Fall/Winter 2017
St. Louis
HEARTBEAT
Meet Ruthie FIVE YEARS AGO, HER FAMILY CALLED RMHC “HOME” DURING HER THREE-MONTH STAY IN THE HOSPITAL
WHAT’S INSIDE Letter from the President Meet the Lewis Family; Family Testimonial Volunteer Spotlight; Volunteer Opportunities Ronald McDonald Family Room Program 2017 Special Events Recap Community Fundraisers Upcoming Caring Partners Program Events How to Help at the Holidays 2017 Home Away from Home Appeal Building Blocks Heartwarming Moments New Faces; Memorial & Tribute Bricks and Tree of Life 18 Meet the Hendrix Family 19-20 Memorials 21 Tributes; Red Shoe Society 22 Caring Hearts Legacy Circle 23-24 Family Dinner Program; A Heartfelt Thank You to Rothman Furniture Wish List; In Memory and Transplant 25 Recipients Heartbits 26 2 3-4 5 6 7-8 9 10 11-12 13-14 15 16 17
2017 BOARD OF DIRECTORS STEVE PELCH, CHAIRPERSON DEB VOGT, VICE CHAIRPERSON JEFF BARONE, TREASURER STEVE FAHRIG, SECRETARY KAREN BAER DAVE BRANDT DR. MARY MICHAELEEN CRADOCK GREG DIEKEMPER SHAWN DRYDEN CHRIS GIARLA GEORGE GIPSON, III LINCOLN GRAY ED HARMON BRIDGET HOY ANTHONY IRACE
ALICIA JETT DR. JOSEPH KAHN SIRUS KARIMI TAMI KELLER TAMMY LIVERS DEREK MARTIN JIM MOSBY DAVE SADLER KEITH SCHIELER COLLEEN SCHOENDIENST DAVE TORNETTO
RMHC ST. LOUIS STAFF
OUR MISSION: To provide a home-away-from-home for families of seriously ill children
DAN HARBAUGH, PRESIDENT CHERI WUERTZ, VICE PRESIDENT, FINANCE FRANK COGNATA, VICE PRESIDENT, DEVELOPMENT PAT NEWBY, DIRECTOR, ADMINISTRATION JUDY SCHULER, DIRECTOR, OPERATIONS ALISON KASPAR, DIRECTOR, HUMAN RESOURCES MICHELLE BURMANN, SENIOR MANAGER, FINANCE ABBY BANDELOW, EVENT MANAGER VERONICA BIVER, HOUSE MANAGER, PARK AVENUE JENIFER BRAUCKSIEKER, HOUSE MANAGER, WEST PINE COURTNEY FISCHER, MANAGER, FAMILY ROOM PROGRAM IAN LINDQUIST, HOUSE MANAGER, WEST COUNTY KATHY MCDERMOTT, DATA MANAGER KATIE NEPUTE, COMMUNICATIONS MANAGER JACLYN FRENCH, ANNUAL GIVING COORDINATOR BARB JARVIS, FINANCE COORDINATOR LAUREN ST. JOHN, COMMUNITY RELATIONS COORDINATOR CLARE BURKE, ASSISTANT HOUSE MANAGER, WEST PINE CRISTA DILLINGER, COMMUNICATIONS ASSISTANT STEPHANIE PATTON, FAMILY ROOM ASSISTANT MANAGER LIZZIE POE, ASSISTANT HOUSE MANAGER, PARK AVENUE LARRY PRY, DATA ASSISTANT BRITTANY RILEY, FAMILY ROOM ASSISTANT MANAGER KATIE SMITHSON, ASSISTANT HOUSE MANAGER, WEST COUNTY NICKI ISLAND, RECEPTIONIST, PARK AVENUE APRIL CUSAMANO, HOUSEKEEPER, WEST COUNTY VICKI RUCKMAN, HOUSEKEEPER, WEST PINE JOY TATE, HOUSEKEEPEER, WEST PINE
A Note from the PRESIDENT RMHC’s Hidden Gems We just completed our event season for 2017. From April through September, our Development and Marketing staff members spend a great deal of time working on our special events. In the world of fundraising, special events are known as a “necessary evil.” While they can be very taxing on our staff, our volunteers and our resources, our events are incredibly successful – and I know we can all agree that the funds they raise to help thousands of families each year make it all worthwhile. Between our main golf tournament in June, our Sporting Clays tournament in August and our Scramble for Charity golf tournament in September, we raised $1.4 million. This is an incredible amount, and we are only able to do it because of all the dedicated committee members involved. We are fortunate to have over 90 committee members for our golf tournament, 75 for our Sporting Clays event, and 65 more on the Scramble for Charity committee. To raise these types of funds in back-to-back events is unprecedented, but our dedicated committee members do it year in and year out, often without much recognition. From gathering auction items to securing sponsors to setting up for hours on event day, they do it all, and I couldn’t be more grateful to work alongside such a great group of individuals. In fact, when someone new joins one of these committees, their first exposure to the group usually elicits a reaction like, “What an awesome, fun group of people!” And it’s true. Our committees are filled with a lot of fun people who put forth an awful lot of hard work on behalf of RMHC and those we serve. They are our hidden gems. So to all the volunteers who helped make the 2017 event season our most successful to date – thank you! Your service to our organization is invaluable, and we couldn’t do it without you.
Always Grateful,
Dan Harbaugh RMHC St. Louis President
Michael, Jamie and Ruthie Lewis of Branson, Missouri
MEET THE LEWIS FAMILY The West Pine Ronald McDonald House kept Ruthie’s parents close at a time when it mattered most.
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n April 6, 2017, Jamie and Michael Lewis celebrated their daughter Ruthie’s 5th birthday. The celebration included friends, family, cake and something extra special – donations for the Ronald McDonald House. In 2012, Jamie and Michael traveled from their home in Branson, Missouri, to Barnes-Jewish
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Hospital in St. Louis. At just 23 weeks pregnant, Jamie was experiencing complications that could potentially result in life-threatening medical issues for baby Ruthie. For the next several weeks, doctors closely monitored Jamie’s condition as they anxiously awaited Ruthie’s arrival. On April 6, 2012, Bonnie
Ruth “Ruthie” Lewis was born, weighing just over two pounds. Immediately, Ruthie was admitted to the neonatal intensive care unit (NICU), where she would spend the next 12 weeks. During this time, the Lewis family called the West Pine Ronald McDonald House “home,” allowing them to focus on what mattered most – providing their baby with the love and support she needed to heal. “The doctors told us that the most important thing we could do for Ruthie is to hold her and have skin-to-skin contact,” says Ruthie’s dad, Michael. “Without the Ronald McDonald House providing us with a place to stay, we wouldn’t have been able to do that for her.” In addition to finding all of the comforts of home, just minutes away from their child, Jamie and Michael also found a supportive community while staying at the Ronald McDonald House. Being able to discuss with other families treatment options and the emotions that come along with having a sick child helped Jamie and Michael focus on Ruthie’s healing, as well as their own. “The Ronald McDonald House gave us a community to lean on,” says Michael. “We always found huge blessings at the perfect time there.” After overcoming many obstacles early in life, Ruthie is now a happy, healthy 5-year-old. This year, as the Lewis family celebrated Ruthie’s birthday and how far she has come, they couldn’t help but think about the place that provided them with comfort and care during such a difficult time in their lives. Instead of gifts, family and friends celebrated Ruthie by making donations to the Ronald McDonald House, a tradition that the Lewis family plans to continue. Jamie and Michael even brought Ruthie to the West Pine House to drop off the donations and see the place her parents called “home” when she was a baby. “I don’t think I can ever put into words what the Ronald McDonald House means to us,” says Michael. “We are happy to be able to give back to a place that helped our family so much.”■
FAMILY TESTIMONIAL The following email was sent to RMHC St. Louis President, Dan Harbaugh, on June 5, 2017. “Good Evening, Mr. Harbaugh. My name is Tim Hendrix and I’m writing you from the Branson, Missouri area. My family has stayed at the various St. Louis Ronald McDonald homes over the past decade. Our son Cooper was born at [St. Louis] Children’s Hospital with some health issues. He received his mom’s kidney four years ago and has had some other hurdles over these past 10 years. The times we have stayed at your facilities have been a blessing like you cannot imagine. This past week Cooper had another surgery and we stayed at your Park Ave. location. What a great facility and every employee we encountered was awesome. I can’t thank the various employees and volunteers enough for all they do. It may not seem like much and I can only imagine how seeing a parent (AKA a zombie) dragging themselves into the house in the morning after an all nighter at the hospital may seem odd, but their cheerfulness and friendliness helps people hold on to normalcy. Even through the fog that a lack of sleep and high stress brings, those simple greetings and support help people hold on to sanity. You have such an incredible group of people and an incredible organization; I wish I could do more to help you. Medical bills are a constant in our home, but I tell anyone and everyone I can about how you’ve helped us in hopes they can support you in a way I am unable. If you would please let as many people in your organization know that they are appreciated.I suspect they may wonder sometimes dealing with people at their worst, but when the storm is over and people look back at the experience they have with your group, it can only be with grateful hearts. Sincerely, Tim Hendrix.” To read the Hendrix family’s story in full, turn to page 19 of this newsletter. Heartbeat • Fall/Winter 2017
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VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT: MARK GERINGER Mark Geringer makes the Ronald McDonald House feel like “home.”
