a great Minnesota summer. Click HERE to check out the calendar.

Hosting an event? Email Meredith at mstpierre@rmhc-um.org and we'll include your event on our calendar.

Thanks for supporting RMHC-UM by hosting and/or participating in a 3rd party fundraiser!

RMH Happenings At Oak St April 10-16

2011-04-20T11:22:00.001-07:00

Monday

Check out all of the neat-o siblings at the house! When grabbing a treat from the breakfast bar, make sure to find either the picture, or name listed of the current RMH siblings.

Tuesday

Wes was a busy boy outside on Tuesday,making the RMH courtyard an even more beautiful place to play. Stop by the Program Office if you want sidewalk chalk to play with!

Wednesday

Look who came to visit! Nordy, from the Minnesota Wild came to read to the school kids while they ate their lunch.
Thursday

It’s Thursday night, which means off to Target the families go! Every Monday and Thursday night the RMH van brings families to Target from 6:30pm - 8:00pm. Sign-up on the bulletin board.

Friday

The Target group came to make us a yummy dinner! The RMH is grateful for all the meal groups who come to make the families a meal.

Meet our staff- Each week one of the staff members is highlighted...

Meet Donna! She has been at RMH as a member of the development/advancement team for five years. One of her favorite things about her job is meeting new people, and telling them stories about how the RMH helps the families who stay here. Donna loves to take pictures! She frequently takes photos of special activities at the house and also groups who bring things to the house.

Donna lives in River Falls, WI with her husband Terry. She has two children – a daughter and son-in-law who live and work in Chicago, and a son who is in the Navy on an aircraft carrier on the other side of the world. She also has a 4 ½ year old grandson, Donovan. She enjoys playing with him every weekend! Donna is originally from East Tennessee. She met her husband, a native of MN, at the University of Minnesota. She considers MN her home, even though she lives across the border in WI. However, she definitely doesn’t sound Minnesotan when she pronounces the words yellow and orange!

Donna frequently gives tours of the House to donors, so if you see her wondering around the building, shout hello! Her office is across from the small staff kitchen. If you’d like to see early photos from when the house was first opened in 1979, stop in!

Around the house....

Say hello to Ireland! She and her dad like to swing on the wooden swing in the courtyard.

Things to look forward to....

Monday is special cooking night! Come to HOUSE TWO kitchen at 6:30pm and make cute bunny cupcakes.

Feeling a little stressed? At 6:00pm on WEDNESDAY night, there will be chair massages provided. Stop by the HOUSE FOUR fireplace, put your feet up, and relax.

Ronald McDonald House Happenings! A weekly newsletter about the Oak St House

2011-04-11T11:45:00.001-07:00

Recently we have begun to publish a newsletter about what has been happening at the House on Oak St. We put it together each week. The families staying here have enjoyed reading it, so we thought we would share it all of you! There has sure been a lot of activity during the past week.....

Monday

Monday Night was volunteer appreciation night!

We would like to thank all of the volunteers
who make our mission possible. THANK YOU!

Tuesday
Tuesday night was busy! Therapy dog Rupert stopped by,
the boys played Wii and creations were made during craft time.

Wednesday
The RMH just got the movie Tangled, so the kids had to check it out in the movie theater.
Thursday
With this nice Minnesota Spring weather we've been having, more and more people are signing up for the Target trips! The RMH provides a van to Target every Monday and Thursday from 6:30-8:00pm.
Friday
Look at this cool chair the kids made! It will be auctioned off for Breanna's Gift.. the program that provides dance and art at the house on Friday afternoons.

Meet our staff-
Each week one of the staff members is highlighted...
Meet Persis, the Director of Family Services at the RMH - Oak Street! Persis loves working at the RMH. She used to volunteer at the House in Philadelphia. When she and her husband Tod moved to Minneapolis, they planned to stay for two years while Tod Studied architecture. Persis started working at the RMH in Minneapolis as the house manager. Plans to move back to Boston changed and they love Minnesota!
Persis lives with Tod, her two daughters, two dogs and two cats! She loves to knit and create things.. except food. She loves to eat but not to cook. Persis also loves to take pictures. She thinks capturing people smiling, and doing things they enjoy is fun.
When Persis' daughters were little, her family went on canoe trips to the Boundary Waters in northern MN. One of her girls decided she hates bugs... they are hoping she changes her mind. If she doesn't Persis would love to go back with just Tod. She thinks it is the most beautiful place on earth.
Persis loves meeting all the kids and parents who stay at the RMH. You can find her in the back corner of the Program Office. Come by and say hi!

