2013 Annual Report: Ronald McDonald House Charities of St. Louis

annual report

ST. LOUIS

letter

from the CHAIRMAN Writing about all that happened in 2013 in April 2014 feels like I’m writing about ancient history, but we can’t let last year pass without highlighting some of the amazing accomplishments of the incredible RMHC staff and our wonderful volunteers.

So, here’s a little numerical sampling of the love and support they all helped provide in 2013.

Almost 12,000 families made more than 65,000 visits to our Family Rooms. In addition, our three Houses continued to provide comfort and support as a “home-away-from-home” for 1,361 families. In case you’re really analyzing these numbers, they may seem a little light when compared to 2012. That’s because in 2013, we closed the House on West Pine for more than three months to do a complete rehab, including restoring the kitchens, updating the HVAC system, and replacing all of the windows and furniture.

We hope to do the same for the House on Park Avenue sometime in the next few years.

The proverbial “cherry on top” of this hot fudge McSundae of a year was the March opening of the Ronald McDonald Care Mobile, a partnership with the Eye Care Charity of Mid-America, which provides free vision care to underprivileged children. This facility (to call it a van would be a gross understatement) conducted 650 eye exams and provided 570 pairs of eyeglasses to children at dozens of schools in and around St. Louis in 2013. We are very excited to be participating in this important program.

This was all possible because in 2013, RMHC of St. Louis was a good steward of your contributions. Also, it should be noted that our revenues are derived from a fairly diverse donor base, as shown in the chart on page 6. Expenses of $3.5 million were concentrated in Programs, with less than 25% allocated to fundraising and administration, also shown in the chart on page 6.

On behalf of Ronald McDonald House Charities of St. Louis’ Board of Directors and staff, thank you for all you do to help us provide comfort and support to so many families.

2013

board of directors Chairman Michael Murphy Vice Chairman Felicia Malter Treasurer Steve Holste Secretary Deborah Vogt Ann Bueler Steve Fahrig George Gipson, III Larry Glascott Lincoln Gray Ed Harmon Thomas Hof Donald Kalicak Sirus Karimi Tami Keller Stephen Lux Rita Mathews Steve Pelch Lee Renz Karen Rewerts Dave Sadler Mark Schlichter

Mike Murphy

Colleen Schoendienst

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Keith Schieler

Chairman, Board of Directors

Brad Seabaugh Jim Souers

Our Mission Providing a “home-away-from-home� for families of seriously ill children, and support to organizations that serve the needs of children.

the heart of rmhc These values define for Ronald McDonald House Charities of St. Louis the right course of action as we serve our guest families, volunteers, donors, partners, and team-members.

Through this service, we impact our community and inspire others.

Acceptance accountability hospitality integrity stewardship

We care for others without prejudice and value diversity.

We commit to accepting responsibility for our actions and holding one another to the highest standards.

We welcome everyone as if we are inviting them into our home, while maintaining a professional relationship.

We build trust through honesty, sincerity, and mututal respect.

We safeguard the time, talent, and treasure with which we are entrusted. www.rmhcstl.com

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Ronald McDonald House on West Pine Blvd.

Ronald McDonald House on park avenue Ronald McDonald House in west county Ronald McDonald family room at mercy children’s hospital Ronald McDonald family room at st. louis children’s hospital Ronald McDonald family room at ssm cardinal glennon children’s medical center ronald mcdonald care mobile

core programs Ronald McDonald House® The three Ronald McDonald Houses in St. Louis each serve as a “home-away-from-home” for families of seriously ill children who are being treated at St. Louis-area hospitals. Located near Mercy Children’s Hospital, St. Louis Children’s Hospital and SSM Cardinal Glennon Children’s Medical Center, these three facilities, along with eight extended-stay apartments, offer parents and family members a place of refuge from hospital waiting rooms, 24 hours a day, 365 days a year.

Our Ronald McDonald Houses are designed to provide the comforts of home, such as a comfortable bed, warm meals, living areas, a kitchen and laundry facilities. A family’s stay can be as short as one day to as long as 12 months.

