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A publication of Ronald McDonald House Charities®

of Central New York..

away from home

SAVE THE DATE!

13th Annual Many Hearts One Home Celebration

Saturday, November 15, 2014SRC Arena and Events CenterOnondaga Community CollegeSyracuse, NY

Fall

2014

Finding a Home at the CNY Ronald McDonald HouseAt 21 months, Chad Lown was diagnosed with acute promyelocytic leukemia (APML) by his pediatrician in Oneida, New York, and was referred to Upstate Golisano Chidren’s Hospital for treatment.

For weeks, Chad and his parents, Christopher Lown and Amanda Riel, traveled back and forth between Oneida and Syracuse, but as the frequency of Chad’s treatments and appointments increased, a social worker at the hospital introduced the family to the Central New York Ronald McDonald House.

Chad and his parents stayed with us for five weeks while Chad received regular chemotherapy treatments. The additional space in our new House meant Amanda’s parents were even able to stay with us to remain close to their grandson. Despite his rigorous treatments, Chad never seemed to lack any energy, and he quickly stole the hearts of everyone at the House. Chad was usually seen playing in the playroom, wearing his handsome smile and red race car slippers.

“The staff and volunteers at the CNY Ronald McDonald House were so compassionate and family-oriented,” said Amanda. “They helped keep a smile on my son’s face.”

We’re happy to report that Chad celebrated his last day of chemotherapy over the summer and was able to go back home with his parents to continue on his road to recovery.

1100 East Genesee Street, Syracuse, NY 13210 | cnyronaldmcdonaldhouse.org

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Ronald McDonald House Charities® of Central New York1100 East Genesee Street, Syracuse, NY 13210P: 315.476.1027 | F: 315.476.5022 | cnyronaldmcdonaldhouse.org

VISIT CNYRONALDMCDONALDHOUSE.ORG TO SIGN UP FOR OUR NEW E-NEWSLETTER

N o n - P ro f i tOrganizationUS Postage

Syracuse, NYPermit No. 999

paid

2014 Board of DirectorsLeola Rodgers PresidentAaron D. Hugo 1st Vice PresidentKathleen Kotz 2nd Vice PresidentKaren Ohliger TreasurerColleen M. Schmidt SecretaryJustin HummelDouglas K. LattnerYvonne Annese LoReMike MadiganSteven MaloneMaureen E. ManeyHon. Anthony J. ParisHenry PearlMark RenquinJonathan V. Riddell, MD., FRCSMatt SchiroBrian Sickora

Staff MembersBeth M. Trunfio Executive DirectorJennifer Saraceni Leitgeb Development DirectorLee Wilder House Program ManagerRose McGevna Business ManagerJessica Ockenden Fund Development AssociateKaren Hynes Administrative Office AssistantTammy Burgmeier Evening AssistantAnne Dashnaw Housekeeper

save the dateBaldwinsville Big ChillJanuary 2015 Baldwinsville, NY

7th Annual Bella Casa Celebrity Fashion ShowThursday, April 30, 2015Holiday InnLiverpool, NY

Kim’s Walk of HopeMay 2015Rockport, MA

Christmas in JulyJuly 2015Syracuse, NY

For more information about upcoming events, visit: cnyronaldmcdonaldhouse.org.

For ticket, advertising and sponsorship information on any of the above events, contact Jessica Ockenden at 315.476.1027 or jockenden@rmhcny.org.

Community VolunteersThank you to all of the local schools and groups who support the CNY Ronald McDonald House, including Bikers United of CNY, Eagle Wings Academy, Girl Scout Troop 10263, Red Creek Elementary, St. James Church Middle School and Willow Field Elementary.

Students at OCM BOCES held a competition to see who could collect the most pop tabs. At the end of the school year, the students turned in more than 174 pounds of pop tabs! The students also spent time baking and pulling weeds from our garden.

Many Hearts One Home CelebrationCelebrating a true community partner—CNY Central

Join us on Saturday, Nov. 15, for our 13th Annual Many Hearts One Home Celebration at the SRC Arena and Events Center on the Onondaga Community College campus. We will honor NBC3, CBS5, CW6 and CNYcentral.com for their dedication and commitment to our organization. The event will include silent and live auctions, hors d’oeuvres and food stations. Cocktail attire is suggested. For more information, visit cnyronaldmcdonaldhouse.org or email Jessica Ockenden at jockenden@rmhcny.org.

