Fall/Winter 2021
HEARTBEAT
FAMILY TIME ALEXIS’S WHOLE FAMILY SMILES FOR A DAY OUT TO THE BALL GAME DURING THEIR STAY AT RMHC ST. LOUIS
WHAT’S INSIDE 2 3-4 5-6 7-8 9-10 11 12 13-14 15-16 17 18 19-20 21-22 23 24 25 26 27-30
Letter from the President The Hurst Family; Volunteer Opportunities Cornerstone Society Celebration: Tri-State 2021 Special Events Recap Family Room Renovations Community Fundraisers Building Blocks How to Help at the Holidays 2021 Home Away from Home Appeal Heartwarming Moments Caring Hearts Legacy Circle New Faces; Meet the Drees Family Memorials Tributes; Tree of Life & In Loving Memory Red Shoe Society; Sponsorship Thank You Wish List; Barbie Whitehead Heartbits Thank you for 40 years of support! A Tribute to friends of Ronald McDonald House Charities of St. Louis
2021 BOARD OF DIRECTORS JEFF BARONE, CHAIRPERSON BRIDGET HOY BEARDSLEY, VICE CHAIRPERSON KAREN BAER, TREASURER BEVERLY GARNER, SECRETARY STEVE BESHORE DR. MARY MICHAELEEN CRADOCK GREG DIEKEMPER JOAN ELHOFFER CULLY EISENBEIS CHRIS GIARLA MARK HEFFERNAN DAN HEGGER ANTHONY IRACE ALICIA JETT DR. JOSEPH KAHN
SCOTT KARCHUNAS SIRUS KARIMI RYAN KURYLA STEVE MALTER MICHELE MUSCARELLA-HARMON JILL OLLER ELLYN ROSENBLUM NOLAN RUIZ KEITH SCHIELER DANNA STONE 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 JASON HUFF, VICE PRESIDENT, DEVELOPMENT JUDY SCHULER, VICE PRESIDENT, OPERATIONS ALISON KASPAR, DIRECTOR, HUMAN RESOURCES PAT NEWBY, DIRECTOR, ADMINISTRATION RICH RODGERS, DIRECTOR, FACILITIES VERONICA BIVER, SENIOR MANAGER, FAMILY SERVICES MICHELLE BURMANN, SENIOR MANAGER, FINANCE KELSEY CRIPE, FAMILY SERVICES MANAGER, WEST PINE JACOB MCGUIRE, FAMILY SERVICES MANAGER, WEST COUNTY COURTNEY FISCHER, MANAGER, FAMILY ROOM PROGRAM DARA MARKUS, ANNUAL & COMMUNITY GIVING MANAGER ABBY MAUER, EVENT MANAGER EMILY TETRAULT, DATA MANAGER RENEISHA BROWN, ASSISTANT FAMILY SERVICES MANAGER CLARE BURKE, ASSISTANT FAMILY SERVICES MANAGER JORDAN ZACHOW, ASSISTANT FAMILY SERVICES MANAGER MAKAYLA JOHNSON, ASSISTANT FAMILY ROOM MANAGER COURTNEY BRADSHAW, FAMILY ROOM PROGRAM COORDINATOR MEREDITH SIEGFRIED, CORP. & FOUNDATION RELATIONS COORD. BARB JARVIS, FINANCE COORDINATOR TRACEY REYNOLDS, PROJECT COORDINATOR KATIE LAYMAN, COMMUNICATIONS COORDINATOR LARRY PRY, DATA COORDINATOR MCKENNA BUNJAN, VOLUNTEER COORDINATOR GRETA THOMPSON, DEVELOPMENT ASSISTANT EMILY KOHLBERG, HUMAN RESOURCES ASSISTANT APRIL CUSAMANO, HOUSEKEEPER, WEST PINE JOY TATE, HOUSEKEEPEER, WEST COUNTY VICKI RUCKMAN, HOUSEKEEPER, WEST PINE
A Note from the PRESIDENT I hope this newsletter finds you and your family doing well. As we continue to work our way back to some form of “normal,” we are overwhelmed with our volunteers, donors, and staff’s continued generosity and dedication. With each step we take to bring our Houses, Family Rooms, Special Events, and operations back up to 100%, I am amazed by the “show of support” in all areas by our incredible army of volunteers and donors. All of our Ronald McDonald Family Rooms are back up and running, although on a limited basis. Our Family Room inside SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital was completely gutted and remodeled after 13 years of operation. All thanks to the tremendous success of the Round-Up for RMHC program at McDonald’s. We have slowly but surely been accepting volunteers back at the Houses and Family Rooms (how we have missed you!), including our Meals from the Heart groups. While our three Houses are open and accepting families, we are limited in the number of families we can welcome, especially in the West Pine House, since there are no private bathrooms. This is one of the primary reasons for moving forward with a new expanded Ronald McDonald House. As many of you know, our Houses are always at capacity, with a waiting list of 20 or more families on most nights. To address this need for more rooms, we decided in
2017 to pursue finding a location as central as possible to our hospital partners in St. Louis City to build a larger, more efficient Ronald McDonald House in St. Louis. In 2018, we found that property. We purchased a 2.6-acre parcel of land off Highway 40 at Tower Grove and Chouteau. Over the past few years, we have worked with the neighborhood and an architectural firm to design a building that will be a great addition to the community and will allow us to address all of our family and organizational needs. The “new” St. Louis Ronald McDonald House will have 72 bedrooms, a significant amount of community space, and amenities for our families. It will have an administration wing so that most of our staff will be together in one location. We recently launched a $30 million Capital Campaign to build the new Ronald McDonald House in St. Louis. If you have any questions or would like to help us with this significant project, please give me a call. And as always, thank you for being a Friend of our great organization. Thanks so much for all you do. Always Grateful,
Dan Harbaugh RMHC St. Louis President
Brantley’s parents stayed at the Ronald McDonald House while he received treatment at SSM Health Cardinal Glennon and Ranken Jordan.
MEET THE HURST FAMILY When Brantley became sick, the Hurst Family learned first-hand the impact of the Ronald McDonald House.
E
arly in the morning on April 25, at just ten months old, Brantley Hurst woke up screaming and sweating uncontrollably. Brantley’s parents, Brittany and Brad, rushed him to the nearest emergency room, 20 minutes away from their home in Belleview, Missouri. Initially diagnosed as being severely iron deficient, Brantley was sent back home. Mom and Dad knew something was still not right and took him to the pediatrician the following day. At the advice of their pediatrician, Brittany and Brad rushed Brantley to SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital (Cardinal Glennon) in St. Louis, over two hours away from their home. Soon after arriving at Cardinal Glennon, a CT scan determined Brantley had bleeding on the brain and was immediately taken into surgery. Unsure of what would happen to their baby, Mom said the family was “devastated and clueless.” Neurologists determined little Brantley
3
Heartbeat • Fall/Winter 2021
was born with Arteriovenous Malformation or entanglement of blood vessels in the brain. In Brantley’s case, his blood flow had increased to the point that his vessels blew, resulting in a stroke. While the family was waiting to learn what had to be done to help their son, a social worker at Cardinal Glennon reached out to the Hursts about staying at Ronald McDonald House. At that point, Mom and Dad could not think about leaving the bedside of their sick baby. “Since Brantley was born, I had not had a night away from him,” said Brittany. Brantley underwent a successful surgery at Cardinal Glennon, where doctors were able to clip away the entanglement. Finally, in May, with the security of a successful surgery, the Hurst family felt more comfortable moving from the bedside into the West Pine Ronald McDonald House.