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or nearly 20 years, Mark Geringer has dedicated his time and talents to the families at the Ronald McDonald House. Mark first became involved with RMHC St. Louis when he started cooking monthly dinners with the Kirkwood Kiwanis Club at the West Pine and Park Avenue Ronald McDonald Houses. Througout the years, Mark has become more involved with the organization, taking on a variety of volunteer roles. Each week, Mark volunteers his time at the Park Avenue House. Whether it’s cleaning, restocking the kitchen with snacks and soda or making sure an incoming familiy feels welcome, Mark is always willing to go above and beyond to make the House a comfortable place for families.
Additionally, Mark has incorporated his background in horticulture and landscaping into his role at the House. Mark always ensures that the outside of the Park Avenue House is bright and welcoming with a variety of flowers and plants. In addition to watering and maintaing the plants each week, Mark also helps oversee service groups who volunteer to help with outdoor projects, such as planting or landscaping. At RMHC, we couldn’t be more grateful for the time Mark commits to the House and the talents that he brings with him. Because of his efforts, our House truly feels like a home-away-from-home for guest families. Thank you so much, Mark! ■
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES Our volunteers make a difference in the lives of families with seriously ill children by donating their time and talent. Monthly information sessions are held for those interested in learning more about volunteer opportunities. Current opportunities are listed below. For more information, please visit us online at www.rmhcstl.com/volunteer.
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RONALD MCDONALD FAMILY ROOM VOLUNTEERS:
PARK AVENUE & WEST PINE RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE VOLUNTEERS:
Volunteers are needed for a variety of shifts at our St. Louis Children’s Hospital and SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital Ronald McDonald Family Rooms.
Volunteers are needed for a variety of shifts throughout the week at our Park Avenue and West Pine Ronald McDonald Houses.
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Family Room volunteer Helen Schleipman celebrates 10 years of volunteering in the Family Room at St. Louis Children’s Hospital.
Volunteers and families enjoyed a 10th Anniversary celebration open house inside the Family Room earlier this year.
CELEBRATING 10 YEARS The Ronald McDonald Family Room at St. Louis Children’s Hospital celebrates 10 years of providing comfort and care.
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his year, the Ronald McDonald Family Room at St. Louis Children’s Hospital celebrated its 10th Anniversary! For ten years, this special room has provided families with comfort and care just steps away from their child’s hospital room. At RMHC St. Louis, we know that none of this would be possible without the hard work and dedication of our Family Room volunteers. Like many of our volunteers, Helen Schleipman has been there since the very beginning. Since its opening 10 years ago, Helen has been volunteering each week at the Family Room at St. Louis Children’s Hospital. Whether it’s making coffee, restocking snacks, helping a family with their laundry or simply listening, Helen is always willing to do whatever it takes to
make families feel at home. “I just want to help in whatever way I can,” says Helen. “However, listening to families’ stories has always been my favorite part of being in the room.” As we celebrate the 10th Anniversary of the Family Room at St. Louis Children’s Hospital, we couldn’t be more grateful for all of the volunteers, like Helen, who dedicate their time and talent to the RMHC St. Louis mission. Because of the generosity of our volunteers, families are able to find comfort, care and home-away-from-home at a time when it matters most. RMHC St. Louis is excited to give the exisiting Family Room at St. Louis Children’s Hospital a makeover in 2018, making it an even more comfortable place for families and volunteers alike. ■ Heartbeat • Fall/Winter 2017
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2017 SPECIAL EVENTS RECAP 13TH ANNUAL TAB TOP PANDEMONIUM SATURDAY, MAY 6, 2017 LOCATION: Ronald McDonald House, 3450 Park Ave. St. Louis, MO 63104 On Saturday, May 6 supporters gathered at the Park Ave. Ronald McDonald House to turn in their collections of aluminum tabs and keys, competing for the largest collections and most creative containers. Everyone enjoyed a day of fun including lunch, games, crazy balloon animals and prizes! Special thanks to our sponsor, Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield, and dozens of volunteers from Bunge. Save the date for next year’s Tab Top Pandemonium event taking place on Saturday, May 5. St. Louis
32ND ANNUAL CUSHMAN & WAKEFIELD/RMH GOLF TOURNAMENT & DINNER AUCTION ■ JUNE 4 & 5, 2017 LOCATION: Meadowbrook Country Club The 32nd Annual Golf Tournament & Dinner Auction was once again hosted at Meadowbrook Country Club. On Sunday, guests enjoyed an evening of delicious food, live/silent auctions and a special Christian Louboutin shoe raffle. On Monday, over 200 golfers participated in the tournament, enjoying food and drink all day long, while competing for the 1st place title. A record-breaking $842,000 was raised for The House that Love Built! We would like to extend our sincerest gratitude to every committee member, sponsor and volunteer that made this event a success.
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THANKS FOR A SUCCESSFUL YEAR! 17TH ANNUAL KIDS & CLAYS TOURNAMENT AND DINNER AUCTION ■ AUGUST 6 & 7, 2017 LOCATION: Auction - Missouri Athletic Club Downtown; Tournament - Black Hawk Valley Hunt Club On August 6 and BENEFITING RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE CHARITIES 7, the 17th Annual Kids & Clays event, presented by Moneta Group, was held at the Missouri Athletic Club – Downtown and Black Hawk Valley Hunt Club. On Sunday evening, guests enjoyed dinner, raffles and silent/live auctions. On the following day, 200 participants headed out to the Black Hawk Valley Hunt Club for a 84-target sporting clays tournament, enjoying side game competitions and a barbecue lunch courtesy of Syberg’s.
24TH ANNUAL SCRAMBLE FOR CHARITY GOLF TOURNAMENT FRIDAY, SEPTEMBER 22, 2017 LOCATION: The Country Club at The Legends This fall marked the 24th Annual Scramble for Charity Golf Tournament, presented by McDonald’s, and was hosted once again by The Country Club at The Legends. The event was a complete success with a sellout of teams and a new revenue record of over $153,000! Special thanks to the Ladies of McDonald’s for providing an array of delicious foods and drinks for the golfers, as well as raffle items, all to benefit RMHC.
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COMMUNITY FUNDRAISERS Thank you to all of the individuals, organizations and corporations that hosted fundraisers on behalf of RMHC St. Louis. We appreciate your generosity! th 1 7 Annual LoneRiders Raffle Run
The LoneRiders Motorcycle Group hosted their annual Raffle Run, benefitting RMHC St. Louis! Now in its 7th year, this motorcycle ride began and ended at Shamrocks Pub n Grill in St. Peters and featured food, drinks, raffles and prizes. The event raised more than $7,000 for RMHC St. Louis! Thank you for your generosity!
2 McDonald’s Inspiration Celebration Gospel Tour
The McDonald’s Inspiration Celebration Gospel tour took place at Friendly Temple Missionary Baptist Church, with more than 2,500 attendees and featured some of today’s top gospel artists. This special event raised more than $9,000 for RMHC St. Louis! Thank you to all of those who attended for choosing to support RMHC St. Louis! 9
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30th Annual IUOE Local 148 Reel 3 Help for Kids Charity Bass Fishing Tournament
The 30th Annual IUOE Local 148 Reel Help for Kids Charity Bass Fishing Tournament, benefiting RMHC St. Louis, took place on September 9, 2017 at the Lake of the Ozarks Public Beach Area #2 Marina. Fishermen enjoyed competing for cash prizes and complimentary dinner and beverages. The event raised $40,000 for RMHC St. Louis! Thank you for your incredible support! For more information about our Caring Partners Program and how you can get involved, visit www.rmhcstl.com/thirdpartyfundraisers. To see a complete list of community fundraisers, visit www. rmhcstl.com/aroundtown.
UPCOMING EVENTS Mark you calendar and join us for one of these upcoming community fundraisers!
JOIN OUR TEAM AND GO! FOR A CAUSE
$1, $3 OR $5 FOR RMHC
Help RMHC St. Louis keep families close by participating in the McDonald’s National Fundraiser for RMHC, taking place in local McDonald’s restaurants November 7 - 19, 2017. RMHC St. Louis is excited to partner with GO! St. Louis for the 2018 Marathon and Family Fitness Weekend on April 7 -8, 2018, through the GO! for a Cause charity initiative. With races for all ages and fitness abilities, this event attracts over 25,000 people each year. Runners and walkers are encouraged to join Team RMHC - St. Louis for the 5K, Half Marathon, Marathon or Marathon Relay. All Team RMHC members will receive free race registration, a Team RMHC giveaway, online fundraising page, access to a training newsletter and much more! For more information or to join our team, visit www.rmhcstl.com/teamrmhcstl. Can’t make the GO! Marathon and Family Fitness Weekend? You can fundraise for RMHC for any race you participate in throughout the year. Please contact Lauren St. John at lstjohn@rmhcstl.com for more information.