Jerry's friend of the week....

Jeremy loves Jerry. Each day Jeremy was in the hospital, he could not wait to get back to the house to visit Jerry. Jerry is glad you are back at the house Jeremy!

Around the House....
We have a celebrity in the house! Jocelyn is the little girl who is on the U of MN Amplatz shuttle that comes to the RMH every day. She tells everyone that it is HER bus. If you ever need a ride to the hospital, the shuttle stops at the doors by the program office every 20 minutes from 7:00 am to 2:00 pm. After 2:00 pm, it comes if you call the number by the phone located by the front doors of house one. Make sure to sneak a peek at Jocelyn!

News from the School....
Great news in the RMH school this week! Erika, an 8th grader, has been working very hard on her reading and English skills. This week she got 100% on her Wordly Wise test! Way to go Erika!
Things to look forward to......
Every Tuesday afternoon at 3:30 pm is cooking! Come to the HOUSE TWO kitchen to make yummy treats every week!

Be sure to check out the RMH DVD selection, located in the program office! It is always stocked wit the most recent movie releases, and our volunteers work very hard to keep it organized.

Our Volunteer Meal Program: Cooks for Kids!

2011-04-05T13:24:00.000-07:00

Here at the Ronald McDonald House inside the Hospital we are so excited it’s finally April…WHY? Because it’s the first month we have one of our incredible Cooks for Kids dinners EVERY night ALL month long! From spaghetti to tacos to soups and stews our families are thrilled to be enjoying delicious meals prepared by energetic and amazing volunteers! So far our groups have been playing music, decorating the tables, engaging with our families and truly enhancing their experiences. We can’t begin to express what it means to us and how much we are looking forward to many more dinners!

To learn more about Cooks for Kids - our most popular volunteer program, visit: www.rmhc-um.org and click "How You Can Help."

Sleepover!

2011-02-18T13:52:00.000-08:00

Fifteen incredibly beautiful overnight rooms opened at the Ronald McDonald House inside Children’s Hospitals and Clinics of Minnesota, Minneapolis on February 7th, 2011. The opening of the bedrooms rounded out the 8,500 square foot House which opened November 1st, 2010. The House Inside the Hospital (HIH) also includes two living rooms, a stocked pantry, kitchen, exercise area, computer lab and an outdoor patio just steps away from the inpatient units. As the 5th House inside the hospital in the country, we are honored to provide a respite from the hospital environment, a sense of community, a good night's sleep, home-cooked meals and hot showers to our 400+ registered families who average 130 visits a day. Days at the HIH consist of families playing board games, cooking meals, relaxing in front of the fireplace, running on the treadmill and visiting with their loved ones. In a word, it’s just like “home.”

Volunteers Close To Our Hearts!

2011-02-16T08:50:00.000-08:00

Nothing beats our volunteers, but a recent Cooks for Kids Group was especially close to my heart. 'UWL + the boys' is a group of friends mostly comprised of alumni from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse, which is also my alma mater! Five of the group's members are also weekly Housewarmer volunteers and almost all of the group has donated their time at other important RMHC-UM events like Fam Glam, the Golf Classic and Parents' Night In. Their 'build your own sub' picnic theme was a hit with all of the familes, especially their 'sand & dirt' dessert cups. This group shows so much heart and dedication; we can't thank them enough for their efforts.

Through the window - Snow

2011-01-13T08:30:00.001-08:00

Through my window today I see snowflakes falling, adding to the piles already here. To me, it looks like shoveling and long commutes, but to the family I just met from Texas, it is a once in a lifetime experience. Seeing them gazing happily out the windows made me stop and appreciate the snow, just for a moment. It's experiences like this that make me appreciate working right inside the RMH-Oak Street and to be part of an organization that provides a haven for families from across the country. I know it will still be a bit of a pain for me, but as I shovel tonight after work, I'll think about that family and the fun they saw out the window.