“It’s a godsend that you can be that close to your child and not have the stress of being separated from your spouse and kid. You can have a family together right there,” said Mom. “We could be a family still while at the House.” During their time at the West Pine House, Brantley’s parents found comfort in sharing their stories with other RMHC families. One of the most impactful interactions was with a set of grandparents whose grandchild was also hospitalized with a brain injury. Brittany and Brad were able to update these grandparents on Brantley’s journey as an example of recovery from a brain injury. “It was awesome to show them how far we have come along and give them hope,” says Mom. Once recovered from surgery, Brantley was transferred to Ranken Jordan Pediatric Bridge Hospital, where he was active in various therapies. After initially traveling from home for Brantley to receive medical care in St. Louis, the convenience of the Ronald McDonald House is not lost on the family. “It is awesome being 25 minutes away and not two hours,” says Mom. Mom and Dad decided to move back to Belleview to be with Brantley’s older siblings and prepare their home for his return. While this was not a simple choice for the parents to make, Mom and Dad can take a bit of comfort in knowing that the room they left at West Pine can be used to allow another family to be close to their child. On August 12, Brittany’s birthday, the Hursts received the news that Brantley would be joining the family at their home in Belleview. About one week later, Brantley arrived home to a beautiful welcome home party to celebrate his progress. In a final reflection of their time at Ronald McDonald House, Brittany said, “It’s heartbreaking to know how many families have kids in the hospital. We would not have imagined that many people have children who are sick and need RMHC until we had this experience ourselves.” ■
CHECK OUT OUR CURRENT
VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES Our volunteers make a difference in the lives of families with seriously ill children by donating their time and talent. Current opportunities are listed below. For more information, please contact McKenna Bunjan, Volunteer Coordinator, at mbunjan@rmhcstl.com or visit www.rmhcstl.com/volunteer.
RONALD MCDONALD FAMILY ROOM VOLUNTEERS: Vaccinated volunteers are needed for a variety of shifts at SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital Ronald McDonald Family Room.
OTHER WAYS TO GET INVOLVED:
There are still a variety of ways to support The House that Love Built, including having a meal delivered, hosting a fundraiser, donating wish list items and rounding up your order at McDonald’s.
Thanks to our friends like Blake, who held a wish list drive in memory of her grandmother who was an RMHC volunteer, our programs continue to serve those who need it most.
Heartbeat • Fall/Winter 2021
4
OUR FRIENDS. OUR PARTNERS. OUR FOUNDATION. On September 9, 2021, we hosted the 9th Annual Cornerstone Society Celebration at The Ritz-Carlton, St. Louis, to honor our 2020 donors. We enjoyed an evening i the Solarium celebrating our partners and the 40th Anniversary of the organization. A short program recognized Kathy and Steve Hays, RMHC Tri-State and Moneta with awards for their outstanding commitment to RMHC. Kathy and Steve Hays have been incredible friends and donors to the House for over three decades. Steve is a former board chair who served during the pivotal time in our history as we acquired the Ronald McDonald House on Park Avenue. Steve and Kathy have been involved with every major expansion, addition and milestone throughout the organziation since. Cathy Elliott and Mike Love accepted the award on behalf of RMHC Tri-State. We appreciated them joining us all the way from Paducah, Kentucky, for the evening. Dave Sadler and Don Kukla accepted the award on behalf of Moneta. The Moneta Charitable Foundation was established more than 20 years ago and has provided a direct connection between employees and their community. The corporation has supported RMHC St. Louis financially and through volunteer hours. Many Moneta employees have prepared meals, served on committees and the Board of Directors. As Jeff Barone, current Board Chair, said during the awards presentation, “Moneta is an ever present part of RMHC.” The Cornerstone Society was established in 2012 to recognize the individuals, organizations and corporations that give an unrestricted donation of $1,000 or more to RMHC St. Louis. In 2020, Cornerstone Society members’ donations totaled more than $2.2 million, accounting for nearly half of our operating budget. As the name implies, the Cornerstone Society is the first block in the foundation of The House that Love Built. For more information about the Cornerstone Society, please call Dara Markus, Annual and Community Giving Manager, at 314-932-4143.
5
Heartbeat • Fall/Winter 2021
Individual Award: Kathy and Steve Hays
Organization Award: RMHC Tri-State
Corporation Award: Moneta
THANKS, RMHC TRI-STATE!
A unique Ronald McDonald House Charities Chapter providing support to children when they need it most in the Midwest.
R
onald McDonald House Charities chapters come in all shapes and sizes. There are over 377 Ronald McDonald Houses and 267 Ronald McDonald Family Rooms across the globe. Each RMHC Chapter provides comfort and care to those who need it most. In Paducah, Kentucky, Ronald McDonald House Charities of Tri-State focuses on enriching the lives of local children. Unlike RMHC St. Louis, RMHC Tri-State does not have a Ronald McDonald House or Family Room program. Their team focuses on supporting pediatric medical facilities and resources in Evansville, Louisville, and St. Louis, where families in Paducah travel for specialized care. Other areas the organization serves include Western Kentucky, Southern Illinois, and Southeast Missouri. Furthermore, the programing at RMHC TriState provides funding that promotes health, education, cultural arts, and social well-being for children. Many grants fill the funding gaps for items like school supplies, winter apparel, books, and art supplies. The charity has also supported children’s programs, technology upgrades, and even field trips. “Providing these services to children and their families is one of the most rewarding opportunities,” says Cathy Elliott, Executive Director at RMHC Tri-State. “Our organization impacts the lives of 60,000 – 70,000 children each year.” The Paducah area RMHC Tri-State chapter has
supported Ronald McDonald House Charities of St. Louis for over 26 years. One of their primary sources of funding is the Annual Fishing Tournament, founded by McDonald’s Co-Op President Mike Love. After the postponed event last year, RMHC Tri-State held the 26th Annual Fishing Tournament on June 4 at Kentucky Lake. Thanks to the support from local fishing enthusiasts, the special event raised over $500,000, and Mike presented RMHC St. Louis president Dan Harbaugh with a donation of $25,000 during the tournament’s reception. “Usually, there are about 40 to 50 boats with up to three people in each. Some individuals will donate their time, drive their boat for other anglers, or help beginners,” says Cathy. “It has been great to watch the kids who tag along with their dads grow up throughout the years of hosting the tournament.” Ronald McDonald House Charities of St. Louis honored RMHC Tri-State during the Cornerstone Society Celebration for their continued dedication and support to seriously ill children and their families. “Over the past 15 years, RMHC Tri-State has contributed more than $250,000 to our local chapter. We are so honored to have their partnership and incredible support,” says Dan Harbaugh. We couldn’t be more grateful for the dedicated team at RMHC Tri-State. It is only through the support of friends like them that we can continue to keep families close. ■■
Heartbeat • Fall/Winter 2021
6
2021 SPECIAL EVENTS RECAP 17TH ANNUAL TAB TOP PANDEMONIUM SATURDAY, MAY 1, 2021 LOCATION: Ronald McDonald House, 3450 Park Ave. St. Louis, MO 63104 On Saturday, May 1, supporters participated in a special drive-thru event at the Park Avenue Ronald McDonald House to turn in their collections of aluminum tabs and keys, competing for the largest collections. Everyone enjoyed the beautiful weather! Over 7,400 pounds of tabs and a large number of electronics and keys were collected during the 4-hour event. We look forward to seeing you in 2022. St. Louis
21ST ANNUAL KIDS & CLAYS TOURNAMENT ■ AUGUST 19 & 20, 2021
LOCATION: Tournament - NILO Farms On August 19 and 20, the 21st Annual Kids & Clays event, presented by ARCO Construction, was held at NILO Farms hunting club. On Thursday and Friday participants headed out for an 84-target sporting clays tournament, enjoying side game competitions and a barbecue lunch courtesy of Syberg’s. The event raised over $168,000 in support of The House that Love Built.