Customers who visit their local McDonald’s and donate $1, $3 or $5 to support RMHC St. Louis will receive a coupon for a free order of fries or a hashbrown on their next visit!
RMHC NIGHT AT KENDRA SCOTT Stop by the Kendra Scott store in Plaza Frotenac mall on Friday, December 15 from 5 - 8 p.m. and 20% of sales will go back to RMHC St. Louis! Whether you’re finishing your holiday shopping or adding a gorgeous piece of jewelry to your personal collection, you’ll be helping RMHC St. Louis keep families close when it matters most.
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HOW TO HELP AT The McGift Shoppe Our annual McGift Shoppe, which will open in early December, provides a place for our families to shop cost-free for loved ones, easing the pain of being away from home for the holidays. The McGift Shoppe is operated by our volunteers and depends on donations, which can be dropped off at any of our three Houses beginning mid-November. Because of the immune suppression of some of our children, all items must be new. To donate an item or for more information, please contact Jenifer Braucksieker at jbraucksieker@rmhcstl.com.
HOLIDAY WISH LIST INFANTS & TODDLERS
Push, pull and musical toys Fischer Price and Playskool toys
CHILDREN & TEENS
Action figures and accessories Popular, trendy kids’ gifts Lego sets Bath and body gift sets Makeup kits Costume jewelry and fashion watches DVDs: recent hits or new releases Gift cards: iTunes, Amazon, Apple, Best Buy, Target or Wal-Mart Nonviolent video games
ADULTS
Perfume and aftershave sets Costume jewelry and fashion watches Bath and body gift sets Small coolers (collapsible type) Luggage (lightweight and easy to store) Small crossbody purses
FAMILY
Gift certificates to Target or Wal-Mart Gift cards for gasoline or groceries
NO TIME TO SHOP? OUR FAMILIES LOVE GIFT CARDS!
Cookbooks for a Cause Southern Living’s Christmas Cookbook, available exclusively at Dillard’s, is just $10! Best of all, its proceeds from St. Louis-area Dillard’s stores benefit RMHC St. Louis. This beautiful, fullcolor cookbook includes hundreds of delicious recipes and ideas for stylish place settings, fresh centerpieces and other seasonal table decorations. For more information, visit www.rmhcstl.com/holidays or contact your local Dillard’s store. 11
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THE HOLIDAYS Holiday Cards & Holiday Card Inserts Let family, friends, coworkers and clients know you’re thinking of them this holiday season by making a donation to RMHC St. Louis in their name(s). Holiday tribute cards feature a snowflake heart image, read “Happy Holidays” and are signed and mailed by RMHC to a list provided by you. Prefer to send your own cards? Our holiday card inserts are flat note cards that acknowledge your gift and can be placed inside your own holiday cards. A donation of at least $5 per card or insert is suggested. “Happy Holidays,” “Merry Christmas,” and “Happy Hanukkah” inserts are available, and all inserts feature a snowflake heart image. Traditional holiday cards, which read “Season’s Greetings” on the front and “Wishing you a bright and joyous holiday season and happiness in the coming year” inside, are also available for purchase and are $12 for 10 cards. For more information, visit www.rmhcstl.com/holidays or contact Jaclyn French at 314-932-4146 or jfrench@rmhcstl.com.
Above, left: Traditional holiday cards feature a snowman design and can be purchased in packs of 10 for $12; Above, right: Holiday tribute cards are signed and mailed by RMHC to a list provided by you, while holiday tribute card inserts are flat notes that can be placed inside your own holiday cards. Both of these options let your recipients know that you have made a gift to RMHC St. Louis in their honor this holiday season.
Don’t Forget to Shop with AmazonSmile Do you shop online at Amazon.com? If so, you could help support Ronald McDonald House Charities of St. Louis at no cost to you, all with the click of a button. AmazonSmile is a simple and automatic way for you to support RMHC St. Louis every time you shop. When you shop through www.smile.amazon.com, you’ll find the exact same prices and vast selection as on Amazon.com, with the added bonus that Amazon will donate a portion of the purchase price to RMHC St. Louis!
In fact, our organization receives hundreds of dollars from AmazonSmile, thanks to customers who shopped in support of RMHC. Simply go to www.smile.amazon.com, log in using your Amazon account, and select Ronald McDonald House Charities of Metro St. Louis as your charity. Then start shopping! After you have selected our organization, Amazon will prompt you to use AmazonSmile for future purchases, and you can even bookmark the link.
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Photo by Fresh Light STL freshlightstl.com
never more than
A FEW STEPS AWAY Last November, Dawn and Mark Lynn welcomed their fifth child, Luke, into the world. Born nearly nine weeks early by emergency C-section, Luke weighed just 2 pounds, 14 ounces. Within minutes of being born, he was already being treated in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at Mercy Children’s Hospital. Although they live in Chesterfield, just a short drive from the hospital, the Lynns wanted to spend as much time with their newborn son as possible. Thankfully, the Ronald McDonald Family Room provided the essentials when running home was not feasible. It also served
Dawn Lynn and her son, Luke
as a space where their older children – Joe, Matthew, Brooke and Jacob – could relax, play games and grab a snack while their parents took shifts visiting Luke. “We were scared and uncertain when we would bring our baby home,” says Dawn, “but it felt so good to have a place of peace and relief.” Six weeks passed before the day arrived when they could bring Luke home. Now, a year later, this lovable little brother is happy, healthy and thriving.
“We were scared and uncertain when we would bring our baby home, but it felt so good to have a place of peace and relief.” — DAWN LYNN
HOME AWAY FROM HOME 2017 Appeal
THE HOME AWAY FROM HOME APPEAL,
now in its sixth year, is an annual giving program that provides the financial foundation for the yearly operation of our three Ronald McDonald Houses and Ronald McDonald Family Rooms. The actual cost of a family’s one-night stay at the Ronald McDonald House is $85; however, we ask families to contribute just a small fraction of that amount. Due to mounting medical bills and other uninsured living expenses, nearly half cannot afford even this small contribution - but no family is ever turned away if they are unable to pay. That’s why we need your help now more than ever! To make a contribution to the 2017 Home Away from Home Appeal, please use the donation envelope attached to this newsletter. Or to make a gift online, visit www.rmhcstl.com/donate. All 2017 Annual Giving donors will be listed in the Spring/ Summer 2018 Heartbeat newsletter. Because you open your hearts, we are able to open our doors to 14,000+ families every year. Thank you for your support.
In order to meet our financial needs and recognize our most generous donors, we have established the Cornerstone Society. Those who make a donation of $1,000 or more to RMHC St. Louis in 2017 will become members of the Cornerstone Society. Last year, 473 Cornerstone Society members donated $1.6 million! We celebrated their generosity and support with an appreciation event at Palladium St. Louis in February, and we plan to do so again next year to honor our newest Cornerstone Society members. All 2017 Cornerstone Society members will be listed in the Spring/Summer 2018 Heartbeat newsletter. For more information about the Cornerstone Society, please contact Frank Cognata, Vice President, Development, at 314-932-4148 or fcognata@rmhcstl.com.
Building Blocks BUILDING THE FOUNDATION FOR OUR SUCCESS Our Building Blocks are those who sponsor RMHC special events with gifts of $1,000 or more, or host third-party events that raise $1,000. By underwriting and hosting these fundraisers, Building Blocks help fund our core programs while reducing expenses. This helps ensure that our individual donors’ contributions directly provide comfort, care and a home-away-from-home for seriously ill children and their families. The list below features RMHC’s Building Blocks from January 2017 through October 2017. 105.7 The Point 23rd Group, LLC 38th Street Financial Above All Development/ Home2 Suites Forest Park Aetna Algonquin Golf Club Fundraiser AME Constructors American Family Insurance Anheuser-Busch Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield Arbon Equipment Company ARCO National Construction Company, Inc. Argent Capital Management, LLC Arrow Box Company AssuredPartners of Missouri Avala Marketing Bank of America BJC Healthcare Blues for Kids Foundation Boardwalk Lending LLC Branded Group Brown Smith Wallace, LLC Buildrite Construction Burns & McDonnell Engineering Co., Inc. The Butler Family Foundation Carrollton Bank Cass Commercial Bank Citi Clayton Financial Group CMG, Inc. Coca-Cola Bottling Co. Coldwell Banker Gundaker Comfort Experts, Inc. Contegra Construction Company, LLC Core States Group
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CSG West CSI Leasing Cushman & Wakefield Deeken Properties, LLC Didion-Orf Recycling, Inc. Dillard’s Dr. Pepper Snapple Group IL ej4, LLC First Community Credit Union Fletcher and Friends Forest Hills Country Club Full Care, Inc. Gamlin Whiskey House Gardens of Grace Gateway Truck & Refrigeration Gateway Warehouse & Transportation German May PC George and Bonnie Gipson GO! St. Louis Golden State Foods - St. Louis Gori, Julian & Associates Guarantee Electrical Co. Haberberger, Inc. HBM Holdings Hemphill Financial Group, Inc. House of Denmark Husch Blackwell LLP icon Mechanical ISC Contracting IUOE Local 148 J.F. Electric, Inc. Johnny Londoff Chevrolet Kadean Construction Company Karpel Solutions Mike and Debbie Klak/ Klak Management Lion Petroleum Lodging Hospitality Management
LoneRiders McCarthy Holdings Inc. McDonald’s Co-op of Metro St. Louis, Inc. McDonald’s USA LLC - Heartland Region Mercy Kids Midwest Equipment Company Midwest Valve & Controls, Inc. Missouri Lottery Moneta Group, LLC Northwestern Mutual Packaging Concepts, Inc. Parkside Financial Bank & Trust Plaza Motors Prairie Farms Dairy, Inc. Premium Retail Services, Inc. Quincy Public School District 172 Relocation Real Estate Services, Inc. Rent-N-Roll Lee and Clare Renz Rob Hamann Agency, Inc. RSM US, LLP RubinBrown LLP The Steward Family Foundation TCG Services, LLC TJ Wies Contracting Table Sixteen Productions Teamster Horsemen Motorcycle Association Chapter 13 The Ritz-Carlton Triad Bank Trophy Properties and Auction Vee-Jay Cement Contracting Company Vivian of St. Louis, Inc. Waste Connections Willert Home Products World Wide Technology Inc. Zeller Technologies
HEARTWARMING MOMENTS RMHC St. Louis was thrilled to share these special moments with families staying in our Ronald McDonald Houses! For more than five years, Murelle Plotner and her family have been traveling to St. Louis for her medical treatments. This year, she surpassed two major milestones while at the Ronald McDonald House: receiving a lung transplant and celebrating her 18th birthday! Way to go, Murelle!
