Heart Strings

Fall 2021

Keeping families close

®

News

You help change lives

Thank You for Helping Keep the Paul Family Close to Baby Lucas A Main House Family Story, page 3

Inside Board & Staff List, page 2

Hero of the House, page 4

Director’s Letter, page 2

Red Shoe Affair, page 6

Giving is the Reason of The Season, page 4

Thank You Red Shoe Affair Sponsors, page 7

Pop Table Battle, page 4

Ways You Can Help, page 8

Perseverance, Trust and Community

FALL 2021 RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE CHARITIES ANN ARBOR

BOARD OF DIRECTORS JZ Zdanowski, President Sheri Belcher-Tribble, Vice President Andrew Loy, Treasurer Kara Slater, Secretary Loree Collett, Past President Rob Aldrich Patrick Cavanaugh John Charpie, M.D. Matt Dejanovich A.C. Ganger Aaron Gramling Mayuri Guntupalli John Hamilton Krista Lenart Michelle McAllister Chad Nyitray Roy Sexton Debbie Tirico Monique Vann Brown Russell West Rosie Fellhauer, Emeritus STAFF Kim Kelly, Executive Director Marcia Monson, Operations Director Julaine LeDuc, Development Director Kathy Baum, Administrative Manager Stacey Laho, Family Services Coordinator Lauren Budhu, Communications Specialist

Mary Moffett, Development and Events Manager

Anna Beeman, Development Coordinator DeAnn Phillips, Accountant Nancy Bailey, Program Services Manager Cindy Anim-Gyan, House Manager Kimberly Duncan, House Manager Michelle Harris, House Manager Ashley Jackson, House Manager Heidi Kozlowski, House Manager Peggy McCloskey, House Manager Diana Patterson, House Manager Kathleen Schorin, House Manager Khristian Speelman, House Manager Brian Barnes, Building Services Michelle Beaudrie, Building Services Kristina Collins, Building Services

627d45

Kim Kelly

Executive Director

Perseverance, trust and community…those are the words that come to mind when I think about the journey we have all been on.

I am awed by perseverance of our families who faced even more challenges with the pandemic, as they left friends and loved ones at home to be by their sick child’s bedside. The perseverance of our staff, those House Managers who limited their activities to keep our families safe, and other staff who converted their homes into offices to limit who came in and out of the House.

The trust that our families put in Ronald McDonald House to keep them close to their child is our mission, and what inspires all of us every day.

The trust that our staff had of each other, to keep them going when all of us were uncertain, and often afraid, of the future.

Finally, the trust that we have of our community, which is all of you. Your perseverance in helping us keep our families close to their child was overwhelming. You helped RMHCAA continue to provide food and comfort when we had to shift our operations to provide individual meals and helped us keep our operations going during one of the most difficult times in our history.

As we continue to navigate an uncertain future, we are grateful for your perseverance in supporting our families, your trust in our mission, and our community. Although some things in the future are uncertain, we are grateful for your support.

With gratitude,

Kim Kelly Executive Director Ronald McDonald House Charities Ann Arbor

For more information or to share comments, please email lbudhu@rmhcannarbor.org.

2

RMHCAnnArbor.org/donate

Fall 2021

5

Nolan Paul (left with Lucas Paul) has been “an amazing big brother to Lucas ever since he was born,” mom Andrea said.

Lucas is now 6 years old and loves playing with cars, she added.

A Main House Family Story Before Lucas Paul was even a year old, he had already had two heart surgeries and spent months in the hospital.

was able to get much-needed naps and have down time in the playroom.

At just three days old, Lucas had a successful first heart surgery. At seven months old, he had his second heart surgery. But this time, he went into cardiac arrest requiring the support of extracorporeal membrane oxygenation (ECMO) provided through C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital.

“It made all the difference for [us] to not have to continually pack up [our] things to head home,” Andrea said.

His parents Christian and Andrea Paul went numb over their baby boy’s horrific medical situation, Andrea said.