7
Heartbeat • Fall/Winter 2021
THANKS FOR A SUCCESSFUL YEAR 28TH ANNUAL SCRAMBLE FOR CHARITY GOLF TOURNAMENT MONDAY, JUNE 7, 2021 LOCATION: The Country Club at The Legends This spring marked the 28th Annual Scramble for Charity Golf Tournament, presented by McDonald’s, and was hosted once again at The Country Club at The Legends. The event was a success raising over $210,000! Special thank you to the Ladies of McDonald’s for providing snacks, drinks and raffle items on event day, as well as Martin Brower for providing a delicious lunch for all attendees. St. Louis
36TH ANNUAL RMH GOLF TOURNAMENT & DINNER AUCTION ■
SEPTEMBER 26 & 27, 2021
LOCATION: Meadowbrook Country Club In September, we hosted the Ronald McDonald House Golf Tournament & Dinner Auction, presented by Seeger Toyota, at Meadowbrook Country Club. On Sunday evening, guests enjoyed delicious food, live/silent auctions and a variety of raffles. The next day, 200+ golfers participated in the tournament. This even, raised over $800,000! We would like to extend our sincerest gratitude to every committee member, sponsor and volunteer who helped make this event a success.
Heartbeat • Fall/Winter 2021
8
FINDING REST After 13 years in operation, the Ronald McDonald Family Room inside SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital received a beautiful makeover.
T
hanks to the generous support from the St. Louis-area community through the Round-Up for RMHC program, this Family Room received the refresh it deserved after providing a respite to families inside SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital for over 13 years. We are proud to present the updated space. Families were welcomed back in August with beautiful updates. The newly renovated Family Room offers a kitchen, dining area, laundry facilities, showers, a computer station and more. We are extremely thankful to our Helping Hands supporters, members of the McDonald’s of Metro St. Louis Co-Op and our community for making this update possible. ■ 9
Heartbeat • Fall/Winter 2021
Heartbeat • Fall/Winter 2021
10
1
3
2
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!
1
Donny Fandango’s 28-hour Radiothon on 105.7 The Point In June, Donny Fandango broadcasted live for 28 hours to help raise funds through on demand listener requests and business plugs on 105.7 The Point, raising a record breaking $66,363.50! Donny has been a friend to RMHC for over a decade and we are excited to say that a bench in his honor has been placed at our West County House. Thank you to Donny and everyone who called in and supported this awesome fundraiser.
2 4 Hands Brewing, City Wide
RMHC St. Louis was chosen by 4Hands Brewery as one of four City-Wide partners for 2021. RMHC continues to receive funds for every City Wide beer sale. Since 2016, 4Hands Brewing Co. has partnered with 20 charities and given over $200,000 back to the community. Cheers!
3 CSI Leasing - Employee Giving Initiative The team at CSI Leasing, one of the largest independent equipment leasing specialists in the world, started an employee giving initiative benefiting RMHC St. Louis. In 2021 CSI Leasing has raised $10,039.96 for RMHC with more on the way! We are so grateful for support!
For more information about our Caring Partners Program and how you can get involved, visit www.rmhcstl.com/thirdpartyfundraisers.
11
Heartbeat • Fall/Winter 2021
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 2021 through September 2021. 06 Environmental 105.7 The Point 4 Hands Brewery Aetna Alpha Delta Pi - Delta Nu Chapter AME Constructors ARCO Construction Armanino Arrow Box Company AssuredPartners of Missouri BSI Constructors Burns & McDonnell Engineering Carrollton Bank Cass Commercial Bank City Lighting Products Clayton Financial Group CMG, Inc. Coldwell Banker Realty - Gundaker Collins & Hermann Comfort Experts, Inc. Contegra Construction Company Continental Title Company CSG West CSI Leasing Cushman & Wakefield Deeken Properites First Community Credit Union G.S.&S Construction Gardens of Grace Grimes Consulting Haberberger, Inc. HBM Holdings
Hemphill Financial Group House of Denmark House of York Husch Blackwell icon Mechanical Intalere ISC Contracting IUOE Local #148 J.F. Electric J.M. Family Enterprises Johnny Londoff Chevrolet Kadean Construction KPMG Lewis Rice Lodging Hospitality Management M1 Bank McCain Foods USA McCarthy Building Co. McDonald’s Owner/Operators of Metro St. Louis Mechanical Solutions Inc. Mercy Kids Midland Optical Midwest Valve & Controls MILO Architectural Systems Moneta NexStep Financial Group Northstar Management Company Novus International Packaging Concepts, Inc. PARIC Corporation Parkside Financial Bank & Trust
Piros Signs Precision Daylighting, Inc. Premium Retail Services Protective Life Corporation Rob Hamann Agency RubinBrown LLP Schwoeppe Machine & Tool Seeger Toyota Select Marketing Simmons Hanly Conroy T.J. Wies Contracting The Gori Law Firm The Harbaugh Family The Lawrence Group The Renz Family The Sramek Family The Village Bar Triad Bank Trophy Properties & Auction Turano Baking Company Tyson Foods Weissman’s Theatrical Supplies Wilson’s Structural Steel World Wide Technology Zeller Technologies
Heartbeat • Fall/Winter 2021
12
HOW TO HELP AT The McGift Shoppe Our annual McGift Shoppe provides a place for RMHC guest families to shop free-of-charge for loved ones during the month of December, 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. Because some children are immune-suppressed, all items must be new and unwrapped. To donate an item or for more information, please contact Kelsey Cripe, Family Services Manager, at 314-880-8374 or kcripe@rmhcstl.com.
HOLIDAY WISH LIST INFANTS & TODDLERS
Push, pull and musical toys Fisher Price and Playskool toys Infant clothes (preemie - 12M) Baby essentials (bottles & pacifiers)
CHILDREN & TEENS
Action figures and accessories Popular, trendy kids’ gifts Lego sets Sporting equipment Bath and body gift sets Makeup kits Costume jewelry and fashion watches Nonviolent video games
ADULTS
Bath and body gift sets Perfume and aftershave sets Small coolers (collapsible type) Luggage (lightweight and easy to store) Small cross-body purses Kitchen and grilling supplies Yeti or Tervis cups House slippers
Visit our holiday wish list now:
FAMILY
Blues or Cardinals apparel Gift cards for gasoline or groceries Gift cards: iTunes, Amazon, Apple, Best Buy, Target or Wal-Mart
Holiday Shopping 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. Simply go to smile.amazon.com and select “Ronald McDonald House Charities of Metro St. Louis” as your charity of choice the next time you shop. You’ll find the exact same prices and vast selection, with the added bonus that Amazon will donate a portion of your purchase price to RMHC St. Louis. In fact, our organization has already received thousands of dollars thanks to shoppers like you!
13
Heartbeat • Fall/Winter 2021
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 mitten set, 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 tribute gift and can be placed inside your own holiday cards. A donation of at least $5 per card or insert is suggested. Inserts also reads “Happy Holidays” and feature the same winter design, pictured right. Visit rmhcstl.com/holidays or contact Greta Thompson at 314-932-4127 or gthompson@rmhcstl.com for more information or to purchase holiday cards or holiday card inserts.