St. Louis Blues player Colton Parayko stopped by the West Pine Ronald McDonald House recently for a visit! Families enjoyed meeting Colton, taking pictures and getting their favorite Blues gear autographed! Thank you, Colton!
Luita traveled from her home in Ecuador to St. Louis for medical treatment. This October at our West County House, with help from her caretaker, Kasey, she carved her very first pumpkin!
While triplets, Xander, Taytum and Arabella were hospitalized earlier this year, their parents called the Park Avenue Ronald McDonald House “home.” When all three siblings were finally discharged, the Harris family couldn’t head home without stopping by the House to celebrate first! Frankie is always putting smiles on faces at the RMH! She was especially happy to spend time with her friend, Eric, while he was staying at the West County House earlier this year!
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NEW FACES Meet the newest staff members of RMHC St. Louis! STEPHANIE PATTON
is thrilled to return to the RMHC team as the Assistant Family Room Manager after falling in love with the organization as an intern. Stephanie graduated from the University of Missouri, where she majored in Health Sciences and minored in Human Development and Family Studies. In Stephanie’s free time, she enjoys spending time with family and attending local theatre productions.
KATIE SMITHSON is
honored to be the new Assistant House Manager at the West County House. She holds a degree in Communications from the University of Missouri - St. Louis. She developed a passion for RMHC at a young age when her family utilized the House in Boston while her little brother, Shane, was being treated for a brain tumor. He is now the House Parent at the Park Avenue RMH. Katie is excited to make a difference for other families going through similar situations.
MEMORIAL & TRIBUTE BRICKS The following bricks were installed from March 2017 to September 2017 in memory or honor of someone special. In Loving Memory of Simon Jacob Paul In Loving Memory of Harris Kent Spindler In Loving Memory of Emryck Thomas Lawson In Loving Memory of Dylan Wayne Hill In Loving Memory of Nicholas Hastings In Loving Memory of Kelsey Mae Snider In Loving Memory of Jaxton Lee Alan Stanley In Loving Memory of Darian Elijah McWilliams
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In Loving Memory of Davian Joshua McWilliams In Loving Memory of Jaylee Stone
In Loving Memory of Reagan Jean Brownfield In Loving Memory of Lucas Austin Scott
In Loving Memory of Barrett Bruce Bossi
Maplewood Lions Club Lion Helen Jean Martin 10/23/1938 to 06/04/2017
In Loving Memory of Gracelynn Rose Elkins
In Celebration of the Life of Miso Todorovic
In Loving Memory of Isabella Rose Snook
Congratualations to Linda and Fred on 50 years of marriage
In Loving Memory of Kevlynn Jenkins In Loving Memory of Shania Jo Greener
Mason Ridge Girl Scouts Troop 168 Happy 70th Birthday Bill Boedeker With Love Barb
TREE OF LIFE The following leaves on our Tree of Life were recently installed in memory of someone special. In Loving Memory of June Brandt In Celebration of the Life of Maria Earl In Loving Memory of Judy Van Dyke Connor Raymond Voigt Our Little Warrior
MEET THE HENDRIX FAMILY Cooper’s family has found comfort and care through RMHC for 10 years.
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n early 2007, when Gillian Hendrix was 20-weeks pregnant, doctors discovered a blockage on her baby’s bladder during a routine ultrasound. She was put on bedrest and eventually delivered her son, Cooper, seven weeks later. Baby Cooper received treatment in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) at St. Louis Children’s Hospital – more than five hours away from the Hendrix family’s hometown of Blue Eye, Missouri, just south of Branson near the Missouri-Arkansas line. For nearly two months, while Cooper stayed in the NICU growing stronger every day, Gillian and her husband, Tim, called the Ronald McDonald House on West Pine Boulevard “home.” “I didn’t know a place like that existed,” says Tim. “It kept us close to Cooper and was a comfortable place to come back from the hospital and decompress.” Cooper, now 10 years old, has endured countless medical procedures since he was born, including a kidney transplant when he was 4. His mom, Gillian, was his donor. In total, Tim estimates
that their family has probably made close to 100 trips to St. Louis for Cooper’s medical treatment. Fortunately, they have been able to return to the Ronald McDonald House on several occasions. Most recently, they stayed at the House on Park Avenue in May 2017 while Cooper underwent surgery to repair his abdominal muscles. Cooper’s younger brother, Stratten, also stayed at the House, providing much-needed love and support. “We always feel welcome when we walk inside,” says Tim of RMHC. “It’s more like home.” The Hendrix family has also utilized the Ronald McDonald Family Room that is located inside St. Louis Children’s Hospital during their shorter stays in St. Louis. This special space provides shower and laundry facilities, a small kitchen with complimentary coffee and snacks, and more 12 hours a day, 365 days a year, to families whose children are in the hospital. “When you’re stuck in the hospital for three or four days at a time, being able to have a hot shower and clean clothes is a blessing,” says Tim. ■ Heartbeat • Fall/Winter 2017
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MEMORIALS The following gifts were made in memory of someone special from January 1 to June 30, 2017. Irlene Abram Mr. and Mrs. Steven J. Byrne Juddson Case Acre Mr. and Mrs. John Acre Drew Albritton Mr. and Mrs. Dean Carrol George William Allen Mr. and Mrs. Joseph R. Kortum Paige Grace Altmann Mrs. Dorothy Altmann Mr. Perry Jahnke Mary Pat Anderson Mr. and Mrs. Harold F. Walker Charlotte Appel Mr. and Mrs. Michael L. Mayer Labe Asner Mr. and Mrs. Henry Diamant Mercedes Ballman Mrs. and Mr. Pamela T. Gomes Mercedes Ballman Mr. and Mrs. Donald P. Nies Jean Barbaglia Mr. David L. Tornetto Matthew Kelly Bazoian Ms. Lynn Conard Mr. Don Johnson David Bennett Mr. and Mrs. Clarence C. Schamel Mary Berilla Mr. and Mrs. Gary R. Hartwig Kenneth R. Berry Mr. David L. Tornetto Bradley Blair Ms. Elizabeth L. Bradley Max Blinder Mrs. Beverly M. Spector Rose Marie Boehm Mr. Brian J. Lucido Dale Bolte Ms. Marie E. Bolte June Brandt Mr. and Mrs. David R. Brandt Donald Breihan Ms. Barbara A. Merry Alex Brown Mr. and Mrs. Dawsey Brown Peter H. Bunce Mr. and Mrs. Pamela T. Gomes Mr. and Mrs. Donald P. Nies Roman Bushmeyer Mr. Colin Houchins Ed Carley Mrs. Joyce Carley Ruth Challingsworth Mr. and Mrs. Thomas F. Armstrong