And to add to their stress, they were trying to care for their other two-year-old son, commuting over an hour from their home. It was then when their social worker suggested they stay at the Main House of Ronald McDonald House Charities Ann Arbor. “We thought maybe that would help us stay close to both of our boys,” Andrea said.

She had no idea they would need RMHCAA for almost four months. Andrea said that being able to come and go as they like made it feel “like their home” and their toddler

“It was everything,” she added. “Grabbing coffee so we could be with Lucas within minutes; having dinners so we didn’t have to make another decision or incur more cost; and having a scene different than the hospital where we could get rest. To top it off, we were there at the holidays and RMHC went over the top with the holiday shop to choose gifts for our boys and [the] special gift bag we [received]. It was just so much love.”

Andrea added that it was a blessing to be able to have Lucas's brother with their family with him being a young age.

Lucas is now 6 years old and he loves playing with cars, trucks and baseball with his friends and big brother.

Giving is the Reason for the Season 1

Make a donation to the Ronald McDonald House Charities Ann Arbor in any amount in some-

one’s name as a holiday gift:

$25 provides coffee for our families for one day $50 helps to purchase fresh towels for one guest room $100 will pay for a night’s stay at one of our two Houses for a family $250 underwrites the cost of a dinner for our families

2

Adopt A Room from your family to one of ours! With a

gift of $2,500, you can Adopt A Room for the year and provide families with a private bedroom and bathroom, laundry facilities, transportation, meals, and play area. Make the donation in your family’s name and make it a gift you can all enjoy. For more information, contact Julaine LeDuc at jleduc@rmhcannarbor.org or call (734) 998-6532.

Pop Tab Battle Time A Main House Family Story

It’s fall, it’s football season, and it’s Pop Tab Battle time again. Help us beat Ohio State!

By collecting pop tabs for the Ronald McDonald House Charities Ann Arbor, you can help us beat the Ronald McDonald House in Columbus.

Start collecting your tabs now. Get a collection going at your school or place of business, or with your friends and family. Drop tabs off between November 1 and game day on November 27 at our Pop Tab Hut located in the parking lot of the Main House from 9 a.m. to 9 p.m. weekdays and weekends. The pop tabs are taken to a recycling center and weighed to determine their value.

November 1 - 27

The proceeds are then used by RMHCAA to help fund our programs and operations.

The Ronald McDonald House that collects the most pounds of pop tabs wins the Pop Tab Battle. But the biggest winners are the families and children who benefit from the services provided by the Ronald McDonald House.

Hero of the House Hero of the House is a special recognition for a few special, longterm/dedicated supporters of our organization. Congratulations to these special awardees for the work they’ve done during these extremely difficult times!

2020: RMHC Ann Arbor Staff 2021: Loree Collett, Past Board President 4

RMHCAnnArbor.org/donate

Fall 2021

3 4

Organize a Wish List collection

among your family or coworkers. Instead of exchanging gifts, collect items from our WishList of things needed to stock the pantry with items that are often used by our families. Find the WishList on our website at rmhcannarbor.org, as well as links to our Amazon wishlist.

Donate a vehicle. You hold the keys to

keeping families close. Vehicle donations provide funds that RMHCAA can use to support needs at our Houses.

To donate a vehicle, Visit www.CarsHelp.org or call toll free at 855-CarsHelp (227-7435) .

5

6 7

Give gift cards.

Donations of $25 gift cards to stores such as Kroger, Target, and Amazon or restaurants such as Panera or for pizza provide flexibility to assist families on an as-needed basis, and allow them to purchase much needed items. .

Donate stocks or airline and hotel points.

Donating stocks to RMHCAA provides some tax benefit to the donor (please check with your financial advisor). Donating airline or hotel points helps us assist families in traveling when necessary to go back home or to get family members to the hospital or RMH House in emergency situations. To make a donation, contact Julaine LeDuc at jleduc@rmhcannarbor.org or call (734) 998-6532. .