We Support Families

2011-01-04T10:08:00.000-08:00

Even though we reach thousands of families each year, we never take our focus off each one and their unique story.

Thank You Volunteers!

2010-12-08T08:35:00.000-08:00

Yesterday, a group of 11 volunteers from UHC came to the RMH- Oak Street to help us clean. Our mission wouldn't be possible without the dedication of groups like this. Thanks to all of our volunteer groups for their selfless efforts during this very busy holiday season!

Through the window - Former Family visits

2010-12-02T14:50:00.001-08:00

Again, through my window I see many things here at RMH-Oak Street, but one of my favorite things is when former families come back and I recognize them as they drive in to the parking lot. Today, a great family came by for a visit and a night of BINGO before a 6 month check-up. It's great to see their smiling faces and to catch up on what they've been up to since we last saw them. Visits like this really bring joy for me and the work we do here at RMHC-UM.
The family from today in particular is fun because they have made it their mission to collect hundreds of pounds of pop tabs to help raise funds for the charity. It all started with just a few pounds and a delivery after a few months away from the RMH. Six months ago they delivered over 500 pounds, and today another 290! Hauling pop tabs in 15 degree weather isn't my favorite part of the job, but catching up with them while we worked and hearing about the first semester of high school made it all worth it in the end.

Here's a photo from the summer drop off - if only it were still flip flow weather here in Minnesota!

The New House!

2010-10-29T13:26:00.000-07:00

It's been a long time coming, but the new House, inside Children's Hospital, Minneapolis is just a few days away from opening. There have been events all week to kick-off the opening -from a media tour on Monday, a Donor Reception on Wednesday and an all-staff and volunteer open house today. The opening of the new House is incredibly exciting because there is no geographic requirement -- we've expanded our service to local families! Thanks for sharing the excitement of the opening of a second RMH. The common areas of the new House open November 1st and overnight stays will begin in February. There are 16 bedrooms, so beginning February, we'll be serving 64 families, 365 days per year. Amazing!

(photos by Mike Krivit)

2010-09-09T11:32:00.000-07:00

Summer Fun at the Ronald McDonald House

Fall is in the air! The Minnesota State Fair has come and gone, the U of MN students have returned to campus and to volunteering here at the House :) and the Ronald McDonald House School started last week. But before we get too far into fall, picking apples and getting ready for Halloween... we wanted to highlight some of the fun summer moments we enjoyed at the House......
we played baseball...
we sold lemonade to raise money for the house...
we made fun clay creations....
we cranked fresh ice cream...
we celebrated Jerry's 4th birthday....
we went bowling....
we made yummy pizza....
we cheered on our turtle Flash at the Turtle Derby....
we made t-shirts for the 4th of July and tie dye too...
we paddled the lakes in Minneapolis....
we had fun at the water park....
we rode horses....
we went to Faith's Lodge for Sibling Camp....
we climbed high on the rock wall....
we performed selections from Annie as part of our drama camp....
we built rockets....
then we decorated them....
and then we launched them....
we were Queens for a Day....
we made blankets...
we made beautiful beaded bracelets and zipper pulls.....
and we celebrated the end of summer with our annual Luau...
We had so much fun together!!

Here is a slide show of some of our adventures. Be sure to click the white message box in the bottom left corner to see the captions.

Ronald McDonald Care Mobile® at the State Fair

2010-09-03T13:10:00.000-07:00

I love the State Fair and was thrilled to be in the parade with the Ronald McDonald Care Mobile this year. What a wonderful parade! The Ronald McDonald House Care Mobile was at the fair with representatives from the House both August 26th and September 2nd. The fans waved and cheered enthusiastically as we walked and drove by. The bands and various acts who are in the parade were really fun to see, too.

The Ronald McDonald Care Mobile provides mobile dental care for uninsured and under-insured children and youth in the 14-county metro area. In just a year since inception, over 1,000 children have received dental care. Many of the children had never been to the dentist before.

BMW of Minnetonka, the Valet Sponsor of our annual gala, Fam Glam, provided a BMW Convertible so the Williams, a current family who are staying at the House while their daughter is receiving treatment, could ride in the Fair parade. Molly, Luke and Jean had a great time waving to the crowd as they rode in the convertible. I have to admit - I loved driving the BMW, too! Thanks, BMW for your continuing support of RMHC-UM families.