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Lee G. Chazen Ms. Maris Berg Ms. Lynn D. Brengle Mrs. Rita Cohen EBM Computer Services, Inc. Mr. and Mrs. Steven Funk Mrs. Marilyn Gitt Ms. Julie Gritts Ms. Marlene Gummers Mr. Murray Kalina Mr. William Pomerantz Mr. and Mrs. John D. Reichman Ms. Marilyn Reznik Mr. Christopher Sanjenis Mrs. Carol Shapiro Mr. Barrie Sher Mr. Norman Shore Family of Maury and Susan Stern Linda Vesper Mr. and Mrs. Stephen S. Wasserman Diane Chiodini Joseph P. Vollmer and Susan Bartoni-Vollmer Jonathon Chionchio Mr. and Mrs. Robert H. Blankemeyer Jeanette Clark Mr. and Mrs. Richard Easley Sharon Cohen Ms. Lucinda Althauser The Honorable and Mrs. Robert S. Cohen Ms. Betsy Enger Ms. Barbara J. Hoberock Mr. and Mrs. M. Myron Hochman Mrs. Janet Latessa Mr. Mark Paskar Mr. Richard Rosenthal Mr. David Schenberg Mitchell Shenker Mr. Robert Tucker Ms. Gail Winham Mr. and Mrs. Barry Yusman Mr. Scott Yusman Tom Deem Ms. Joan M. Althaus Debra Ann Dickemper Mr. Gerald Schulze Andrew Dieckmann Anonymous Catherine Dillon Mrs. Constance Holden Katy Dillon Mr. Claude W. Cooley Mr. Robert Keim Mr. Jay Levitch Mr. Richard Zellich John DiMartino Joseph P. Vollmer and Susan Bartoni-Vollmer
Heartbeat • Fall/Winter 2017
John Donahue Mr. and Mrs. Ralph Haag, Jr. Deborah Ann Dressel Anonymous Cilli Dukay Ms. Karin C. Moore Andrew Durkin Mr. and Mrs. Andy Pullen Emelia Eakins Enterprise Holdings Mr. Daniel Skillman Erma Earl Mrs. Maria Earl Richard Dick Ebel Mr. Fred Amad Mrs. Joan Billing Mrs. Doris Brady Mrs. Loretta Dolan Ms. Anna M. Fortune Mrs. Jeanne M. Garner Mrs. Linda Grieb Ms. Judith Hutcheson Mr. and Mrs. Jerome C. Kurt Mr. and Mrs. Sal Lorino Mr. and Mrs. Ken Mock MonetaGroup-Curtis Team Ms. Judith Perkins Mr. D D. Plocher Ms. Valerie Rauscher Mrs. Jaqueline Sandau Mr. William Scheitlin Mrs. Barbara Stadler Mrs. Geraldine Thompson Mr. Ronald Turley Ms. Lorrin S. Watson Richard Eckstrand Mr. and Mrs. Gerald E. Daniels Mr. and Mrs. Frederick S. Scott Virgil Edmiston Crawford Funeral Home Virgil Edmiston Mr. Jeffrey Heitzig Mr. Jack Holmes Ms. Brenda Marit Mrs. Nancy Weitekamp Dorothy Ellis Mrs. Susan E. Guss Chase Elmendorf Mr. and Mrs. Bill Elmendorf Mrs. Carol Elmendorf Lorri Elser Taum Sauk Energy Center Employees Mrs. Gay A. Weadon Melvin Joseph Engemann Mr. and Mrs. John E. Buckner, Jr. Jim Esser Mr. David L. Tornetto Rocco A Farina Ms. Jane Johnston
William Farrar Mr. and Mrs. Donald P. Nies Mary C. Ferrara Joseph P. Vollmer and Susan Bartoni-Vollmer James Walter Finger Kelly and Dan Harbaugh Madeline D. Flodell Francis Howell School District Mr. Kevin F. Supple James Kevin Foley Mr. and Mrs. James P. Foley Rylan Foster Mr. and Mrs. Joe Deschepper Mr. and Mrs. Melvin L. Marr Prince Fowler Ms. LaToyia Fowler Jerome Friedeck Mr. Frank Green Carol Fruend Mrs. Cheryl Bauer Ms. Marion Boehm Mrs. Carol Boren Mr. Barrett Buchmueller Capital Insurance Agency Mrs. Lynn Fruend Mr. and Mrs. Dave J. Giarla Ms. Lori Goldman Jessee Agency, Inc. Mrs. Barbara A. Karagiannis Ms. Dulcinea Smith St. Louis Regional Health Commission Iris Frye Ms. Marie E. Bolte Elton Gauch Mr. and Mrs. Jordan B. Cherrick Julie Gebhart Mr. and Mrs. Virgil J. Gebhart Irene Gibbons Mr. and Mrs. Robert H. Blankemeyer Mary Gibson Mrs. Elizabeth T. Perry Dennis Giffin Mr. and Mrs. James F. McConnell Jackson Gilmore Family of Jackson Gilmore Mark Scott Giulvezan Ms. Irma L. Zurmuehlen Elaine Gorrell Ms. Lynne D. Davis George H. Grelle Mr. and Mrs. George H. Grelle Rita M. Grimes Mr. and Mrs. Harold F. Walker John C. Gross Ms. Norma S. Gross John Haloney EBM Computer Services, Inc.
Alma Hampton Mrs. Edith H. Betz Sarah Jane Hanks Ms. Suzanne J. Wilcox Steven Hanks Anonymous Kenneth Hannaford Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Newton Gladys Hannasch Mr. and Mrs. Robert H. Blankemeyer Christopher Robert Hantak Ms. Natalie Smith Judy Hart Burris Management Barbara Hartman Mrs. Barbara Eulberg Mr. Scott Buell Mrs. Joan Heldorfer Mrs. Norma Matejka Mrs. Jan Meyer Kathleen Hederman Mr. Kevin J. Brennan Frances Herrell Ms. Carol A. Schanz Dylan Hill American Family Mutual Insurance Ms. Cindy Knadler Murrel L. Hines Ms. Ella D. Hines Maxine Hirsch Mr. and Mrs. M. Myron Hochman Ms. Fanny Katz Charles Homes Mr. and Mrs. Donald P. Nies C.M. Huddleston Dr. Charles Huddleston and Dr. Marye J. Gleva Pat Huegle Ms. Avonell Carlisle Sandy Jacoby Ms. Debbie Thies Paige James Mrs. Mary Jo Sgro Horas Jane Mr. David L. Tornetto Larry Johnson Communications Workers of America Local 6300 Mrs. Jennifer Neptune Mr. Richard Schmidt Mrs. Kathleen Stechmesser Robert D Jones Ms. Mary K. Lewis Sylvia Kaplan Ms. Estelle Kent Marty Katz Mr. and Mrs. Matt Vossen Erma Kennedy Mrs. Vicki Simpson
MEMORIALS CONTINUED Bernard Kulawiec Mr. Sheldon R. Chesky Mrs. Karen Hoer Mr. Matthew Hoer Mr. Stephen Hoer Mr. and Mrs. David L. Jacobi Mrs. Lynette Jacobi Mehville School Libratians Mrs. Kathleen Sigman Claude Walter Kurtz Ms. Sharon Black Ms. Julia Dolan Ms. Jane Donze Mr. and Mrs. John M. Gunther Mr. David C. Kottmeier Mr. Terry Nolan Mr. and Mrs. Steve Remspecher Mr. and Ms. William J. Ruebsam Mr. Steve Stanfill Mrs. Mary B. Stimac Mr. and Mrs. Ed Stratton Anita Link Mr. and Mrs. Robert F. Swift Traci Little Mr. and Mrs. Jerry L. Brown Arlene Maloney Mr. and Mrs. Patrick M. Sanders Christine Mantych Mr. Raymond Mantych Ann Manubay Mr. and Mrs. Ronald Exler Terry Marchetti Mr. and Mrs. Thomas E. Gundlach Jeff Mauer Mrs. Phyllis Carter Ms. Cindy Henley Mr. Patrick Lane Mrs. Shelly Loseman Mrs. Dianne Mercurio Mrs. Deborah Nash Ms. Barbara Norton Ms. Joanne Parrott Mrs. M. K. Toth Patricia McCollough Anonymous Ruby McDaniel Mrs. Peggy P. Garnett Carter McGee Mr. and Mrs. William C. Goeddel John McMenamy Mrs. Margaret Blomenkamp Ms. Mary Jacobsmeyer Mrs. Lisa Jordan Mrs. Ann E. Klatt Mr. Richard Kreuger Mrs. Virginia Link Mrs. Nancy McMenamy Mrs. Melissa Skibinski Ms. Rebecca Thomas Ms. Marlowe Wing Zayne George McVey Ms. Della Gier
Jerald Meers Mr. and Mrs. Harold F. Walker Dr. Theodore Meiners Anonymous Virginia Melberth Mr. Roy Burnside Mr. Paul Flynn Mr. Pat Martin Richard W Mellow Mr. R. Wesley Mellow Georgette Meredith Mr. and Mrs. Alfred Newton Paul Merlotti Marilyn Merlo Mary Ann Mikusch Ms. Margaret F. Normile Lucille Molitor R. Tilkens Gabriel Angel Morales-Vega Ms. Jane Johnston Leo Mr. Moran Dr. and Mrs. Harry D. Burack Steve Morris Mr. and Mrs. Steve Hedges Mary Muetze Mr. and Mrs. Joe E. Kube Claude Murray Mr. Fred Bueler John Musser Mrs. John L. Musser Margie Nachman Mrs. Beverly M. Spector Eileen M. Newell Mr. and Mrs. James P. Foley Charence Nonn Ms. Mary M. Nonn Mary Nonn Ms. Mary M. Nonn Carl A. Ostmann Mr. and Mrs. Mark J. Leonhard Mrs. Peggy Ostmann Giovanna Palazzo Ms. Josephine Byrne Jerry Patton Ms. Dolores F. Vermont Robert O. Piening Mr. and Mrs. Steven J. Byrne Seth Pippin Mr. and Mrs. A. L. Hill Roger Poliette Mr. and Mrs. Ronald S. Burkhardt Norman Prince Mr. and Mrs. Henry Diamant Marleen Pusateri Mrs. Susan E. Guss Jennifer Raley Mr. Ray W. Raley Joni Rasmussen Mr. Robert E. Rasmussen Nettie Reiman Mr. and Mrs. Michael L. Mayer Neoma Renshaw Anonymous Ms. Rachel Hamblin Mr. Jerry Hindman