Ronald McDonald House Charities Youth Advisory BoardThe Youth Advisory Board’s mission is to create projects that educate people about the value of philanthropy and volunteerism in the community. The board plans and conducts fundraising events, community events and volunteer activities that raise awareness and funds for our House. Members are students from various school districts throughout the Syracuse area. For more information, call 315.476.1027. “They helped keep a smile on my son’s face.”

“The staff and volunteersat the CNY Ronald

McDonald House wereso compassionate and

family-oriented”

Dear Friends,

This year we celebrate the 40th anniversary of the Ronald McDonald House Charities system and the opening of the very first Ronald McDonald House in Philadelphia in 1974. While the CNY Ronald McDonald House is a few years younger, our House would not be the home that it is without the past, present and future supporters of Ronald McDonald House Charities.

To join in the celebration and to help us raise awareness, we are asking for you to Tell Us How You Wear Your Stripes on social media. Share your stories and photos incorporating our iconic RMHC red and white stripes. Encourage others to participate and be a visual symbol of support for all the families who have been touched by the Ronald McDonald House Charities and the CNY Ronald McDonald House.

Here’s how:

1. Take a photo showing us how you wear your stripes – the more creative the better!

2. Upload it to your Facebook and/or Instagram account.

3. Tag us on Facebook @Central New York Ronald McDonald House Charities and on Instagram @rmhc_cny.

4. Challenge your family, friends, co-workers and community members to join in on the fun.

5. Don’t forget to use

As always, we thank you for your ongoing support. It is because of supporters like you that events like “Artie’s Party” at the Syracuse Nationals, Christmas in July and our Golf Invitational exceeded our expectations. We were able to raise much-needed funds to help us support the day-to-day needs of our guest families, but our fundraising efforts are ongoing. We look forward to growing even stronger together in the years to come.

Your continued support helps us keep families exactly where they belong… Together.

letterfrom the director

Beth TrunfioExecutive Director

Thank YouThank you to all the individuals and groups who continue to dedicate their time and talents to raising money for “The House That Love Built.”

Binghamton Senators and Beth Dibble Organization: $160.00

Binghamton University, Hinman College – Theme Week: $70.00

Brenda Geiger – Glitter Gala: $2,386.96

Camillus Middle School – Student Council Fundraiser: $300.00

Cascade & Maverik Lacrosse – Employee Fundraiser: $223.00

Colonial Inn – Breakfast with Santa: $293.00

First Presbyterian Church – June Bake Sale: $200.00

Grace Engle – Lemonade Stand: $1,054.00

Grant Middle School – PTO Arts & Crafts Fair: $100.00

ITT Goulds Pumps – Employee Jeans Day: $138.00

Jerry & Cynthia Sharfstein – Kim’s Walk of Hope: $1,950.00

Liverpool High School Key Club – Cookie Dough Sale: $698.60

NBT Bank Small Business Banking Department – Monthly Jeans Day: $55.00

NYS Amateur Trapshooting Association – Ronald McDonald Trap Shooting Event: $4,500.00

Oneida City School District – March Jeans Day: $255.00

RIMS Upstate New York Chapter – 20th Annual Educational Fundraising Golf Outing: $140.00

Rome Memorial Hospital – Denim Day: $322.50

Sandra Spina – “Wings to Remember” Card Sets: $400.00

Syracuse University Shadows of Health Group – Spring Semester Fundraisers: $300.00

Syracuse University Department of Recreation Services – Quidditch Club Tournament: $320.00

Donations made from Feb. 1 through Sept. 1, 2014.

External fundraisers, both big and small, are a tremendous source of support for the CNY Ronald McDonald House every year, and they can be very easy to coordinate. Thinking of supporting the CNY Ronald McDonald House by holding a dress-down day at work, setting up a bake sale in your neighborhood with the kids or going on a bowling outing with your co-workers? Visit our website, fill out a host application form and we will help you get started.

Our House

Emma Neufang, a previous guest of the Ronald McDonald House of New York City, planned a project with Clay Community Church to benefit the guest families at the CNY Ronald McDonald House. With her project, Emma wanted to help our guests feel as welcome in our home as she did when she stayed at the New York City House. Emma’s two-part project involved donating gift bags and preparing a dinner for our guest families. Each gift bag included a canvas bag, a book, a stuffed animal and other assorted items.

Leave a Legacy For more than 30 years, Ronald McDonald House Charities of CNY has helped thousands of children and families in need. If you are passionate about our charitable work, please consider making a legacy pledge to our organization.