Brew Love 2010

2010-08-27T11:18:00.001-07:00

Thanks to everyone who came out to support the Ronald McDonald Care Mobile® at our first annual Brew Love event on Thursday, August 19th.

A special thank you to: Lift Bridge Brewing Company, Surly Brewing Company, Mantorville Brewing Company, Bank Beer Company, Summit Brewing Company & Crispin Cider for donating products for sampling. We couldn't have done it without you!

Stay tuned for the 2011 date for Brew Love !

RMHC is soon-to-be 300 Houses Strong!

2010-08-19T09:03:00.001-07:00

RMHC is special for a lot of reasons, but one of the coolest things about us is we are a community that increases children's access to health care while keeping families together and strong. This sense of home and community are what RMHC is all about! The first House opened in 1974 and now the 300th is being built in St. Louis. (opens 9/29/10) We're so happy to do what we do here at our chapter, RMHC-UM. Thanks for your support!

http://rmhc.org/what-we-do/ronald-mcdonald-house/stories-1/300-times-we-ve-opened-a-house-that-love-built/

JUUT Salon, St. Paul gives back to our families!

2010-08-16T17:16:00.000-07:00

Maria Candiotti from JUUT Salon in St Paul was here yesterday to do family haircuts, and she did an amazing job!

Here's Ryla and Noa before their 'bob' hair cuts...

And after...

Thanks Maria for donating your time to our families!

4th Annual Bids for Kids!

2010-08-13T09:06:00.000-07:00

The 4th annual Bids for Kids is Wednesday, August 18th on myTalk 107.1. This all-day radio-a-thon is a tremendous opportunity to raise funds and awareness for RMHC-UM through interviews and vignettes featuring those who know best what RMHC-UM is all about... our families! Bids for Kids features a terrific online auction. Go take a look; it's for a great cause! http://mytalk1071.com/promotions/bidsforkids/

Sibling Camp at Faith's Lodge

2010-07-21T15:06:00.000-07:00

At the end of June, seven wonderful siblings, two staff and two volunteers piled into the Ronald McDonald House van and headed northeast to Faith's Lodge. We were off to enjoy Sibling Camp and enjoy we did!! What an awesome group of kids!! After we settled into our beautiful rooms at Faith's Lodge, Evie showed us around. We love Evie! She welcomes us so kindly and takes such good care of us. Then we were off and running.... over the next 3 days we were busy!!
We....

played mini golf

ate such yummy meals- including making our own pizza

enjoyed a bonfire

made yummy s'mores and licked our fingers
played on the new playground at Faith's Lodge

watched great movies and ate popcorn, rice krispie bars and brownies

made our own tie blankets- filled with a secret message to ourselves

played on the beach at Devil Lake
played in the water for a long time!!

wrote in our sibling camp journals about our adventures

stamped out special word beads celebrating our time together

received camp Beads of Courage marking a unique gift about each of us and our adventures at camp
soaked in the beauty of the north woods

reminded ourselves that we are so special and sometimes change is tough
relaxed a little

rolled down the hill

found a few ticks and some mosquitoes
missed our families for a couple of minutes

and had lots of fun together!!

Thank you Jeremiah, Brooke, Bailey, Lauren, Emily, Alyssa and Destiny! You are awesome kids and we all had such a fabulous time with you! You are kind, gentle, giving, fun and good friends! We are lucky to know you!

Volunteer Photographer Mike Krivit

2010-07-21T09:18:00.000-07:00

Twin Cities commercial photographer, Mike Krivit, has volunteered his time and talent to shoot much needed headshots of RMHC-UM staff. They will be displayed in the House, as well as on our website. Mike is tremendously talented and we are thrilled he is a friend of RMHC-UM.

Check out Mike's website!
http://www.krivit.com/index.php

Stained Glass window installed today

2010-06-29T13:18:00.000-07:00

Michael Pilla installed the first set of three stained glass windows at the House today. What an artist! What a gift to the families, staff and volunteers who see these beautiful windows on a daily basis. Michael's use of clear and white glass, stars and a band of blue representing the Mississippi River forms a dramatic, but calming focal point on the exterior wall of windows. As the light changes during the day, the various colors and shapes also change.