(Renshaw cont’d) Mrs. Lyndell F. Rice Ross Richmond Mr. Robert Knight Loie Riehl Ms. Jean H. Wagner James Robbins Mrs. Kathleen Reinke Ruth and Robert Mr. and Mrs. Henry Diamant Michael R. Roberts Joseph P. Vollmer and Susan Bartoni-Vollmer Renee Rosen Mr. and Mrs. Charles N. Brandt Elizabeth Ross Mr. and Mrs. William L. Perkins Rose Mary Rudolph Ms. Joyce Rudolph Kathleen B. Scherr Mr. and Mrs. Johnny G. Shipley Susan Schillinger Ms. Dianne R. Thies Dorothy Schmidt Mr. and Mrs. Frederic E. Brown Elesa Schnieder Mrs. Victoria Tornetto John Schoemehl Mr. and Mrs. Robert H. Blankemeyer Mary Schonert Mr. and Mrs. Larry D. Schonert, Jr. Evelyn Sheerin Mr. Kevin Doolin Ginger Shirley Ms. Katherine McNair Mary Sitton Ms. Paula Campbell Anthony Skalas Mr. James Kempland Sister Jenni Skerk Ms. Sandra T. Coblitz Harris Kent Spindler Anonymous Mrs. Caly Cramsey Jason Ryan Sramek Foodmix Mr. John Gillain Mrs. Sandra Krajcovic Mr. Scott Nicholas Mr. and Mrs. Jim Sramek Caroline Claire Stachula Ms. Rosann Umhoefer Keira “#kierastrong” Stout Mrs. Barbara Whitehead and Mr. James A. Spence Terry Suter Mr. and Mrs. Thomas E. Suter Michael Swit Ms. Mary Beth Caluda John Sykes Mr. Stephen Dawson
Gloria Taylor Mrs. Janet B. Loiterstein Hugh Taylor Mr. and Mrs. Matt Vossen Edna M. Tonnies Mr. and Mrs. Sidney Weber Patricia Brock Towers Mr. and Mrs. William G. Towers Judy Van Dyke Mrs. Donna Anderson Mr. Farrell E. Boudinier Ms. Nancy Burghardt Mrs. Sheri Cutitta Mrs. Rebecca Dittmer Mr. and Mrs. Leonard Emmert Mrs. Judith Evans Mrs. Judith Ferguson Ms. Courtney Fischer Ms. Gail Foelsch Mrs. Julia Giegler Mrs. Nancy Giulvezan Mr. and Mrs. Terry L. Gooding Mrs. Jan M. Hamilton Mrs. Tehra Hiolski Mrs. Faye Hirsch Ms. Susan Horstman Mr. Gregory Howard Mr. Ken Jackson Ms. Rosemary Kinder Mr. Brian K. Manke Mrs. Barbara McKay Ms. Beth Messina Mr. and Mrs. Paul Miquelon Mrs. Sarah Morgan Mr. and Mrs. Hugh Mulliken Ms. Ann H. Panhorst Ms. Mary Peterson Ms. Eileen Pierce Ms. Jean Rathgeb Ms. Linda F. Reid Mr. David Renard Mr. Jim Rohr Mr. and Mrs. Lee J. Schuler Mr. Arthur B. Smith, Jr. Mrs. Barbara Steurer Mr. Roger Tate Mrs. F. R. Thompson Ms. Linda Van Dyke Major and Mrs. Donald Wallace Ms. Anita Zinn Sherry Vitale Mr. Gary Ackermann Connor Raymond Voigt Mr. and Mrs. Neil Voigt Henry VonRohr Ms. Joyce Gray Dortha Waggoner Mr. William Chronowski Mr. and Mrs. Alvin Coers Ms. Bobbi Hart-Walka Mrs. Cathy Shipley Ms. Sandra Stoltz Mrs. Mikell K. Telford
Mary Warner Mrs. Elizabeth T. Perry Lela Warzel Mr. M.J. Laury Gail Weber Mr. and Mrs. David M. Arns Baue Funeral Homes Mrs. Dawn Case Mrs. Andrea Dettmer Mr. and Mrs. James P. Devereux Mrs. Dorothy Doyle Mr. Wayne Gilbert Jr Mrs. Nicole Jarmuszkiewcz Mrs. Tracie Olson Mr. and Mrs. Daniel Ryan Ms. Patricia Scholle Mr. Daniel E. Schulte Mr. and Mrs. Richard Segura Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Shipman Ms. Nancy Thomas Mr. and Mrs. Michael J. Weeks Barbara Ann Weis Ms. Martha M. Weis Roy Weisheit Mr. Fred Bueler Beverly Whitaker Ms. Mary M. Nonn Lynne M. Winkelmann Mr. Kevin J. Brennan Gabrielle Wintjen Mr. and Mrs. George Wintjen Barbara Wolf Ms. Marie B. Moore Judy Worley Mr. Leon Koelling Max Wibberg James Worstell Mr. Gary Davis Mr. and Mrs. Gary A. Growe Ms. Nancy Hamilton Linda Wright Joseph P. Vollmer and Susan Bartoni-Vollmer Julie Yoffie Ms. Julie Gritts Catherine Crowe Zensen Mr. and Mrs. William G. Towers We make every effort to include everyone correctly. If you have a correction, please contact us at 314.932.4134. To make a donation, please visit rmhcstl.com/donate.
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TRIBUTES The following gifts were made in honor of someone special from January 1 to June 30, 2017. Anonymous The Honorable and Mrs. Robert S. Cohen Shirdi Sai Baba Ms. Shradha Sai Gopinath Mr. Gopinath Vijayakumar Barbara Benson Mr. Patrick Murphy Alyssa Betz Ms. Mary Rose Srisha & Sriya Birthday Mr. Shashidhar Gujjula Kilah Brauch Ms. Carol A. Schanz Bueler Incorporated Mr. Gary Duke MacKenzie Bussard Mrs. Myrna E. Williamson, Jr. Bessie Marie Caluda Ms. Mary Beth Caluda John Carey Mr. and Mrs. Eugene U. Mariani Lawrence D. Carrico Mr. Timothy E. Hayes Mary Cheney Mrs. Stacy Kress Dillon Clark Richard L. Clark Medtronic Volunteer Grant Program Lorelai Clubb Ms. Claudia M Howe Grace Collins Mr. and Mrs. Larry Eilbott Anne Conness Mr. Christopher Conness Donna Cyvas Mrs. Christine Wiesemann Estelle Daly Mr. and Mrs. Walter Abell Mr. Sean T. Geoghegan Mr. David L. Tornetto Tom and Lucy Danis Mr. and Mrs. Clifford Segal
Remington Davis Mrs. Lois Davis Kimberly Dawson Mr. Stephen Dawson Arlene Diekemper Mr. and Mrs. Gregory R. Diekemper Dianna Dimartino Ms. Patricia P. Lee Mr. and Mrs. Hiram C. Martin III Connor Dorenkamp Ms. Treesa Misuraca Rachel Jane Eilbott Mrs. and Mr. Margaret Bour Ms. Diane P. Davis Mrs. Marcia Handler Mrs. Susan Lieberman Ms. and Mr. Donna Murray Mr. W. M. Taylor Jacob Eller Ms. Susan G. Klukis Emelia Shari Laster Emma Fagin Mr. and Mrs. Robert L. Sterneck Rose M. Fiman Mr. and Mrs. Hiram C. Martin III Nellie Fowler Ms. Peggy C. Horton Hannah Fricker Ms. Willa Jacobs Brian Gasey Ms. Monica Gasey Lacey Gellsinger ESCO Technologies, Inc. Jonah Goodman Anonymous Caroline Gregory Mrs. Suzanne L. Gregory Dorothy Grothe Ms. Joan M. Althaus
Mary Grace Hill Ms. Marcia Hill Jaylea Hobbs Horner Sunday School Danica Holmquist Ms. Julianne King Randy Kalin Mr. and Mrs. Larry Eilbott Kamden Keck Mrs. Sara Alstadt Kamden Keck Mrs. Barbara Whitehead and Mr. James A. Spence Nolan Thomas Kissing Mr. Tommy Kissing Anne Korb Mr. Charles Kessler Donald T. Kukla Ms. Mary Pautler LAYA Ms. Christine Thompson Danny Lee Ms. Teresa Vescovo Rosemary Lee Dr. Jessica Lee Jack Lehman Mrs. Jessica Pattengill Kevin & Meghan Lemp Mr. and Mrs. Eric Lindemann Rose Liss Mr. and Mrs. James F. Kick Violet Martin Mrs. Gail Sneed Michael Massoni Ms. Patricia Fitzgerald Stephen Mattis Conner Ash PC Debby McKeone Mrs. Elizabeth L. Cohen Jacob T Moak Mr. and Mrs. Larry S. McDonough Mr. and Mrs. Paul W. Moak
Amelia Nies Mr. Arthur Bernstein Ms. Ellen Harrington Mr. Don Sternhagen Jonathan Niezing Conner Ash PC Lynette Noeltner Mr. and Mrs. Wayne E. Anderson Tyler O’Rourke Mr. Craig O’Rourke Steve J. Pelch Mr. and Mrs. Mike DeCola Dominic Perotta Joseph P. Vollmer and Susan Bartoni-Vollmer Karyn A Peters Mrs. Corinne Cohen Savi Peth Ms. Jennifer Sanwald Tim Plunkett Mr. Michael Plunkett Madeline Grace Price Mr. Donald H. Bancroft Jennifer Raley Mr. Ray W. Raley Sarah Reecht Ms. Danielle Reecht Dixie Ellison Robbins Mrs. Roberta Hagemeier Mrs. Rita Tapley Mrs. Aprile Taylor Denny Rubin Mr. Robert Birenbaum Nolan Schanz Ms. Carol A. Schanz Barry Schnurman Mr. and Mrs. Henry Diamant Joan Schorfheide Ms. Patricia Shewmake William Alexander Schultz Ms. Jill Fitzgerald
Kay F. Siegrist Mr. and Mrs. Harry A. Weber Ella Nora and Tiffany Souers Mrs. Susan Souers Samuel Lee Spencer Ms. Sherri Fuhrman Neil Straussner Ms. Nancy A. Spehr and Ms. Carol Sobkow Jessica Talley Anonymous Mark Tampow Mrs. Jennifer L. Dolce The Hochstatter Family Mr. and Ms. John Hochstatter Victoria Tornetto Mr. David L. Tornetto Erin Tucakovic Ms. Camille Wolf Creedon Waters Mr. and Mrs. Clint Waters Gail Weber Baue Funeral Homes Mr. Ward J. Moore Ms. Donna Parker Mr. William Prakop Don Tracy Margaret Weis Mrs. Sarah Fagnani Rose Marie Whitehead Ms. Mary J. Riley Brianne and Daniel Ziff Ms. Barbara Faber Ms. Renee Kirschbaum We make every effort to include everyone correctly. If you have a correction, please contact us at 314.932.4134. To make a donation, please visit rmhcstl.com/donate.