With just a little planning and a big heart, you can arrange a charitable plan that brings hope and help to sick children and their families in our region. Your donation can be made through a bequest, a life income gift, or a gift of retirement assets or life insurance policies. For more information about making a Planned Gift, please call 315.476.1027. or visit cnyronaldmcdonaldhouse.org/how-you-can-help.

Many thanks to all the individuals and groups who dedicate their time and talents to raising money for “The House That Love Built®.”

Special VisitsKelly and Lloyd Bedford, based in Fort Drum, stayed with us for nearly two months in 2013 when their daughter, MacKinley, was treated in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit at Crouse Hospital. After their stay, the family moved to the Syracuse area, and they never miss an opportunity to give back. The family recently collected wish list items to celebrate Christmas in July with us and surprised us with homemade cupcakes. Kelly’s parents, Colleen and Mike Ward, also visited and made a contribution in honor of granddaughter MacKinley.

Kishma Alexander first came to the House after traveling from the Dominican Republic to Syracuse in 2005 to undergo treatment to correct her eyesight. During her stay, Kishma had her first eye surgery at age 15. She returned two years later to have surgery on her other eye. Today Kishma’s eyesight is wonderful, and she recently graduated from the University of Buffalo with a degree in environmental science! She and her parents visited and shared the exciting news with us – congratulations, Kishma!

Sixth Annual Bella Casa Celebrity Fashion ShowWe would like to extend a heartfelt thank-you to everyone who helped make the 2014 Bella Casa Celebrity Fashion Show a success. A total of 550 people attended our special evening, and together we raised more than $67,000 for Ronald McDonald House Charities of CNY. At this year’s show, we were honored to have Pelensky Joassin, a former guest at the CNY Ronald McDonald House, share his story with the audience.

A special thank-you to our event sponsors: Carrier Corp., JAG Environmental LLC, Summit Cars, Welch Allyn, 93Q, CNY Central and Syracuse Woman Magazine. Additional thanks to: Wegmans, John Charles Cook, Jeff Watkins, Renee’s Salon, Rick Policastro Photography and Donna Adamo, who traveled from Atlanta to emcee the event. Corporate Connection

Over the summer, 12 GameStop District Managers from across the Northeast drove to Syracuse to volunteer at the House. Led by GameStop regional director Michael Thomaston, the team spent a day barbecuing, baking and enjoying time with our guest families.

Welch Allyn employees spent time at our House during the organization’s annual “Show of Hands Volunteer Event.” For the past three years, Sung Lee has been the team leader for our site. He and his team did another outstanding job this year, landscaping and cooking for our guests.

A group of Anaren employees spent the company’s annual Community Service Day baking and cooking for our guest families. We would also like to thank our friends at Cardinal Health, First National Bank, McDonald’s Philadelphia Region and Oviatt Hearing & Balance for supporting our organization!

Buy a BrickToday, you can become a permanent part of our home by purchasing a brick paver in honor or memory of a loved one. Personalized brick pavers will be placed in the outdoor patio at our House and are a great gift idea for birthdays, holidays and special occasions. Buy your brick now at cnyronaldmcdonaldhouse.org.

Christmas in JulyThank you to everyone who helped celebrate Christmas in July! More than 70 community groups, businesses and individuals participated and collected many items from our wish list, including food, household items and gift cards. Together we collected more than $10,500 worth of wish list items to help support our guest families.

A special thank-you to Lamar of Syracuse and our media sponsor, Time Warner Cable News, as well as our top collectors: Sauta Family & Friends, Thirty-One Gifts and FedEx Ground.

In our new, larger House we provide a private bedroom and bathroom for our families, warm, home-cooked meals, a fully stocked kitchen, free parking and all of the comforts of a typical home. To watch a video tour of our home and view our new photo gallery, visit cnyronaldmcdonaldhouse.org.

Gift Bags for Guest Families

Artie’s Party Raises Nearly $75,000Pinstripe and airbrush artists worked almost around the clock at “Artie’s Party” during the Syracuse Nationals to hand-paint original automotive artwork on items of all kinds, from vehicle panels to mailboxes. The one-of-a-kind items were then auctioned throughout the weekend. This year, the event raised nearly $75,000 to benefit our organization!

The volunteer pinstripers came from across the United States and from as far away as Italy and Japan to support Artie’s Party through their custom artwork. We would like to extend a very special thank-you to Artie Schilling and his volunteers for this amazing event and his commitment to our organization.

Remember Our Donation Boxes Whether you’re driving through or dining in, please remember our charitable-donation boxes at your local McDonald’s. Your spare change directly supports the children and families of Ronald McDonald House Charities. The boxes are one of the largest fundraisers each year for our local organization.