Share the joy of the season.

Send a holiday card with a colorful pen and ink drawing of the House to your friends and loved ones to benefit RMHCAA. The front of the card features the House in a winter setting with the inside sentiment reading “Warm Wishes from our House to your House.” Cost of the cards is $30 for a package of 25. Cards can be purchased by contacting Kathy at (734) 998-2102 or kbaum@rmhcannarbor.org. Shipping costs will be applied to the order.

More ways to give. There are many other ways to support RMHC Ann Arbor! Head over to rmhcannarbor.org.

Heart Strings

5

9th Annual Red Shoe Affair Goes Alfresco Guests were footloose and feel’n free at this year’s Red Shoe Affair on 9.17.21 at German Park, an outdoor, COVID-safe venue. The 350+ attendees enjoyed an evening under the stars, trees, and twinkle lights in support of Ronald McDonald House Charities Ann Arbor. From photos with Ronald to great food, amazing baskets in the silent auction, dancing to The Mega 80’s, and the charm of the rustic German Park, the evening was a wonderful success! Thanks to our generous sponsors and attendees, we exceeded our goal and raised more than $375,000 to help fund our operations and continue our mission of serving families of hospitalized children.

1

3

2

Guests were footloose and feel’n free at this year’s Red Shoe Affair at German Park, an outdoor, COVID-safe venue.

The 350+ attendees enjoyed an evening under the stars, trees, and twinkle lights in support of Ronald McDonald House Charities Ann Arbor. From photos with Ronald to great food, amazing baskets in the silent auction, dancing to The Mega 80’s, and the charm of the rustic German Park, the evening was a wonderful success! Thanks to our generous sponsors and attendees, we exceeded our goal and raised more than $375,000 to help fund our operations and continue our mission of serving families of hospitalized children.

4

5

6

1: Ronald McDonald compares red shoes with event guests. 2: Event sponsors and guests enjoy dinner under the pavilion at German Park. 3: RMHCAA board members and RSA sponsors Loree Collett (L) and Mayuri Guntupalli (R) sporting red shoes. 4: Red Shoe Affair chairs Todd Tribble and Sheri Belcher and vice chairs Betsy and Patrick Cavanaugh enjoy the evening. 5: RMHCAA board member and RSA sponsors AC and Laura Ganger, MD, (L) with Alison and Rishi Narayan. 6: John Charpie, MD, Co-Director of the UM Congenital Heart Center and Division Director and Amnon Rosenthal Professor of Cardiology, talks about the support RMHCAA provides to the families of C.S. Mott pediatric patients.

A Special Thank You to Our Sponsors Special thanks to the following sponsors* who supported our 2021 Red Shoe Affair event PRESENTING SPONSOR McDonald’s Michigan Operators Business Association CARING HEARTS SPONSORS C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital Karen Glorio Luther Kennedy Care Debbie and Mike Tirico HOUSE SPONSORS Team Adalyn and Maelyn Charles J. and Kathleen Baum Family Fund Dr. Michelle and Andrew Caird Dr. Dennis Crowley and Anita Clos Ganger Dermatology Lane Good and Family Jackie and Philip Lapinski Liberty Title Stacey and Mike Marsh Linda and Randy Meadows Mott Golf Classic Jessie Newman and Dan Papajcik Karen and Jeff Rothstein Rick Taylor Realtor Charles Reinhart Company Tribble Painting Company Van Hooser Family Kate and Mark Van Sumeren FAMILY SPONSORS Bank of Ann Arbor Big Blue Ann Arbor Dr. Edward and Linda Bove Andrea and David Brown Betsy and Patrick Cavanaugh Dr. John and Kathy Charpie