The Southern Living cookbook is back! Southern Living’s Christmas Cookbook, available exclusively at Dillard’s, is just $12! 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 rmhcstl.com/holidays or contact your local Dillard’s store. St. Louis-area Dillard’s locations include: St. Louis Galleria, South County Center, Mid-Rivers Mall and St. Clair Square.
Decorating for the holidays? Don’t throw away your old or broken holiday lights - donate them instead! Thanks to our partner, Didion Orf Recycling, your old lights and other items to recycle can be turned into a monetary donation to RMHC. You can recycle holiday lights, extension cords, PC towers, network gear, cell phones, laptops, power adapters, chargers, office phones, For more information visit rmhcstl.com/recycle.
Heartbeat • Fall/Winter 2021
14
Alexis’s entire family was able to stay close during her stay at SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital. Her parents, Tiffany and William stayed at RMHC in 2000 when Alexis was born
COMFORT, CARE AND A
HOME AWAY FROM HOME In March 2021, Alexis Sample developed a hole in her lung from a bacterial infection and traveled from Perryville, Missouri, to receive treatment at SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital. After 103 days and multiple surgeries, Alexis was cleared to go home. Where does she get her strength and resilience? Her family. The “Sample Clan” - including her parents Tiffany and William, stepmother Megan, and siblings (Christian, Serenity, Savanah, and Caitlin)– found a home-away-from-home at the Ronald McDonald House, a short walk from Alexis’s side. “The Ronald McDonald House is always there for you,” says Tiffany. “Whether that is to have a pillow to rest your head, a meal to fill your belly, ears to listen to you or a hug to hold you tight.”
15
Heartbeat • Fall/Winter 2021
20-year-old Alexis was born with a rare neurological disease that has brought her family to stay at RMHC throughout her life. The first time the Sample family stayed with us, in 2000, Tiffany and William were just kids themselves at nineteen and twenty. Now, they can share the comforts of the House with their children while focusing on what matters most - being together as a family.
HOME AWAY FROM HOME 2021 Appeal
THE HOME AWAY FROM HOME APPEAL is an annual giving program that provides the
financial foundation for the yearly operation of our 3 Ronald McDonald Houses®, 8 extended-stay apartments and 4 in-hospital Ronald McDonald Family Rooms®. The actual cost of a family’s one-night stay at the Ronald McDonald House is $112; 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 2021 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. The 2021 Home Away from Home Appeal will help us continue to serve children and their families. By joining this special group of donors, you will give children, like Alexis, the best medicine of all: the unconditional love and support of family.
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 2021 will become members of the Cornerstone Society. Last year, 500 Cornerstone Society members donated more than $2 million! We celebrated their generosity and support with an appreciation event at The Ritz-Carlton, St. Louis in September and we plan to do so again next year to honor our 2021 Cornerstone Society members. All 2021 Cornerstone Society members will be listed in the Spring/Summer 2022 Heartbeat newsletter. For more information about the Cornerstone Society, please contact Dara Markus, Annual and Community Giving Mangaer, at 314-9324143 or dmarkus@rmhcstl.com.
HOW CAN YOUR DONATION HELP? Every donation to the 2021 Home Away from Home Appeal, whether big or small, helps RMHC keep families close when it matters most. But have you ever wondered exactly how your donation may be spent? $112 IS THE COST TO OPERATE ONE GUEST ROOM AT THE RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE FOR ONE NIGHT. $305 PROVIDES ONE WEEK OF FRESHLY CLEANED SHEETS AND TOWELS FOR ALL OF OUR GUEST FAMILIES. $550 COVERS ALL HOUSE WATER USAGE FOR TWO WEEKS.
$1,015 SPONSORS THE DAILY OPERATION OF OUR IN-HOSPITAL RONALD MCDONALD FAMILY ROOMS.
$1,500 COVERS THE SUGGESTED NIGHTLY DONATION OF $15 FOR 100 NIGHTS OF LODGING AT THE RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE.
Heartbeat • Fall/Winter 2021
16
HEARTWARMING MOMENTS We were thrilled to share these special moments with our guest families! Friends that are like family “Baisley, I know you will keep on blooming sweet pea!” says Reneisha, our Assistant Family Services Manager. After Baisley’s parents stayed at our West County House for 80 days, our team finally got to meet her. We are so grateful to be part of this family’s journey.
Baby Sampson is ready! After 18 days, Baby Sampson is ready to check out. We are so happy for Margaret and Christopher to take their little bundle of joy home.
Thanks, Roger! Our tab top house builder extraordinaire, Rodger, came to fix the big grey and blue Tab Top House in the lobby at the Park Avenue location. We can’t wait to refill it with donated tabs!
Dinner is served! The Dinner Divas are in the House! After months without any volunteers, we were so happy to welcome our first Meals from the Heart group back to our kitchen. These Divas were busy with a full menu for the guest families. There was a buzz at the West Pine Ronald McDonald House that evening. Special thank you to all our Meals from the Heart volunteers!
A walk in the Park
During their annual trip to St. Louis for therapy, Brina was excited to go on a walk with her mom using one crutch. We are so happy for her!
17
Heartbeat • Fall/Winter 2021
LEAVING A LEGACY AT RMHC
F
or more than 40 years, our generous donors have allowed us to provide help and hope to families and their seriously ill children through our programs and family-centered care. Many of our supporters choose to support RMHC’s future by participating in our planned giving programs. Unlike cash donations, planned gifts are typically made from assets in an estate and come to fruition after the donor’s lifetime. Dawn Christoffersen, longtime donor and Chairperson for the Major Gifts and Planned Giving Committee, recently explained, “Planned gifts secure RMHC’s future and opens up more longterm opportunities for the organization. It shows how a donor can support an organization in a meaningful way without a current large outright gift.” In 2011, the Caring Hearts Legacy Circle was created to recognize supporters who have chosen to extend their generosity beyond their lifetime with a legacy gift to RMHC. To acknowledge these vital donors and their contributions, their names are displayed on our Caring Hearts Legacy wall – a beautiful, hand-blown art glass installation inside the foyer of our Park Avenue Ronald McDonald House. When asked to reflect on her decision to leave RMHC a legacy gift, Dawn expressed, “My husband and I decided on a planned gift to RMHC because we wanted to be a part of the wonderful legacy of an organization that supports our values and beliefs.” ■ If you would like to discuss options for including charitable giving in your estate plans, or it’s you wish to disclose that you have included RMHC St. Louis in your will or trust, please contact Jason Huff, Vice President of Development, at 314-932-4145 or by email at jhuff@rmhcstl.com. Heartbeat • Fall/Winter 2021
18
NEW FACES Meet the newest staff members of RMHC St. Louis! DARA MARKUS is excited to work for RMHC St. Louis. As a St. Louis native, she understands the essential service that our organization provides families in their time of need. She is currently finishing her Master’s in Nonprofit Management from Washington University. In her free time, Dara coaches a U12 girls soccer team as a way to give back to the sport that taught her so much.
MEREDITH SIEGFRIED is excited is to join the RMHC St. Louis family as the Corporate and Foundation Relations Coordinator. She is eager to jump in and support in building RMHC’s capacity to be a home away from home for as many families as possible. In her spare time Meredith enjoys reading and spending quality time with friends!