CALLING ALL YOUNG PROFESSIONALS! The Red Shoe Society, our Young Professionals Group, seeks to engage, empower and inspire young professionals to participate in philanthropic and leadership endeavors, all while supporting a great cause! Joining the Red Shoe Society is an exciting opportunity for young professionals to gain leadership experience and network while having fun and raising awareness for RMHC St. Louis. For more information, visit www.rmhcstl.com/redshoesociety. 21
Heartbeat • Fall/Winter 2017
ST. LOUIS
CARING HEARTS LEGACY CIRCLE Sean Geohagan creates a lasting legacy at the Ronald McDonald House.
O
ne tour of the Ronald McDonald House – that is all it took Sean Geoghegan to become a dedicated supporter of RMHC St. Louis. Seeing firsthand what the organization provides for families in crisis, Sean knew that he would be involved with the organization for many years to come.
Ronald McDonald House Charities of St. Louis depends on legacy gifts to keep families close to their seriously ill children. As more and more families travel to the St. Louis area seeking medical treatment for their children, the need for our Houses and Family Rooms continues to grow. Because of the generosity and thoughtfulness of those like Sean, RMHC St. Louis will be able to provide comfort and care to families for decades to come.
A dedicated donor and volunteer, Sean is a founding member of the Cornerstone Society, which recognizes our most generous “I WANT TO HELP donors, and dedicates his time MAKE SURE and talents to the Golf and Planned Giving Committees. THE RONALD
[ ]
A hand-blown glass installation inside the foyer of our Park Avenue Ronald McDonald House features the names of each of our Caring Hearts Legacy Circle members and serves as a permanent reminder of the lifetime impact of these donors.
M C DONALD HOUSE In an effort to ensure that his IS HERE LONG efforts to support RMHC St. AFTER I’M GONE.” Louis live on for many years to come, Sean joined the Caring Hearts Legacy Circle. The Caring Hearts Legacy Circle If you would like to discuss recognizes our friends who options for including charitable choose to extend their generosity with a legacy gift. giving in your estate plans, or if you wish to disclose that you have included RMHC St. Louis in your “There is always going to be a need for the Ronald will or trust, please contact Frank Cognata, Vice McDonald House,” says Sean. “I want to help make President of Development, at 314-932-4148 or by sure that the Ronald McDonald House is here for email at fcognata@rmhcstl.com. ■ families long after I’m gone,” he says. Heartbeat • Fall/Winter 2017
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FAMILY DINNER PROGRAM Our Ronald McDonald House families enjoyed delicious, home-cooked meals prepared by the following volunteer groups between January 1 and July 31, 2017. For a list of available meal dates or information on how to reserve your next date, please call 314-531-6601, ext. 1202, or email dinner@rmhcstl.com.
Polsinelli prepared dinner at the Park Avenue Ronald McDonald House in June 2017. 3rd Floor Heart A. Battram & Friends ACN GPTW Symphony Adaptive Solutions Group AED at Wash U AJ Rosenberg Albrecht Family & Friends Allergan Alpha Delta Pi-University of Arkansas Alpha Pi Omega Amdocs HR Employee Service American Equity Mortgage Ameriprise FinancialJennifer Barbey Ameriprise FinancialKulik, Rosenbaum & Associates Anheuser Busch Past & Present Anthem ANGLE AQ & Crew Astella Pharmacy Athleta B. Trout Bakin Betty’s Barb Minch Barry-Wehmiller Co. Bazoian Family Bel Canto Belleville Ladies Bierbaum Girl Scouts 376 BioSTL BioGenerator BizLibrary Black Alumni Council of Wash U Blackwell Contracting & Team Elijah Blessed Teresa of Calcutta Boehm Family
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Boeing F-15 Employee Engagement Team Boeing- HRCoE Boeing Reach Boeing Women in Leadership Bonnie, Lynda & Friends Booth Family Bourbon High School FCCLA Bowles Elementary Brenda Thompson Brown Smith Wallace Buchman Family Buckingham Asset Buckner Family Bunge Buxton Cardinal Glennon ICU Cara Sherlock Carson & Harris Families CCG Central Reform Congregation 7th Graders Christ Prince of Peace Christian Foods McDonalds CHS Leadership Coldwell Banker Gundaker Chesterfield West Coldwell Banker Gundaker-Fenton Office Columbia High School Student Council Commerce Bank Community Christian Church Community School Concordia Lutheran Church
Heartbeat • Fall/Winter 2017
Contegra Construction Crew Cookin’ Crowns Cooperative HomeCare Cornejo Friends Cornell Club of St. Louis Crestwood Sunset Hills Kiwanis Creve Coeur Kiwanis CSI Leasing Cushman & Wakefield Daniel Family DEDC Dillards-Mid Rivers Dinner Divas Disney Volunteers Donna Russo Dowd Bennet LLP DPT 19 DSP Friends Edward Jones HR Associates Relation Team Elizabeth Dawe Enterprise Holdings Express Scripts- Corporate Real Estate Faclis Group Faith Lutheran Oakville Community Group Faith Lutheran Youth Family of Kayla Thornton Fang & Friends FB Maryville Singles First Bank Wealth Management Group First Baptist EllisvilleGirls Youth First State Bank of St. Charles, MO FlanniganHartman-Zazquez Foley & Mansfield Fox FCCLA Freeburg High FCCLA Freeburg Hornet Helpers Freeman Family Fresh Ideas Fun Run Club of Greater St. Louis Fusion/IMG LIVE Gabby Roeder Garrett Cizek Gateway Writing Project Gemey McNabb Gershman Commercial Real Estate Geyer Road Baptist Church Girl Scout Troop 1789 Girl Scout Troop 2426 Girl Scout Troop 247 Girl Scout Troop 2569
Girl Scout Troop 3255 Girl Scout Troop 726 Girl Scout Troop 3255 Grace Church Great Circle Greater Mount Carmel Youth Grohmann-Maes Families H&L Partners Helitech Hermann London Highland High School Football Team Holy Infant Confirmation Hyatt Hotels ICL Group Immacolata Girl Scout Troop 1629 Immacolata Girl Scout Troop 2566 Integrated Project Management Col. Isaiah Murrell- Thomas Jean Iezzi & Friends Jim & Barb McElroy JM Family Enterprises JoAnn & Friends Job’s Daughters John & Mary Hofman John C. & Bonnie Hill John C. Hill & Friends Journey & Union Church Youth Group Junior Optimist Club of O’Fallon Kailey B. & Friends Kalisha Turner Kappa Epsilon- STLCOP Kathy & Crew Kathy’s Friends Kelli McKlim Kellison Elementary Staff Kelly & Friends Kelly Speth Kempen Family Kids Showing Kindness IL Kirkwood Kiwanis Kirkwood Youth Service Kiwanis Club of Meramec Valley Community Knights of Columbus Council 11437 Knights of Columbus Ladies Auxiliary #2012 KPMG Kristy Ann Pfister Ladies Night Ladue High School LAM Friends Lambda Sigma