Ronald McDonald family room® St. Louis’ three Ronald McDonald Family Rooms are located inside Mercy Children’s Hospital, St. Louis Children’s Hospital, and SSM Cardinal Glennon Children’s Medical Center. Away from the hustle and bustle of hospital corridors and busy waiting rooms, the Ronald McDonald Family Room Program serves as an oasis within the hospital for thousands of families, including many from the St. Louis area, every year.

Each Family Room is equipped with a kitchen area, complete with a convection oven, microwave, refrigerator and dishwasher, as well as shower facilities, laundry facilities, a computer station with Internet access, comfortable seating and television. Snacks are also provided to families, free-of-charge.

Ronald McDonald care mobile® Our Ronald McDonald Care Mobile, a partnership with the Eye Care Charity of Mid-America, serves underprivileged children with on-the-spot eye exams and glasses.

This mobile vision clinic travels to schools throughout the St. Louis area and beyond, where the need for eye care is greatest due to low household income, including city schools, rural schools and social service agencies. Its services enable early diagnosis and treatment, which are important for maintaining good vision, eye health and the prevention of vision loss. Routine vision exams also help identify diseases such as diabetes and other serious medical conditions.

2013 statistics our three ronald mcdonald Houses

18,475

Room Nights available

15,157

Room Nights occupied

82%

occupancy rate

13 days

average length of stay

1,361

total families served by our three ronald mcdonald houses

our three ronald mcdonald family rooms mercy children’s hospital

st. louis children’s hospital

3,340

4,686

families served

families served

18,884

28,870

family visits

family visits

ssm cardinal glennon children’s medical center

3,783

families served

20,046 family visits

ronald mcdonald care mobile

650 eye exams

567

eyeglasses provided

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Financial R e p o rt 2% 3% 0%

Support and Revenue Special Events and Miscellaneous Promotions Annual Giving Planned Giving McDonald’s/RMHC Funds Investment Income (including Unreal Gain/Loss) Lodging Miscellaneous Income In-Kind Donations TOTAL

$1,182,247 $1,443,749 $109,785 $330,011

16%

Special Events/ Miscellaneous Promotions Annual Giving Planned Giving

9%

30%

3%

McDonald’s/RMHC Funds Investment Income (including Unreal Gain/Loss)

$623,873 $75,003 $5,491 $118,255 $3,888,386

Lodging Miscellenaous Income

37%

In-Kind Donations

Programs 11%

Expenses Programs Fundraising General and Administration Total

12%

$2,655,080 $425,074 $385,469 $3,465,623*

Fundraising General and Administration

77%

4%

Net Assets

3%

14%

19%

Board Designated for Endowment

$1,845,472

Permanently Restricted Net Assets

$617,739

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Net Assets Available for General Use Net Investment in Property and Equipment

$8,067,590

$468,392 $13,528,076

General & Programs

*$798,000 of expenses includes depreciation.

$2,528,883

Fundraisin

Temporarily Restricted Net Assets

60%

In May 2013, employees from UMB Bank spent a day landscaping and planting flowers at our West Pine RMH.

Above, top: Volunteers from Cassidy Turley prepared dinner at our RMH on Park Avenue once per month in 2013. Above, bottom: Volunteers Lindsey Hessler and Emily Westerholt donated their time to our 20th Annual Scramble for Charity Golf Tournament in September 2013.

volunteer program highlights

38,000 hours of recorded work

$828,020 total value of hours worked*

1,032

meals served by our family dinner program volunteers**

1,200

active volunteers *Hours reflect House, Family Room, and special event hours, and do not include the numerous hours spent by our dedicated committee members or Family Dinner Program volunteers. **Meals were not served at the West Pine RMH from May-October 2013 due to renovations.

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Remarkable Renovations St. Louis’ original Ronald McDonald House is now a more comfortable “home-away-from-home” following $1.5 million renovations in 2013 From May 1 to October 1, 2013, the Ronald McDonald House located on West Pine Boulevard was closed for much-needed, major renovations. Since 1981, this historic gem, which began as an eightbedroom facility and has since been expanded to 20 bedrooms, has been providing a “home-away-fromhome” for families of seriously ill children.

This warm, welcoming and much-needed respite has seen countless changes throughout the past three decades, but none as drastic as the tremendous transformation in 2013.