“Unexpected kindness
is the most powerful, least costly and most underrated agent of human change.” - BOB KERREY
19
Heartbeat • Fall/Winter 2021
GRETA THOMPSON is happy to join RMHC St. Louis as the new Development Assistant. Greta recently graduated from Rockhurst University with her Bachelor’s in Nonprofit Leadership Studies. While in school, she was introduced to the RMHC family while interning with the Kansas City chapter. Greta enjoys staying active with yoga and fitness classes and walking her dog, Heidi.
TRACEY REYNOLDS is thrilled to join RMHC as a Project Coordinator for the Capital Campaign. Tracey is transitioning from her recent role as Senior Director, PMO at Benson Hill and is excited to be part of a team that will bring more housing opportunities for families of seriously ill children. She enjoys reading, travel, great cocktails and chasing her terriers, Burt and Tighe.
EMILY TETRAULT is thrilled to join the RHMC St. Louis family as the Data Manager. Emily has worked in nonprofit fundraising for over a decade and after a brief jump to marketing is excited to be working with a mission-driven organization again! Emily enjoys reading, the arts and spending time with friends.
MEET THE DREES FAMILY
O
n November 26, 2004, Laurie Drees gave birth to her daughter, Allie, at St. Anthony’s hospital in Effingham, Illinois. Immediately after delivery, little Allie - weighing less than two pounds - was air-lifted to SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital in St. Louis alone. Laurie and her husband Daren were close behind. Laurie and Daren needed a place to stay near their daughter while being over 100 miles away from their home in Teutopolis, a small town near Effingham. Thanks to the Park Avenue Ronald McDonald House, they were at Allie’s side during the incredibly difficult next four months. In March 2005, Allie had grown strong enough to head home. “It wasn’t a hotel. It was a home atmosphere with different living areas. If we couldn’t be at our own home, it was the next best thing,” says Laurie. Now, Allie is a music-loving, high school student and talented multi-instrumentalist. Despite her visual challenges, Allie recently passed her driving test and worked a summer job at the local deli. “Once she wants something, Allie sets a goal and achieves it,” says Laurie. At RMHC, we understand the importance for a sense of normalcy during difficult times. That’s why we try to help connect families going through similar situations. The Drees family made many
connections during their stay. Laurie and Daren experienced many late nights at the hospital and at the House, which gave them a chance to connect with other families staying with us. Laurie reminisces chatting with a family whose child was waiting for a transplant and with staff members at the front desk. “My ‘saving grace’ while staying there was the check-ins with one of the staff members,” says Laurie. “Every night, a member of the staff would take the time to make sure I was okay.” Laurie and Daren felt so comforted at the Ronald McDonald House that they decided to start a tab top collection program in their home community. In May, Allie and her family collected over 1,222 pounds of tab tops and dropped them off at our 2021 Tab Top Pandemonium event, claiming the title for first place. The scale from Didion Orf Recycling was just big enough to hold all of the containers. Daren shared that the family tried packing the car, but had to switch to the truck to fit all the tabs in one trip. We are so glad we could be there for the Drees Family when they needed it most. Thanks to tab top collectors, like Laurie and Daren, families continue to find a home-away-from-home in St. Louis at the Ronald McDonald House. Learn more about the program at rmhcstl.com/recycle. Heartbeat • Fall/Winter 2021
20
MEMORIALS The following gifts were made in memory of someone special from January 1 to July 31, 2021. Tom Alagna Mr. and Mrs. Michael J. Guss Anonymous Mr. and Mrs. Ronald S. Burkhardt Anonymous (2) Ms. Dianne R. Thies Anonymous (3) Mrs. Judith L. Underhill Maria & Linda Mr. and Mrs. James Glavin Lorraine Bakersmith Kinman Mr. and Mrs. Michael Dunk Carmen Bancroft Mr. Donald Bancroft Catlyn Barlow Mr. and Mrs. David Begnoche Ms. Marilyn Foote Mr. David Gronewold Ms. Kristen Kamprath Ms. Marcia Moore Ms. Emily Obert Lorie and Brian Obert Ms. Rosalie Post Jeffrey and Theresa Spear Marvin & Loretta Basler Mr. Richard Ralston Thomas Behrmann Mr. and Mrs. Joseph A. Pelch, Jr. Mike Benecke Mr. and Mrs. Patrick F. Garland Ken Berresheim Mr. David L. Tornetto Barrett Zachary Bone Mrs. Amanda Thomas Emanuel Boyer Ms. Karen Krodinger Betty Brittain Garden Appreciation Club Of Greater St. Louis Dan and Kelly Harbaugh Dr. Dan Brown Mr. and Mrs. Thomas F. Armstrong Shelva “Dale” Brown Mr. James J. Donovan Jefferson College ATS Tom & Carol Browne Mr. Patrick Browne Peter Buchanan Mrs. Sandra Traughber Roman Bushmeyer Mr. Colin Houchins Barbara Capitano Mr. David L. Tornetto
21
Larry Cherry Mr. and Mrs. Robert L. Sterneck Dottie Chiles Ms. Natalie Smith Richard Cibulskis Ms. Elizabeth Perry Jessie Coleman Ms. Felicia M. Malter, CPA Debra Collins Young Mr. Kevin Lombardo Dorothy Connelly Mr. and Mrs. Ronald S. Burkhardt Jason Phillip Conrad Circe Boman Ms. Kristine Messmer Debra Cooper Mrs. Doris Black Ms. Laura Carder Mr. and Mrs. Garland C. Hathaway Lucas Corte Ms. Audrey D. Corte Joe Cunningham Mr. and Mrs. Gary R. Hartwig Leo Cunningham Mrs. Judith L. Underhill Maurice Dahncke Ms. Carol A. Lieb Sue Davenport Mr. and Mrs. Eugene S. Kahn John DeBow Mr. and Mrs. James E. Drenon Charles DeClue Ms. Karen Krodinger Samuel Diehl Mr. and Ms. John J. Diehl, Jr. Ugo DiMiceli Ms. Josephine Byrne Elma Doberstein Ms. Barb Chandler Dan Drazen Dan and Kelly Harbaugh Michael Dunn Mr. and Mrs. Harold F. Walker Andrew Joseph Durkin Mr. and Mrs. Andy Pullen Donald Eckert Mr. Wesley Cummings Michael Edcomb Ms. Sue McLaughlin Frank Ehlen Ms. Deborah Wald Dick Ellis Mr. and Mrs. Gary R. Hartwig Chase Elmendorf Children & Family