Lana Piepho Birthday Bash with Friends Landco Construction Laquita and Friends Laquita Ogle Laura Garner La-Z-Boy Furniture Gallery LifeSavers/Civic Memorial HS Lindbergh Early Childhood Education Loralee and the Storytime Princess Lord of Life Lutheran Church M.A.D.I.S.O.N MAB and Friends Magnolia Hotel Marcone Maria Olivos & Friends Marissa Maritz Travel Maryville’s Community Service Club Mass’a Italian Restaurant McBride Charitable Foundation McK Ladies McVey Family Medinal Temple #39 Youth Group Meetup Volunteer Group (Christy) Meetup Volunteer Group (Vince) Meetup Volunteers (Kate) Mercy Mercy Ortho Mercy RNs Merkel , Berra & Kent Merrill Lynch Microsoft Missouri American Water Missouri Baptist University Missouri Bar YLS Council Mo Baptist Emergency Dept. Moms Club- Central Chapter Moneta Group Monsanto Global Proudction CoE Monsanto Regulatory People Team Monsanto STL Breeding Monsnato Procurement Murphy Bickley Families New Life Church New Neighbors League Club (NNLC) Nick Bucheit
FAMILY DINNER PROGRAM CONTINUED NoCo Bowlers Northwest High School Odd Fellows Lodges Ostmann Elementary Our Lady of the Pillar Scouts P&G XLR8 Parkway United Church of Christ Party with a Purpose Patheon Outreach Partners (POP) Patrylo Family Pattonville High School Spanish National Honor Society PB Club Peggy Aubushon Peregrine Society Perficient Peter’s Kids Phi Nu Kappa Sorority, Inc Pitzer Snodgrass Polsinelli PC Pond Elementary Read Right Run Club Prairie Farms Dairy Inc Rachel Chandler Rawlings Family
Rawlings Sporting Goods Red Shoe Society Remembering Georgie Richmond & Friends Ritenour High School FCCLA RMHCSTL Board Rock Girlz Rockwood Summit High School National Honor Society Rockwood Summit SMILE Royal Canin SACC Youth Sacred Heart Youth Sam’s Club Scott Williams Agency Sczesniak-Davis Family Second Helping SETE & Friends Sharing Smiles and SDHS Outreach Sigma Kappa-Delta Theta Sirus Karimi SIUE School of Pharmacy- SSHP SLU Alpha Delta Pi SMOTJ-Avery SMOTJ-Burgoyne
SMOTJ-Stumpf So You Think You Can Cook Sodexo South County Kiwanis Southwest Airlines Spirit of Love Visionairies St. Agnes Confirmation St. Anthony’s Primary Care Consultants St. Francis Xavier College Church Youth Group St. Jacob UCC Youth Group St. John UCC Youth St. Lukes UUC St. Mary’s School Alton St. Paul’s Lutheran School National Junior Honor Sociedty St. Peter Confirmation Kids Stinson Leonard Street STL ADPi Alumni STL Volunteer Meetup STLCC Wildwood Student Ambassador Program of Incarnate Word Academy Sunrise Youth Group
Target Kirkwood Team Theleman Tedesco Family & Friends Teens on a Mission The Block/Lhamon Family The Brennan Family The Dubrowski Family The Girls The Helping Hands Thomas Family & Friends Tiered Float Pool Tim Davis Town & Country 4H Troop 110 Boy Scouts Troop 1494 Troop 158 Troop 3361 Troop 8139 Twin Rivers/Jones Life Group U of MA- Amhurst Alumni Network of St. Louis United Healthcare United Healthcare-Optum Urban League of Metro STL Ursuline Academy
Valley Park Middle School National Junior Honor Society Venturing Crew 2450 Victory Christian Academy Visitation Academy Faculty & Staff Vogt Family Wade Family Warm in Winter Washington U Circle K Watson United Methodist Women’s Group Webster Gardens Youth Wentzel Family Whitfield School Women’s Electrical Board Wright-Sivier-Bliss Families WUPT 19 WWAM Wydown Middle School Staff Xi Psi Phi Dental Fraternity Zeldin Family Zell Country Club Zion Lutheran Youth Group
A HEARTFELT THANK YOU Beautiful, comfortable furnishings donated by Rothnan Furniture & Mattress have helped us turn Houses into homes.
Thank you Rothman Furniture with special thanks to our friends Dale, Janet, Jay and Vicky - for helping make our Houses and Family Rooms feel like home. We appreciate your generous partnership and many years of dedication to the St. Louis community and RMHC mission.
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OUR WISH LIST We rely on donations of these household items to provide all the comforts of home inside our three Ronald McDonald Houses and Ronald McDonald Family Rooms. To donate items, please call 314-773-1100 or email info@rmhcstl.com. Kitchen Items: Sweet/salty individually wrapped snacks (cookies, soups, mac ‘n’ cheese, breakfast bars, hot chocolate, trail mix, dried fruit, peanut butter or cheese sandwich crackers & candy bars) Dishwasher detergent Dawn dishwashing soap Gallon-sized Ziploc bags Aluminum foil Large Tupperware containers Paper bowls
Laundry Facilities: High-efficiency laundry detergent Softener sheets Cleaning Supplies: Disinfectant spray Multipurpose cleaner Floor cleaner Hand soap SOS pads and sponges Swiffer hand duster sheets Pledge and Windex
Miscellaneous: Travel-sized shampoo, conditioner, deodorant, shaving cream and toothpaste Disposable razors Feminine products iPhones (version 4s or newer) 60-watt lightbulbs
IN LOVING MEMORY
Ronald McDonald House Charities of St. Louis extends its deepest sympathy to the families of these very special children:
Simon Paul Emryck Lawson Dylan Hill Nicholas Hastings Keegan Messmer Kelsey Snider Reagan Brownfield
Jaxton Stanley Darian McWilliams Davian McWilliams Jaylee Stone Gracelynn Rose Elkins Barrett Bossi Lucas Stott
Isabella Snook Kevlynn Jenkins Shania Jo Greener Sklyar Mieldezis Nathaniel Bunch Avalyn Frazier Carter Johnson
TRANSPLANT RECIPIENTS
The following children who have stayed or are staying at the House have received transplants:
Murelle Plotner
Roland Raabe
Karlie King
Adreona Gardet
Aivyn Walker
Zoe Robinson
HEARTBITS Many thanks to AJ Adhesives for presenting RMHC St. Louis with a generous donation in honor of their 25th anniversary! Thank you for your support!
Eagle Scout Andrew Fruend collected games and built a special storage cabinet for RMHC St. Louis earlier this year. He even hosted game nights with our families! Thanks, Andrew!
Thank you to our friends and partners from Mercy for collecting Wish List items for our Houses and Family Rooms! We couldn’t be more grateful for your support!
Many thanks to the Express Scripts Medicare Team for collecting gift cards for our families! Your generosity means so much to those who call our Houses “home.”
Our friends Nicholas, Rosie, Cecilia, Max and Hughie hosted a lemonade stand to purchase items for our Family Rooms! Thank you so much for your hard work and generosity!
Employees from Sherwin-Williams spent the day at our Park Avenue House cleaning and painting. Thank you for making our House look its best for our guest families!
Thank you to World Wide Technology for making lunch and playing games with the families staying at our West County House! We appreciate your generosity!
Our sweet friend, Clare, sold refreshments and bracelets to support RMHC St. Louis and raised over $200 for our families! Awesome job, Clare!
Heartbeat • Fall/Winter 2017
26
NON-PROFIT ORGANIZATION U.S. POSTAGE PAID JEFFERSON CITY, MO PERMIT NO. 210
St. Louis
3450 Park Avenue St. Louis, MO 63104
If your name and/or address are incorrect, please let us know by contacting Kathy McDermott at 314-932-4133 or kmcdermott@rmhcstl.com. Do you prefer to receive the Heartbeat newsletter electronically? Let us know via email at info@rmhcstl.com. Thank you!
RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE CHARITIES® OF ST. LOUIS West Pine Ronald McDonald House 4381 West Pine Blvd. St. Louis, MO 63108 314-531-6601
Park Avenue Ronald McDonald House 3450 Park Ave. St. Louis, MO 63104 314-773-1100
West County Ronald McDonald House 300 Ronald McDonald House Ln. St. Louis, MO 63141 314-485-0300
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