During the five months that the House was closed, its entire HVAC system was replaced with a new stateof-the-art system that allows families to control the temperature of their individual rooms. In addition, both kitchens were completely gutted, making way for new cabinets and appliances, as well as ample counter space for our Family Dinner Program volunteers to use.

All 15 bathrooms were also remodeled.

Dramatic details, such as two magnificent original

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wood staircases and intricate stained glass windows, ensured that the buildings retained their unique character and historic charm. However, plenty of fresh furnishings and modern conveniences were added to the mix. New windows and light fixtures were installed throughout the House to make the space more energy-efficient. Other updates include new carpeting, wallpaper, paint, and window treatments. Last but not least, the House was filled with beautiful, brand-new furniture, all of which was donated by our friends at Rothman Furniture.

The St. Louis community also helped us fill The House that Love Built by donating housewares and other items needed to make it a “home.”

The total cost of the project was $1.5 million. All of these remarkable renovations have helped make St. Louis’ original Ronald McDonald House a more comfortable, inviting place for our guest families to relax, rejuvenate and call “home” after long, stressful days at the hospital.

Our friends.

Our partners.

Our foundation.

In 2012, Ronald McDonald House Charities of St. Louis established the Cornerstone Society, a major giving program that recognizes our organization’s most generous donors. In 2013, 387 Cornerstone Society members donated a total of $1,256,369.79 to Ronald McDonald House Charities of St. Louis, an increase of 48 members and nearly $382,000 from 2012.

Many of our major donors became Cornerstone Society members in 2013 through the Home Away from Home Appeal, an annual giving effort that provides the financial foundation for the operation of our three Ronald McDonald Houses and Ronald McDonald Family Rooms. The 2013 Home Away from Home Appeal was led by Honorary Chair Robert Quinn, St. Louis Rams Defensive End. Contributions to this appeal helped provide comfort, care and affordable lodging to thousands of families.

Meet the tracy family In November 2008, our 5-year-old daughter, Ava, suffered two major strokes. Although she remained cognitive and able to understand and recognize the world around her, she was unable to walk, talk or eat. We spent most of the following year in the hospital.

During that time, the Ronald McDonald Family Room at St. Louis Children’s Hospital became our go-to spot. Although we live just an hour away in O’Fallon, Missouri, my husband, Chris, and I never wanted to be too far from our daughter. The Family Room offered free snacks, Internet access, washers, dryers, and hot showers. Most importantly, it kept us close to Ava. On Thanksgiving Day, November 26, 2009, our sweet Ava died at the hospital. We were right by her side.

But our story doesn’t end there. During the course of Ava’s illness, our youngest daughter, Bryn, was diagnosed with the same heart condition that caused Ava’s strokes. In 2010, we found ourselves living at the hospital again when Bryn was listed for a heart transplant. That December, she received the greatest gift imaginable - a donor heart. For the next two months, the Ronald McDonald Family Room was once again our “home-away-from-home.” — Chanda Tracy www.rmhcstl.com

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introducing the

ronald mcdonald

care mobile

The Ronald McDonald Care Mobile, a partnership between RMHC St. Louis and the Eye Care Charity of Mid-America, was launched in March 2013. This is the first Ronald McDonald Care Mobile in the U.S. that is dedicated solely to eye care.

This mobile vision clinic visits elementary and middle schools throughout the Greater St. Louis Area, expanding the reach and impact of RMHC St. Louis by helping more children within the local community.

The Ronald McDonald Care Mobile travels to schools located in areas where the need for eye care is greatest due to low household income, including city schools, rural schools and social service agencies. Its services enable early diagnosis and treatment, which are important for maintaining good vision, eye health and the prevention of vision loss. Routine vision exams also help identify diseases such as diabetes and other serious medical conditions.

Children who need glasses choose from a variety of new frames displayed in the mobile unit, and their

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glasses will likely be provided at point of service. The Ronald McDonald Care Mobile program is not possible without licensed optometrists who volunteer their time aboard the vehicle.

In 2013, this mobile eye care unit provided eye exams free-ofcharge to 650 underprivileged children throughout St. Louis and its surrounding areas. Of the 650 children seen by the Care Mobile, 567 received free glasses, meaning that 87% of the children were in need of vision correction.