Heartbeat • Fall/Winter 2021
Psychology Center LLC Mrs. and Mr. Carol Elmendorf Mr. and Mrs. Jeremy Elmendorf Mr. Paul Ferguson The Joe and Diane Ferry Charitable Fund Mr. and Mrs. Daniel A. Plackemeier Mrs. Megan Wandersee David Enderle Winks Convenient Store Estelle Flanakin Mrs. Suzanne D. Bierman James Kevin Foley Mr. and Mrs. James P. Foley Virginia Foshage Ms. Margaret F. Normile Rylan Foster Mrs. Donna Deschepper Mr. and Mrs. Melvin L. Marr Michael D Frede Ms. Kim Martin Mr. Thomas Mead Mr. and Mrs. Dave Oberhaus Mr. Dale Hoette Dr. Stephen Matthews Israel Carlito Havier Garza Mrs. Tameka Garza Carole Gassel Mr. and Mrs. Gary Perotti Mr. and Mrs. Matt Wilhelm Darlene R Gerst Ms. Deborah A. Herndon Mrs. Diane Houk Mrs. Deborah Schroeder Della Geier Mr. and Mrs. Lanny McVey Larry Glenn Ms. Paula Neal Sr. Genevieve Goessling OSU Mr. and Mrs. Patrick M. Sanders Edith Grieco Mrs. Mary E. Pixley Melissa Guttman Ms. Sherry Schmidt Taylor Hackworth Mrs. Linda Hackworth John Raymond Hale Mrs. Sonya Bock Mr. Jerome Tidwell Benjmin Harrison Ms. Barbara K. Heinzen Mary Frances Heinle Ms. Karen Anderson
Mrs. Judy A. Kenefick-Weiler Mr. Thomas J. McManus Mrs. Bernice Richards Harold Held Mr. and Mrs. James J. Jost, Jr. Ms. Therese Pounds Southside Machine Works Ronald Menges Mr. and Mrs. Donald P. Nies Bonnie Jean Hill Mr. and Mrs. Robert M. Andersen Ms. Maryann Chambers Fox Mr. Mark Chambers Shirley Chambers Dan and Kelly Harbaugh Mr. Jack Murphy Murrel L. Hines Mrs. Diane Hines Gloria Hinkle Mr. and Mrs. Jim Voeller Jackson Hocker Mrs. Tovah Edwards Ester Hoerner Mr. Ronald Krus Dr. William C. Hollifield, Jr. Dr. Cheryl Hollifield Ms. Hope Righetti Mrs. Linda Smith Mr. and Mrs. David Sprehe St. Luke’s Hospital Dr. Karen Wickline James & Rose Horn Mr. Ricky Horn Jack Robert Hrevus Mrs. Jessica Streit-Hrevus Jim Huch Dan and Kelly Harbaugh Mr. and Mrs. Brian Keller Martha Hutchens Ms. Sandi Akers William A. Inge Ms. Jean Inge Paige James Mrs. Mary Jo Sgro Karen Kahle Ms. Beverly Dauernheim Cecelia Kavadas Mrs. Mary E. Pixley Jean C. Kelly Mrs. Kathleen Curotto Mr. and Mrs. Gerlando DiSalvo Mr. Dennis Dougherty Mr. and Mrs. Steve Frank Mr. Gordon Guzenski Dan and Kelly Harbaugh
Dr. and Mrs. Jeff Harris Mrs. Marylou LaLonde Ms. Rita Mersinger Mr. Robert Mersinger Mrs. Nancy Nickerson Mrs. Cindy Perkins Henry Mr. David Poth Ms. Susie St Cyr Mr. David L. Tornetto Mr. and Mrs. Bunlue Ushupun Ms. Melissa Walsh Mr. Dick Young Alice Kerckhoff Mr. Jim Cornblee Sandy Knott Ms. Johnita Schroeder Vera Krampf Evans Ms. Karen Krodinger Paul Kreitler Mr. Richard Ralston Lynne Kreysar Mr. and Mrs. John E. Buckner, Jr. Raymond Kuchno Mr. and Mrs. Harold F. Walker Laverne LaPlante Mr. and Mrs. William Aubuchon Mr. James Cochran Ms. Pat E. Coppinger Mr. and Mrs. Lance French Mr. and Mrs. Mike Garlik Dan and Kelly Harbaugh Mr. and Mrs. James J. Jost, Jr. Ms. Patricia Schrappen Cynthia Lewis Ms. Felicia M. Malter, CPA Denny Linhares Ms. Jill Blackmore Ms. Sue McLaughlin Mrs. Diane Ray Laura Lovenouski Mr. and Mrs. Thomas F. Armstrong Grandmother Mr. and Mrs. Henry Diamant Miss Shayley Mabury Mr. and Mrs. Shayn Mabury Uncle Max Mr. and Mrs. Henry Diamant Vesta Martin Mr. John Lawing Ellen Matrangos Mrs. Robin Roach Robert May Mr. and Mrs. Thomas May
MEMORIALS CONTINUED Russ McKinnon Mr. and Mrs. Larry Eilbott Zane McVey Mr. and Mrs. Klyde Kreifels Len Meyer Mr. and Mrs. Harold F. Walker Allison Phoebe Mills Ms. Sandra Baker Mr. and Mrs. Doug Rephlo Jeremy Morales Ms. Pamela S. Laplant Dennis Morice Mr. and Mrs. Thomas P. Hillmeyer Mr. and Mrs. Michael Scott Sharon Rose Munro Mr. David L. Tornetto Declan Nelson Ms. Carol E. Tyler Megan Nelson Ms. Mary M. Nelson Paul Neumann Mr. and Mrs. Jeffrey M. Prosser Timothy O’Neill Ms. Nancy A. Duffy David J. O’Reilly Mr. William Bradley, Jr. Mr. Eric Brunngraber Mrs. Nancy Carrol Cass Commercial Bank Mrs. Brigitte Clemons Mrs. Megan Culp Mr. and Mrs. Marty Davis Mr. and Mrs. Tom Dobski Mr. Cliff Earp EBM Computer Services, Inc. Mr. and Mrs. David J. Elhoffer Essig & Associates, Inc. (O/O Essig) Mr. and Mrs. Dave Freese Mrs. Michelle Gottlieb Dan and Kelly Harbaugh Mr. and Mrs. Ronald E. Henges Mr. and Mrs. Thomas P. Hillmeyer Mr. Douglas Hoffman Mr. and Mrs. John Hooper Mrs. Emily Kunkel Mrs. MaryBeth Lee Mr. John Marrin Mr. Robert Mathias Ms. Carlie Miller Mr. and Mrs. Scott Miller Mize CPAs Inc. Ms. Amy Norris Mr. Michael O’Reilly Mr. and Mrs. John J. Scherer Mrs. Dorothy M. Smith
Mr. and Mrs. Jeff Thayer Mrs. Karen Thayer Ms. Rebecca Vik Ellen O’Brien Mr. Jeff Jones Louis Ojile Mr. David L. Tornetto Jose Manuel Olea Mr. David L. Tornetto Bob Pate Mrs. Kim E. Bertram and Mr. Dale A. Bertram Cassandra Perry Ms. Donna Perry Charles Philipp Ms. Holly Huelskamp Jennifer Pippin Mr. and Mrs. Patrick F. Garland Mindy Podolsky Ms. Ilene J. Osherow Martin Ponder Anders CPAs + Advisors Mr. Tim Dwyer Ms. Cathy Pohl Ms. Shannon Ratcliff Christina Printable Dr. and Mrs. Paul Szewczyk Victoria Proffer Mrs. Kim E. Bertram and Mr. Dale A. Bertram William Radman Ms. Cheryl Beach Mrs. Joyce Campbell Ms. Joanne David Mrs. and Mr. Donna Havener Mrs. Diane Matthiesen Mrs. Reta ORourke Ms. Dolores Ruble Brandt Ms. Carol Schutz Luke Mathew Reed Ms. Tasha Hamilton Bill Reinholdt Mr. and Mrs. Ronald S. Burkhardt Angela Ritter Mr. Andrew J. Ritter Marnie Nicole Ritter Mr. and Mrs. John E. Buckner, Jr. John Rolf Ms. Jeanette Gift Sydney Rosen Mr. and Mrs. Thomas F. Armstrong Cynthia Sandler Mr. and Mrs. Henry Diamant Sally Saner Mr. and Mrs. Gary R. Hartwig Lucy Schwab Mr. Wesley Cummings Robert Schwalbert, St. Cedar Hill Elks Lodge