Columbia Asset Management Matt Dejanovich – Real Estate One Dykema Forward Design Build Remodel Kapnick Insurance Group Karen and David Kowal Chad Nyitray Dr. Rick and Bonnie Ohye Dr. Pepper Taylor Freezer of Michigan, Inc. Tyson Foods, Inc. Monique Vann Brown Tracey Roy Realtor Charles Reinhart Company Terry and JZ Zdanowski SPECIAL SPONSORS Enspire Dental (Candy Table) Bunek Dental Studio (Hand Sanitizer) FRIEND SPONSORS Patty and Rob Aldrich Anderson Paint Company Ann Arbor Plastic Surgery Baughman Capital Management The Bonner Advisory Group Dr. Creg and Sheila Carpenter The Coca-Cola Company Loree and Richard Collett DreamMaker Bath & Kitchen Rosie and Al Fellhauer Katie and Dugan Fife Dr. Elissa Gaies Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. Mayuri Guntupalli and James DeVaney Jan and John Hamilton

Angela and Alan Harris Jastar, LLC Mary and Glenn Johnson J Keller Properties, LLC Geraldine Kilsdonk Linda and John Larin Main Street Homes Old National Bancorp Dr. Chris and Mary Newton Pollock Investment Advisors Jeri Rosenberg and Vic Strecher SVN Stewart Commercial Group University of Michigan Credit Union FRIEND SPONSORS Comcast Lisa Chenevey Dempsey – Keller Williams Evangelista & Associates Amanda and Aaron Gramling Hantz Financial Becky and Eric Maley Martin Brower Susie and Todd McDevitt The Write Touch by Leyla Heath Waddington and Leyla Conlan ADVERTISING SPONSORS Absolute Title, Inc. C.F. Burger Creamery Domino’s Pizza J.D. Wisner Electrical * Sponsors as of 9/30/21

For more information about our 10th Annual Red Shoe Affair event, please contact Mary Moffett at mmoffett@rmhcannarbor.org or call (734) 417-4517.

Heart Strings

7

Ways you can help keep our families close to their seriously ill children Share Some Hope Host a Fundraising Event Hosting your own fundraiser allows you the opportunity to share a message of hope about Ronald McDonald House Charities Ann Arbor while raising support for the families we serve. Anyone can host a fundraiser: an individual, family, group of friends, school, company, or community group!

Every dollar raised goes towards helping to provide our families with a warm meal, a comfortable bed, a hot shower, and a sense of hope. There are a number of ways to host a community fundraiser, both virtually and in-person.

Here are just few in-person ideas: • A run or walk • Jeans day • Car wash • Golf outing • A cooking/baking competition • Dance marathon • Bike-a-thon

Virtual fundraising ideas include: • Zoom house parties • Virtual run or walk • Zoom bingo or trivia contest

Interested in hosting a community fundraiser? Our staff is able to work with you and provide support to make sure your event is a success. For more information or help getting started, contact Development and Events Manager, Mary Moffett, at mmoffett@rmhcannarbor.org.

Host a Facebook Fundraiser Anyone with a Facebook page can host a fundraiser. It’s easy and takes minutes to set up. 1) Click on “fundraiser” in the left menu of your News Feed 2) Click on “raise money” 3) Select non-profit or charity 4) Select Ronald McDonald House Charities Ann Arbor (we are Facebook-approved) 5) Complete the rest of the required information and click “create” and then share with your family and friends!

Funds will automatically be sent to RMHCAA by Facebook, so no need to handle any money.

You Change Lives Your gifts, no matter the size, change lives every day.

Donate Now RMHCAnnArbor.org/donate

If you have questions about making a gift, please contact jleduc@rmhcannarbor.org.

The mission of Ronald McDonald House Charities Ann Arbor is to provide a “home away from home” for families of children experiencing a serious illness or injury requiring hospitalization.

Ronald McDonald House Charities Ann Arbor 1600 Washington Heights Ann Arbor, MI 48104 Ronald McDonald House within C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital 1540 East Hospital Drive Ann Arbor, MI 48109

Phone: 734-994-4442 Fax: 734-994-4919 RMHCAnnArbor.org

#keepingfamiliesclose