The positive impact of our Ronald McDonald Care Mobile is made possible thanks to an extremely dedicated staff, as well as volunteers and optometrists who donate their time and expertise. The following grantors have also helped make the Care Mobile a reality: Emerson, Anthem Blue Cross Blue Shield Foundation, Missouri Foundation for Health, Greater St. Louis Health Foundation, and Express Scripts.

letter from the president As our Board Chair, Mike Murphy, pointed out in his letter, 2013 was an incredibly busy and productive year for the St. Louis Ronald McDonald House.

It seems that year after year, we are able to report new records in families served, new programs, growth in revenue and overall success for the organization.

I am also proud to announce that in 2013, our amazing staff worked together to develop “The Heart of RMHC,” a list of five core values that define for our organization the right course of action as we serve our guest families, volunteers, donors, partners and team-members. These core values, which are showcased on page 3, are: Acceptance, Accountability, Hospitality, Integrity, and Stewardship. By living up to these values through our daily work, we hope to positively impact our community and inspire others.

All of this is made possible by the incredible army of people we have involved in the Ronald McDonald House. Led by our Board of Directors, cascading down to our many committees, rippling through all of our House and Family Room volunteers, driven by our staff and supported by thousands of donors, Ronald McDonald House Charities of St. Louis continues to grow, expand and help more families and kids every year.

Thank you for being part of our team.

Sincerely,

rmhc St. Louis

staff

Dan Harbaugh President lisa Stiefvater Vice President, Operations cheri wuertz Vice President, Finance frank cognata Vice President, Development pat newby Director, Administration judy schuler Director, Family Room Program Jenifer braucksieker House Manager, West Pine michelle burman Finance Manager debbie dees Data Manager laura droege House Manager, Park Avenue ally favre Event Manager matt lauer House Operations Manager Alison Kaspar Human Resources Manager katie Nepute Communications Manager Lindsey fletcher Annual Giving Coordinator nicki Ascoli Assistant House Manager, West County abby bandelow Event Assistant korinne fischer HR-Volunteer Assistant Barb Jarvis Finance Assistant eugene johnson Data Assistant Ian lindquist Assistant House Manager,

West Pine jacob McGuire Family Room Assistant lizzie poe Assistant House Manager,

Park Avenue nicki island Receptionist, Park Avenue John brooks Housekeeper, Park Avenue april fischer Housekeeper, West Pine vicki ruckman Housekeeper, West Pine joy tate Housekeeper, West County

Dan Harbaugh

RMHC St. Louis President

house parents Joan Blatz ∙ Noelle Perkowski ∙ Nicole McLaughlin

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About rmhc st. louis Love lives here. Ronald McDonald House Charities® of St. Louis provides a “home-away-from home” for families of seriously ill children traveling to St. Louis for medical treatment.

There are three Ronald McDonald Houses® in St. Louis. Our first House was built on West Pine Blvd. near St. Louis Children’s Hospital in 1981. In 1996, we opened a second House on Park Ave. near SSM Cardinal Glennon Children’s Medical Center. In 2003, eight long-term apartments were added, adjacent to the West Pine House. In 2010, RMHC St. Louis opened its third Ronald McDonald House — and the 300th in the world — on the campus of Mercy Children’s Hospital. The three Houses provide a “home-away-from-home” for up to 59 families every night of the year.

RMHC St. Louis also operates three Ronald McDonald Family Rooms®, which are located inside Mercy Children’s Hospital, St. Louis Children’s Hospital and SSM Cardinal Glennon Children’s Medical Center. Each of these rooms serves as an “oasis within the hospital,” offering both local and out-of-town families the essential comforts of home, including hot showers, laundry facilities, snacks, television, Internet access and a quiet place to relax. More than 80 families a day find comfort and care in our three Ronald McDonald Family Rooms, which are open 12 hours a day, 365 days a year, and staffed entirely by volunteers.

For more information about Ronald McDonald House Charities® of St. Louis and the services we provide, please visit www.rmhcstl.com or call 314-773-1100.

West Pine Ronald McDonald House 4381 West Pine Boulevard St. Louis, MO 63108 314-531-6601

Park Avenue Ronald McDonald House 3450 Park Avenue St. Louis, MO 63104 314-773-1100

West County Ronald McDonald House 300 Ronald McDonald House Lane St. Louis, MO 63141 314-485-0300