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How I got to meet the great people at the Calgary Ronald McDonald House Southern Alberta
One word: Instagram. Early last year I downloaded an app for my iPhone called Instagram. Instagram is a social networking application much like Twitter except instead of 128 characters to socialize you take pictures. On Instagram met Larry Mathieson who is the Executive Director of Ronald McDonald House (RMH) Southern Alberta. I approached Larry because I wanted to donate my fine art prints to RMH. He got me in touch with a few people and then I finally met Kristen who is the Sponsorship and Donations Assistant Manager. One thing led to another and I go to see what RMH was all about thanks to Kristen who showed me around.
Fine art prints donated to the Ronald McDonald House Southern Alberta
On the left is a piece called Antelope Red from my trip down to Antelope Canyon in 2010 and on the right Kristen is holding Perseverance which was in Coyote Buttes also on the same trip that year. They were donated from my Jeff Cruz Fine Art Photography (JCFA) collection and hopefully they raise lots of money for the organization’s fundraising events. Thanks to Larry Mathieson, Kristen Staldeker and Marla Cohen for doing what they do.
Ronald McDonald House Southern Alberta signature events for 2012
Now I know…
I’ve driven past the Ronald McDonald house many times in the past not knowing exactly what goes on or how things worked. Thanks to seeing it first hand I can honestly say it has changed me. I saw so many things at this house that made me feel really good that a place like this exists for people. In order for the house to keep operating they rely heavily on donations and fundraising. Please give whatever you can. Visit this link to make a donation: http://www.canadahelps.org/CharityProfilePage.aspx?CharityID=s45130 or visit http://www.rmhsouthernalberta.org to find out how you can help.
Magic Room
Every home needs a little bit of magic. The Magic Room is where the best-kept-secret in the House comes alive in a child’s mind. This room is where a magical experience can create a lasting impression on a child’s life. A visit to The Magic Room is a very special memory during a time that may otherwise be stressful. This room is a way to escape the every day for a child, and begs us to ask the question…
When a child arrives at the House or reaches a special milestone, they are given a key to The Magic Room to escape the daily thoughts of hospitals, doctors, and treatments. Although we like to keep what’s inside The Magic Room a secret, we will say that each child leaves the room with a big smile and a brand new toy.
From RMH website: From http://www.rmhnorthernalberta.org/users/folder.asp?FolderID=7236
Asha the cute house pet
They say, a home isn’t a home unless it has a dog (Images courtesy of RMH)…
About the House (Copy from RHM)
Ronald McDonald House Southern Alberta offers a home-like atmosphere for parents and children who travel long distances to seek medical treatment in a local Calgary hospital. The House accommodates families from areas outside a 45 km radius from the Alberta Children’s Hospital including southern, and in some cases, northern Alberta, as well as British Columbia, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Northwest Territories and beyond. With 23 bedrooms, there are comfortable common living rooms, a well equipped kitchen, several laundry rooms and many play areas for the children and a back patio. The House is not only an affordable accommodation for families with sick children (families pay $12/per night) but also a safe, secure and comfortable environment for families to:
Programs
The House offers an Education Program and a Recreation Program that provide a sense of normalcy and psychological diversion from the weight of a child’s illness. Additionally, the Home for Dinner Program gives families some respite from the daily routine of cooking dinner and cleaning up; allowing them to spend more time with their child and each other. Funding Approximately 10% of the House’s annual operating costs come from Ronald McDonald House Charities, donations from McDonald’s Happy Meal Program and coin boxes. The remaining 90% is raised through fundraising activities and through the contribution of generous donations. At present, annual operating costs exceed $2.9 million. The House has over 20 full-time staff (whom also support the Red Deer and Edmonton House) and over 800 volunteer positions.
History
The first Ronald McDonald House in Calgary was constructed in 1985 in the community of Killarney – approximately six blocks from the previous Alberta Children’s Hospital. The House served its purpose well, averaging 80-100% capacity. However, with the construction of the new state-of-the-art Alberta Children’s Hospital in the northwest part of the city, the existing Ronald McDonald House was neither in close proximity to the new hospital, nor was it able to accommodate the expected increase in demand generated by the new facility. The new House was designed to appear cozy and comfortable for families with sick children. Among the additional amenities it offers, the House was also designed to keep children’s health top of mind, by ensuring only products that facilitate healthy living. The new House was built and the official grand re-opening took place on March 21, 2007
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