We are so fortunate to have Michael willing to give of his time and talent to make these windows a reality. Thanks also to Andersen Windows who donated the trim kits for installing the windows. Many donors accepted an invitation to make a donation, which was matched dollar for dollar, to fund this project. We look forward to the remaining windows Michael is going to create for the House. Drive by the Oak Street side of the House or stop by and ask to see the new windows.

Through the window - RMHC community events

2010-06-17T12:07:00.000-07:00

As part of my job here at RMHC-UM I assist volunteers and organizations with events and fundraisers they hold to benefit us. Last Thursday I attended one of these events. The MENSDEPT salon in Minneapolis held a grand opening party and opened an exhibit of photography featuring today's modern man photographed by David Raccuglia. All proceeds from the photos and party will go towards supporting families staying at the Ronald McDonald House of the Twin Cities.

The event was catered by Thyme to Entertain. They donated their services and brought their latest fun cooking technique - wood fired pizza out of the back of a vintage fire truck! Sebastian Joe's also donated ice cream to the event. It was a wonderful event and the photographs by David Raccuglia are amazing. Limited edition prints can be purchased through the MENSDEPT for the next two months.

Thank you to Mike Krivit for attending the event and photographing it on behalf of RMHC-UM!

CLASSIC!

2010-06-08T07:34:00.000-07:00

The 20th Annual Golf Classic was yesterday in Dellwood- my first ever Classic experience. I wasn't sure what to expect, but the day far surpassed my expectations. The level of dedication I saw from RMHC-UM staff was truly inspirational, but what really blew me away were the volunteers. So many hands worked together to construct this event. Meredith ran a near impeccable day, Chuck helped make it beautiful, Carynn stacked a formidable volunteer roster, and everyone else filled in wherever and however they could, and when their job was done, they looked around to see who else they could help. Well done all on a very successful Classic.

Why I love to work at RMHC - My Office Window

2010-06-03T17:25:00.001-07:00

I know it might seem like an odd reason to love a workplace - my love of my office window. Not only is it great that I actually have an office and not a cubicle, something very rare these days, but I also have windows in my office. They are even better than standard office windows because I can open and close them too, again rare in office settings.

But the real reason I love my office window is that it looks out at the RMH parking lot. Strange, again I know. But you'd be amazed how much activity goes on there and how much you can learn about the families staying here. I get to witness new families arriving and finding their way into our doors. I have watched families take trip after trip from their room with belongings and BINGO prizes as they prepare to return home. But what I like most, is seeing families interact. Earlier this year I watched with amusement as a dad struggled to put together a double stroller for his newborn twins while his toddler sat and giggled at him. It was nice to see him realize his actions were entertaining his daughter, even when he seemed so frustrated. He eventually got the stroller together and let her push it around the parking lot for a test drive. Just tonight my heart was warmed when I watched as a father arrived from home and was greeting by his son, running and jumping into his arms. I don't know how long this family has been apart from each other, but that hug showed me the love between their family. It is a wonderful thing we do here, provide a place for families to be together.

It is for this reason and many more that make it easy to love working at RMHC.

Pop Tab Inspiration!

2010-05-27T09:13:00.000-07:00

Adventures Plus in Andover, MN just dropped off these functional pop tab chairs. What a clever idea! They worked in conjunction with Rum River Elementary School and raised close to 50 lbs of pop tabs to benefit the families of RMHC-UM.

A big thank you to everyone that contributed to this project!

Ronald McDonald Care Mobile® in action!

2010-05-21T10:04:00.001-07:00

Our good friend, photographer Jim Bovin, came aboard the Ronald McDonald Care Mobile this week and took some amazing photos!

Good Samaritan University Specialty Center

2010-05-18T09:17:00.001-07:00

Today three of the six women from a weekly women's group at Good Samaritan University Specialty Center brought this beautiful hand-tied blanket the group made this winter. Elizabeth Giffin, the group leader, called and asked if the group could tour of the House and present the quilt. The quilt expressed the feelings and thoughts of these women, who can so identify with the emotions the parents and grandparents staying at the House feel. Some of the thoughts written on the quilt included: Invincible, Caring Hearts, To Hell with the Snow, We want to love and be loved, and a couple of drawings including a picture of gratitude.