Frank Seifried Mr. and Mrs. James P. Foley Mary Jo Sestina Mr. and Mrs. Thomas F. Armstrong Lawrence Robert Shaw Ms. Tammy Hill Ms. Amy Lampo Robert Shaw Mr. William Bryan Ms. Sandra Laws Mr. and Mrs. Larry Sapp Ms. Susan Sears Mrs. Candance Winn Josh Sherrin Mr. and Mrs. Robert Bauer Dr. Charles Sigmund Mr. and Mrs. Thomas J. Berra, Jr. Mr. Fred Brown Mr. Joseph Dueker Mr. and Mrs. Michael J. Dumm Mr. Mark Gaertner Dr. John Galanis Mr. and Mrs. Seth G. Gausnell Mrs. Susan Hodapp Husch Blackwell LLP Ms. Emily S. Maren Mr. Peter M. Miller Mr. Raymond Mohrman Mrs. Susie E. Montebello Mr. and Mrs. Padraic Murray Mr. and Mrs. Jack Neel Mr. Richard Owens Mr. Thomas K. Reedy Mr. and Mrs. Charles E. Reis IV Mr. and Mrs. Dale E. Sigmund Mr. Gary Sigmund Mr. Wally Swenson Mrs. Susan Tagatz Mr. and Mrs. Addison B. Thomas Sharon Simpson Mrs. Carolyn Goldacker Vera Slattery Dr. and Mrs. Justin Durel Jerry “Hunt” Smith Mr. Jason Buhlinger Mr. Tony Caleca Mr. and Mrs. David Froesel Ms. Vicki Klutts Jennifer Snyder Gilster-Mary Lee Corporation Carl Spector Mrs. Robin Roach Ryan Stapleton Mrs. Jennifer Moeller
Alison Brooks Street Mrs. Barbara Brooks Msgr. Edward Sudekum Mr. and Mrs. Patrick M. Sanders Anya Svrcek Ms. Zosia Skorko Jasper Swafford Ms. Theresa Behme Mrs. Kelly L. Cramer Mrs. Nancy Dressen Krefft Mr. Adam Kochan Doug and Billie Sitter Ms. Kristy Sitter Ms. Judith Smith Mrs. Mary Beth Taylor Charlotte E. Tochtrop Mrs. Elizabeth Brown Victoria Tornetto Mr. Todd Anderson Dr. Dennis Ayer Ms. Patricia Collins Mr. and Mrs. Robert Delmonte Mr. and Mrs. John M. Hessel Mr. and Mrs. Stephen Kaster Mr. and Mrs. Shawn Kelly Mr. and Mrs. Bob Muckler Mr. Steven Schneider Ms. Nancy A. Spehr Ava Tracy Mr. Abram Jones Gerald Trautman Mr. Richard Ralston Clyde Underhill Mrs. Judith L. Underhill Bobby Underwood Ms. and Mr. Susan Matuscak May Joseph Visconti Mrs. Dena R. Ferman Patsy Vitale Mr. and Mrs. Ross H. Mulder Connor Raymond Voigt Connor’s Cause Peggy Vollmer Mr. and Mrs. John E. Buckner, Jr. Joyce Webbe Mr. Blake Van Patten Hunt Levi Edwin Welker Mrs. Nicole Crabiel Ms. Jennifer Diercks Mr. and Mrs. Joshua Welker William Westerheide Ms. Mary Beth Cyliax Ms. Susan Degener Ms. Sherri Devany Mr. David Grove Ms. Mary Hagene Ms. Lindy Knysak
Ms. Karen Pottoff Ms. Joyce Tiemann Ms. Julie Tiemann Robert “Bob” Whitley Ms. Rickey Alexander Blessing Hospital Mr. John Briscoe Ms. Beth Brothers Ms. Diane Brown Ms. Helen Bunn Ms. Debra Burton Mr. Thomas Calvert Mr. James Church Ms. Linda Clark Ms. Rita Drew Ms. Colleen Fantz Ms. Andrea Farr Ms. Pamela Golden Mr. Bill Goldinger Mr. Mark Goldinger Ms. Sally Hayes Mrs. Y. Lynn Helbing Mrs. Clara Higdon Mr. Donald G. Hunt Ms. Carol Janes Ms. Betty Jansen Ms. Linda Kuhlman Ms. Kay Latta Ms. Ann Lentz Ms. Lillie Lewton Ms. Kathy Locke Ms. Deana Mahon Mr. Daniel Murphy Mr. Thomas F. Murphy Mr. Thomas W. Murphy Ms. Ann Nagy Ms. Verna Nofziger Mr. William D. Northcutt Mr. Mark Novak Ms. Sandra Nydahl Mr. Jeff O’Brien Prestige Realty Inc Mr. Rodney Rodenbaug Ms. Nancy Scott Ms. Archella Sharkey Ms. Martha Smith Mr. L M. Stewart Ms. Linda Tatman Ms. Susan Voss Mrs. Mary Wilson Olivia Widell Mrs. Mary Gray Mr. Lonny Vlieger John Davis Williams Mrs. Wendy Williams Ronald L. Williams Ms. Gail Matson Ms. Morgan Meihaus Offices of Drs. Ali Husain and Irwin Plisco Howard Witte Mr. and Mrs. John E. Buckner, Jr. Paul Wrone Mrs. Donna Burke
Heartbeat • Fall/Winter 2021
22
TRIBUTES The following gifts were made in honor of someone special from January 1 to July 31, 2021 William Joseph Attridge Mr. Richard Asbill Mr. and Mrs. James W. Attridge Mr. Thomas S. Attridge Ms. Elizabeth Hayes Mrs. Paula Mutzel Mrs. Ellen Reinig Omer Ashraf Bajwa Sikander Bajwa Logan Bergman Mr. and Mrs. Paul L. Buckman Anna Nadine Black Mr. Guy Black Joseph Bosse Mr. Dave Francis Mr. Michael Lorentz Mrs. Catherine Walsh Whealen Danny Braden Mrs. Peggy Braden Tim Braden Mrs. Peggy Braden Tom & Carol Browne Mr. Patrick Browne Darnell Brownlee Mr. Maurice Tellis
Adeline Clark Mr. Joel Clark Pat Coppinger Mrs. Maureen Ahrens Nancy Davidson Mrs. Ann DeBerge Jacob Dennison Mrs. Esther Spinner Carl and Ginny Downey Mr. and Mrs. Larry Ernst Cindy Drew Mr. and Mrs. Sidney A. Hirsch Charlie Jacob Epstein Ms. Sherri Lopatin John Factor Corbenic Partners Kaye Factor Corbenic Partners Donny Fandango Ms. Ellen Gammill Sampson Michael Findlay Mr. Christopher Findlay Scarlett Galvin Ms. Latoya Bauman Elaine Garrett Mr. and Mrs. Gary F. Vejvoda
IN LOVING MEMORY Ronald McDonald House Charities extends its deepest sympathy to the families of these very special children: Brady Daily Marvin Marquez Rowe Rice
Graham Greenberg Ms. Margot Rogus Ms. Nancy Shields Teddy Greenberg Mrs. Nell Bochenek Kelly and Rob Gross Mrs. Barbara Beffa Mary Elizabeth Herries Mr. and Mrs. Matt Herries All moms this Mother’s Day Mrs. Heather Hingst Vickie Howard Ms. Laura Jo Wright Bridgett and Iain’s Wedding Mr. Marc Bernstein Ms. Sharon Jick Jesus Christ God Almighty Mrs. Theresa Johnson Grayson Alexander Johnson Mr. Jerry Johnson Kirin Kanterman Mr. and Mrs. Clifford Segal Maribeth Brune Keeven Mrs. Kathy Keeven
Brenda Kelley Daniel and Jeanne Strope Family Foundation Rick Law Mrs. Christal Bowen Katie Layman Ms. Barb Chandler Reva Shane Lewis Ms. Cerebia Epps Jenny Macke Mrs. Linda Schreiner Fran Maisch Mrs. Lindsay Norris Willow McDivitt Ms. Sandra McDivitt Isaiah Neil Mrs. Vicki J. Neil Pam Nickrent Ms. Ashley Balash Courtney Rahm Mrs. Christal Bowen Karen Rakonick Ms. Amy Heisel Happy Mother’s Day Mrs. and Mr. Eileen M. Weber Donna Smith Ms. Julie Beck
TREE OF LIFE The following leaves on our Tree of Life were recently installed in memory or honor of someone special. KUMC Cherub Choir Cares
In Memory of Art Stumpf
In Loving Memory of Randy Gori & his generous spririt
In Memory of Paul and Juanita Hartwig
In Memory of David O’Reilly
In Memory of Carson Nichole Boyer
In Memory of Mike Lenzen
In Memory of Tierney Riley
In Memory of Dr. Charles Sigmund
In Memory of Victoria Tornetto
Jasper Swafford Jordan Swartzentruber Bella Wisdom
23
Heartbeat • Fall/Winter 2021
Joe Stocklein Mr. and Mrs. Henry Diamant Karen Stubblefield Mr. Erick Kirker Mark & Cindy Tampow Mrs. Jennifer L. Dolce Hudson Van Roekel Mr. Lyle Van Roekel Sidney Wasch 100th Birthday Ms. and Mr. Susan Matuscak May Barbara Whitehead Ms. Suzanne Whitehead Jim Spence Ms. Sandy Wetzel JT McDermott, LLC Mrs. Barbara Whitehead Mr. James A. Spence Asher Wilcox Mr. Kory Wilcox Jaylee Wisdom Horner Church
