Home Away From Home

July 27, 2015

9:00 AM

Pulling up to the Ronald McDonald House in Columbus, I was immediately surprised that the “house” is actually a campus of five houses, a hotel-like building and fenced-in grounds with tons of play space. A statue of the friendly clown Ronald McDonald, with his bright red hair, sits on a bench outside the main door, welcoming all who enter.

This temporary home away from home is for families whose children are hospitalized and seriously ill. My daughter, Catie, and I were given a tour by CEO and Executive Director Dee Anders and board member/volunteer Anne Partridge, both Dublin residents.

It was amazing to see the creative rooms sponsored and decorated by the various Columbus sports teams, such as the exercise room by the Columbus Crew SC, the TV/game room by the Clippers, the billiards and playroom by the Blue Jackets and the crazy, fun hallways decorated with Buckeye murals and memorabilia. The Urban and Shelley Meyer Family Playroom was just completed, as was the Matta Meditation Room.

The NHL All-Star Legacy tree house is an amazing transformation of a stairwell, complete with a pretend Zamboni and slide to the penalty box. A beautiful rooftop garden offers a fabulous view of the compound and is available to host your next corporate meeting or cocktail party.

With 4,500 families staying at the Ronald McDonald House each year and only 27 people on staff, you can imagine how important volunteers are to this organization.

“As soon as I heard stories from families about how staying at the Ronald McDonald House relieved their stress and made them better caregivers, I knew I had to get involved,” explains Partridge. “It also gives the siblings of the sick child a place to get adjusted and have fun instead of waiting in a hospital all day.”

Parents can do laundry, take a hot shower, watch a movie and recharge so they are more relaxed and able to cope and help their children.

Dublin residents Bruce and Toni Burkholder can attest to the importance of the house in their lives. Bruce had donated his time as the attorney for the Ronald McDonald House for more than 15 years, but never expected to be a house guest until his son, Mark, suffered a serious head injury and was hospitalized.

“We used the house for six months,” says Toni. “Bruce or I would spend 24 hours with Mark and then switch. We’d look forward to dinners together at (the house). The people who donate (and) serve food there are unbelievable. It definitely helped us make it through the worst time in our lives.”

The Ronald McDonald House is conveniently located across from Nationwide Children’s Hospital, serves an average of 350 people daily and is the largest of its kind in the world.

“There is great cooperation between the hospital and the house,” says Mark Phelan, Dublin resident and Ronald McDonald House Charities board member. “Sometimes parents can plan their visits when children have chemotherapy treatments or other appointments, but sometimes kids are transported via MedFlight in the middle of the night, and families arrive in pajamas without so much as a toothbrush. That’s why we are staffed 24/7.”

The average stay is eight days, and guests come from all over Ohio, throughout the U.S. and even from other countries.

“We had an Italian family for over a year and an Australian family for two years. Because of those situations, we have refurbished homes in the neighborhood for long-term housing suitable for entire families,” explains Mark.

In 2014, construction was completed on the new campus, which now includes 137 guest rooms, five free-standing houses and 10 continuing care suites so recovering transplant patients can spend time with their families while still being near the hospital. McDonald’s, the largest corporate donor to Ronald McDonald’s House Charities, donated $1.5 million for this project.

Many local and national companies donate both time and money to the Columbus Ronald McDonald House. For example, Nationwide Insurance encourages volunteerism and celebrates achievements for accumulated hours at the annual all-associate meeting.

“I enjoy spending time at (the house) with my Nationwide team,” says Meredith Zetzer, Dublin resident. “We’ve worked on projects ranging from organizing the kitchen and library to making valances for the guest rooms.”

The RMHC Joe Mortellaro Golf classic is in its 29th year and is the longest running annual fundraiser for the house. Hosted by honorary co-chairs, coaches Thad Matta and Meyer, it’s also the largest charity golf outing in central Ohio. Four hundred participants play golf at one of four Dublin courses or Double Eagle Club before enjoying dinner together at Scioto Reserve Country Club.

The Red Shoe Society is a group of about 200 young professionals with great energy and enthusiasm. They regularly hold fundraisers for RMHC such as the annual Dig it for the House volleyball tournament on Aug. 29 at Flannagan’s on Caine Road, just off Sawmill Road. There will be 52 co-ed teams with three levels of competition so everyone can participate. The Red Shoe Society will also hold its first Red Shoe Run on Aug. 1 at Scioto Audubon Metro Park.

“These are great opportunities for local 20- to 40-year-olds to network, have fun and raise funds for (the house) at the same time,” says Dee.

On the other end of the spectrum, I chatted with the AT&T Pioneers, retired workers who cook and serve dinner at the house once a month. While the meatballs and sauce simmered in the new commercial kitchen, they talked about volunteering for the house for more than 32 years and how much they love helping and how the facility has grown.

So how can you help? There are lots of suggestions at www.rmhc-centralohio.org. Donate items to the RMHC garage sale on Aug. 14 and 15. Join Team RMHC and run/walk the Nationwide Children’s Hospital Columbus Marathon. Donate items from the wish list. Volunteer by making lunch or dinner. Bring your Scout Troop in and bake. Have a change drive, dress down or jeans day at your school or office. If you aren’t sure what to do, call and ask to take a tour of the Ronald McDonald House campus. See where you fit in and how you can help make a difference in someone’s life.

Colleen D’Angelo is a freelance writer who lives in Dublin with her husband, three children and several small animals. She enjoys playing tennis, walking the Dublin bike paths and traveling.