At the House, the summer program for the children includes a volunteer project at Feed My Starving Children. The kids and parents love going there because it gives them a chance to "pay forward" the many things being done for them while staying at the House. It warmed our hearts to have Elizabeth's group bring this quilt that included so many months of hard work and love to the House today.

Stained Glass artist Michael Pilla designing windows for RMHC-UM

2010-05-13T09:30:00.000-07:00

I have been working with renowned stained glass artist Michael Pilla on the beautiful windows he has designed for common places here at the House. Donor Jim Hansen, a huge fan of Michael's work, is behind the project matching dollar for dollar each donation (up to $10,000) to cover the cost of the materials and creation of the windows for the House. I went to the studio this morning to see the first group of glass pieces Michael has cut and assembled and is now ready to glaze. Pictured are the panels in with the glass cut but not yet glazed. The process will take several months but we hope the first series of four windows in House 1 will be installed by mid-June.

Because of the dynamic nature of blogs and Facebook, I want to mention here - after 21 years in his studio in Saint Paul, Michael has learned he will need to relocate his studio by the end of the month. If you know of a studio or large area that has electricity and windows in western Wisconsin or eastern MN, please let us know. We want to help Michael find a new studio so he can continue his projects for the House (and others) without interruption.

Mother's Day Love

2010-05-11T16:09:00.000-07:00

One of my favorite things about working at the Ronald McDonald House is meeting so many wonderful people. It is such a privilege to meet and walk alongside these families during a part of their journey. As we walk with them through the ups and downs of their child’s medical experiences, while we mark the hard days, it is a joy to celebrate the special days. Mother’s Day is one of those special days to celebrate. It is our honor to recognize the extraordinary women mothering their children here at the House. In these women we witness such a powerful example of unconditional, sacrificial love. They inspire us with the depth of their love.

So, we celebrate this love in a big way, with lots of help from many folks. This year the children at the House made special gifts for their moms assisted by the Foresters. The children made beautiful boxes filled with special memories. They beaded heart pins and stamped colorful hand prints on a poem. Finally, they wrote love notes to their moms on a picture of themselves, telling one special characteristic of their mom that they love.

The Friday evening before Mother’s day, a group of beaders gathered at The Bead Monkey to make each mom a bracelet with each of their children's names and birth stones on it. The Bead Monkey has generously supported this gift for seven years! These very special bracelets are packaged up for each mom in a gorgeous package made by our friends at Stampin Up.

On Mother’s Day, a lovely brunch was served by the Tryon Connection- and each mom was acknowledged and celebrated. A Mother’s Day away from home, with a child who is critically ill away can be a tough one to get through. With the help of all these fabulous supporters of the families and the House, it is eased a bit and we share a little of the love these moms give their children.

The House that love built for sure…….. and keeps on building!

Lauren and Katy beading.....

Tina and Tanis beading.....

The beaders smile for the moms....

A completed beauty....

Isn't this a fabulous package of love.....

And finally the bracelets find the moms....

Wordless Wednesday

2010-04-28T10:28:00.000-07:00

Celebrating Earth Day

Thank You Volunteers!

2010-04-26T13:03:00.000-07:00

Today we are celebrating our wonderful volunteers at Ronald McDonald House Charities, Upper Midwest. Thank you to each and every one of them for all they do for RMHC-UM! We couldn't provide nearly as much for our families without their love and support. Last year we had over 2,600 volunteers! What an amazing number of individuals!

Thank you, Thank you, Thank you!

Exciting times for corporate sponsors: BMW and Forum Restaurant

2010-04-23T09:44:00.001-07:00

The Forum Restaurant and Bar officially opens today (Friday, April 23rd) in Minneapolis. Forum Chef Christian Ticarro donated his expertise and service to RMHC-UM by preparing two phenomenal gourmet meals in January for our Fam Glam Live Auction winners. Staff attended the preview party last night to see the new space and sample the new menu. We can attest the food is delicious, the remodeled restaurant is beautiful and fun. Christian gave us the tour, including the private dining rooms with all the AV hookups for business meetings and the kitchen table which will be perfect for a "dining in the kitchen experience".