Jack Hrevus HLH Warrior #gotjacksback In Memory of Jim Kuba, a founder and original Board member of RMHC St. Louis. Thank you for your friendship
CALLING ALL YOUNG PROFESSIONALS! Are you a young professional looking to get involved with RMHC and meet like-minded individuals? Then the Red Shoe Society of St. Louis is for you! The Red Shoe Society seeks to engage, empower and inspire young professionals to participate in philanthropic and leadership endeavors while building awareness for our organization. Activities include: • • • •
Planning and executing special events Professional development activities Social and networking opportunities Service opportunities to directly benefit RMHC families
ST. LOUIS
For more information about the Red Shoe Society, visit www.rmhcstl.com/redshoesociety or reach out to Red Shoe Society President, Phil Saettele at psaettele@gmail.com.
A HEARTFELT THANK YOU To express gratitude to our outstanding supporters, RMHC St. Louis hosts two appreciation events each year, the Cornerstone Society Celebration and the Volunteer Appreciation Night. The following Appreciation Event Sponsors continue to allow RMHC St. Louis to celebrate the contributions of some of our largest donors and ensure their gifts are put toward the families we serve. PRESENTING SPONSOR
PLATINUM SPONSOR
Donald H. and Mary Jane Buchanan Foundation GOLD SPONSORS
SILVER SPONSORS
Heartbeat • Fall/Winter 2021
24
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 four Ronald McDonald Family Rooms. To donate items, please call 314-773-1100 or email info@rmhcstl.com. Cleaning Supplies: Disinfectant spray Multipurpose cleaner (Clorox) Floor cleaner Hand soap SOS pads and sponges Swiffer hand duster sheets Pledge and Windex Paper towels Lysol wipes Air freshener Hand sanitizer
Kitchen Items: Sweet/salty individually wrapped snacks (cookies, soups, breakfast bars, hot chocolate, trail mix, dried fruit & candy bars) Dishwasher detergent (Cascade) Gallon-sized Ziploc bags Aluminum foil Large Tupperware containers Paper plates Plastic forks and spoons Nonstick frying pans
Miscellaneous: Travel-sized shampoo, conditioner, deodorant, shaving cream and toothpaste Disposable razors Single serving food storage containers (disposable) Laundry Facilities: High-efficiency laundry detergent Softener sheets
VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT: BARBIE WHITEHEAD
“If I could volunteer for a living, I would,” says Barbie Whitehead, Ronald McDonald House Charities of St. Louis long-term volunteer. For nearly 20 years, Barbie has supported the guest families in St. Louis through various roles, including spending time in the Family Rooms, at the Ronald McDonald House, being part of multiple events, and through her Pampered Chef business. She credits her service leadership to her mother, aunts, sisters, and other ladies in her family. “Philanthropy is something my family believes in,” Barbie says. “Eight ladies in my family are ADPi sorority members, and all volunteer at RMHC.” Barbie has made lasting connections with guest families, fellow volunteers, and staff members throughout the years. “I have known Barbie for some time now. Her 25
Heartbeat • Fall/Winter 2021
passion for RMHC is unwavering; she is one energetic volunteer who is always looking to get others involved,” says Judy Schuler, Vice President of Operations. “If supplies were low in our Family Room program, you could always count on Barbie to show up in a day or two with her car full of needed items for the families we serve to enjoy; this happened too many times to count!” Barbie’s support for the community doesn’t stop at RMHC. For years, her family has also decorated the local homeless shelter for the holidays, reminiscing on how a little glimpse of joy can make a big difference in someone’s life. “You may think you don’t have time, but you have no idea how it will change your life. It is the most rewarding thing I’ve ever done,” says Barbie. Barbie lives with her husband, Jim, and their two ‘fur babies,’ Cooper and Udon, splitting their time between their homes in Belleville, IL, and on Dauphin Island, AL. ■
HEARTBITS Oh happy day! After 89 days at the West County Ronald McDonald House, the Landa family is going home! Big smiles from River’s dad, mom and big brother.
Special thanks to our friends at The Home Loan Expert, LLC. for helping keep our yards looking beautiful. We are so grateful for their continued support!
Special thank you to our friend Nolan for his recent service project benefiting RMHC! He raised over $500 to donate wish list items and made gift bags for the Family Room Program!
Each of our Ronald McDonald Houses received a beautiful set of Harry Potter books as part of the Liz’s Library project in memory of Elizabeth Barraza.
In honor of Luca’s NICU stay and the support her daughter received from RMHC, Grandma Laura donated the proceeds from a raffle she won at work. Thanks, Laura!
Pop those tabs! Our community pulled together at the Tab Top Pandemonium event, and the Didion Orf Recycling team presented us with a $9,000 check! On behalf of the families we serve, thank you!
Jadon and Lindon stayed with us for over 155 days. Thanks to RMHC, they celebrated Father’s Day and both of their birthdays together. We love celebrating with our families!
Special thanks to the team at USI Employee Benefits Consulting for helping keep the Park Avenue House looking great. Our gardens are looking fresh with new mulch.
Heartbeat • Fall/Winter 2021
26
THANK YOU FOR 40 YEARS OF SUPPORT
23
Heartbeat • Fall/Winter 2017
Heartbeat • Fall/Winter 2017
24
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 Emily Tetrault at 314-932-4133 or etetrault@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
VISIT US ONLINE AT WWW.RMHCSTL.COM, AND FIND US ON SOCIAL MEDIA: facebook.com/rmhcstl
twitter.com/rmhcstl
instagram.com/rmhcstl