In addition, I toured the new BMW Showroom in Minnetonka on Wednesday night. BMW served as the Valet Sponsor for Fam Glam last year. What a beautiful and exciting multi-level indoor showroom. If you stop by, mention RMHC-UM and take the time to check out the kids play area, mini movie theater and the BMW race car simulator.

Joan and Jerry!

2010-04-23T08:41:00.000-07:00

This morning Jerry came to the Board Room to get a treat from Joan (a beloved volunteer). Watching Jerry attempt to sit in Joan's lap is hilarious! Joan has big treats for Jerry and he loves to come over on the days she is here. Joan says "my boy Jerry has a unique telepathy as to my volunteer days and time! Grubby or groomed he is my daylight."

Vote for RMHC-UM's Care Moblie!

2010-04-21T15:05:00.000-07:00

Wow! We have 1266 votes for our Chapter's Care mobile! There are only 7 days left to vote, so please pass along the word to go to http://rmhc.org/ and click on the Minneapolis dot to help our Care mobile win a $5000 grant.

Great Volunteers!

2010-04-16T08:31:00.001-07:00

Today we had a great group from Normandale Community College here to help us clean our kitchens!!! A big thank you to all of our wonderful volunteers who help us.

spring egg hunt

2010-04-05T07:46:00.000-07:00

I had the opportunity to participate in the annual spring egg hunt over the weekend. I was blown away by the amount of work and heart Persis and crew put into the day. I'm continually amazed at the attention to detail and WOW factor that transpires in holidays and events big and small here at RMHC; I'm so proud to be on this team! I also had the opportunity to see new volunteer photographer Janelle Flom in action. She is a high school senior, but has an undeniable gift and I hope a growing affinity for the House.

Big Thanks to Hillel!

2010-03-25T11:27:00.000-07:00

Mike Kahn, Yer Her and all the other wonderful people over at Hillel (The Foundation for Jewish Campus Life) put together a pilot pop tab campaign at Sanford Hall and raised over 100 lbs of tabs in just over a month.

We are celebrating tonight with Ronald McDonald himself at the wrap up event!

Thanks Hillel!

Amazing donors!

2010-03-17T11:59:00.001-07:00

I had the honor to accept a check from representatives of the Golden Valley VFW yesterday morning. This wonderful and thoughtful group has donated money for us to purchase two new laptops for our House school! It was such a pleasure to give them a tour of the House and to show them the school they are helping to make special for our students. Moments like this morning remind me why I love working for Ronald McDonald House Charities.

Jerry (RMH Staff Dog)

2010-03-17T11:52:00.000-07:00

Very exciting day for Jerry! He had a session with Teri Ann Lapsey, animal communicator, also seen at Chuck and Don's locations. He was able to tell us that he is very happy....but would like to run more! We are working on setting up a jogging program with our volunteers and making some other minor adjustments.

Teri Ann Lapsey

Spring Break

2010-03-15T08:33:00.000-07:00

It's Spring Break here at the Ronald McDonald House of the Twin Cities. Kids throughout the entire House will participate in a variety of activities, even a field trip to go bowling. All of this as I remember spring breaks of past and wishing I could participate, not just watch the fun from my office. What's your favorite spring break memory?

Donna & Reed make gifts for RMHC-UM families

2010-03-12T14:14:00.000-08:00

Wednesday, I took this photo of a grandmother named Donna and her granddaughter, Reed, when they brought these wonderful gift bags for RMHC kids. They work together during the winter to create these gift bags for kids each year. The grandmother makes the polar fleece blankets and matching small pillows. Reed chooses the stuffed animal to go into each bag and then decorates each gift bag with stickers and pictures. As a fellow "Donna", I was thrilled to meet Donna, Reed and accept their gift bags for the families.

We're hip to it.

2010-03-05T14:56:00.000-08:00

How great that we have an open forum for life at RMHC-UM! Our roles are varied but our mission is unified. Each of us has a unique perspective to offer and I can't wait to learn from each other as we take this crazy blogging thing head on! Thanks for your participation. You're gonna like it.

Ronald McDonald House Charities - Upper Midwest

2010-03-05T09:55:00.000-08:00

An introduction of sorts: