RMHCAA Spring/Summer 2023 Newsletter

MEET THE ROCK FAMILY

“If we didn’t have the Ronald McDonald House, I would be staying bedside next to Jack every night. That might sound ok to some, but when one week turns into a month that turns into nearly a full year, that really weighs on the caretaker’s mental health and well-being.”

- Jack’s mom, Alanna

Gordon and Alanna Rock welcomed John IV (Jack) to the world on June 15, 2022 at the University of Michigan Health C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital. Shortly after the Rock family moved to Allendale, (near Grand Rapids) from Flagstaff, Arizona, they found out Jack would be born with hypoplastic left heart syndrome (HLHS). HLHS is when the left side of the heart is underdeveloped and cannot pump enough blood to meet the body’s needs. Jack also has Jacobsen Syndrome which complicates his case further.

After Jack was born, he was intubated for four months in the Pediatric Cardiac Thoracic Unit (PCTU). Between Jack’s birth in June, and Thanksgiving, Jack underwent four surgeries. What they thought might be a one, or two month hospital stay, turned into eight months of living under our roof at the House.

“Although it was difficult to leave Jack to walk over to the House at night, I knew it was the only way that I could sustain our long hospital stays. My husband had to eventually return to work and felt better knowing that I was being taken care of at RMHC Ann Arbor with a hot meal and a quiet place to rest,” shared Alanna.

After 250 days, the Rock family went home for the first time in late February. Unfortunately, their time at home was cut short and Jack had to be airlifted back to C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital. As Alanna packed hurriedly for the hospital, she only took a few things knowing that the House could provide her with whatever she didn’t bring.

Alanna stayed at the Mott House to be close to Jack. She felt maybe this was .just a blip and they’d be home in a few days. But that was not the case, and after a week, Alanna moved back into the Main House and at the time we interviewed her for this story, they had been staying there for two months.

Jack is progressing well, and they hope to go home shortly after his first birthday in June. They will return for more surgeries down the road, but they know that they have the comfort and support of RMHCAA beside them in this journey.

“RMHCAA is not just a room. RMHCAA is an overall sense of home. It’s all the little touches like a warm blanket given in a Welcome Bag, a Mother’s Day gift outside my door, an always stocked coffee bar, all wrapped into a gift that is beyond words. Thank you!” - The Rock Family

BOARD OF DIRECTORS

Rob Aldrich

Sheri Belcher-Tribble

John Charpie, MD

Luanne Thomas Ewald

Steve Furr

Aaron Gramling

Mayuri Guntupalli

John Hamilton

Krista Lenart

Andrew Loy

Kathy Matney

Gautam Muthusamy

Mark Pfau

Jennifer Schaible

Kara Slater

Debbie Tirico

Mark Van Sumeren

Monique Vann-Brown

Russ West

JZ Zdanowski

Loree Collett, Emeritus

Rosie Fellhauer, Emeritus

A LETTER FROM OUR CEO EXPANDING REACH

Kim Kelly, CEO

As spring turns into summer, our Houses continue to be at full occupancy nearly every night with families caring for a hospitalized child. I have challenged our Board of Directors and Staff to be focused on EXPANDING REACH to enable us to care for more families, not just those that need a bed to sleep in, but all those that need comfort and compassion while caring for their child.

To help us gain further focus around EXPANDING REACH and to make its importance clear, we recently updated our mission:

RMHC Ann Arbor provides a community of inclusive, compassionate, supportive programs and services that directly improve the health and well-being of children and their families.

We believe this mission better reflects the work that we are doing here at RMHCAA, not only at the Mott House and Main House, but also with the programs and services offered. This includes our Meals Matter Program, Family Welcome Bags, Toy Closet, Our House to Yours Bags, Hospitality a la Carte, and our Trinity Health Ann Arbor Comfort Care Bags.

As we continuously look to EXPAND REACH of our offerings to families, we are actively in conversation with Michigan Medicine as they evolve and grow to ensure we, too, continue to grow alongside them and plan for what those future opportunities look like.

In addition, we continue to seek other healthcare partners in the region to continue to serve even more families.

We know we can’t EXPAND REACH without YOU. We call on YOU to help support our mission through donations, volunteerism, and sharing our stories. Throughout this newsletter, we celebrate those in the community doing just that, and also share ways you can get involved. Join us as we EXPAND REACH and continue to Keep Families Close!

Kim Kelly - CEO, RMHCAA

CONGRATULATIONS TO OUR 2023 HEROES OF THE HOUSE AWARD RECIPIENTS

David Younger and JZ Zdanowski

WHO IS THE RED SHOE CREW?

Red Shoe Crew is a group of young professionals, 22 years of age and older, supporting the mission of RMHCAA through service, fundraising, and advocacy in the following ways:

• Sharing the mission of RMHCAA with peers and networks, actively promoting the Crew, and working to increase membership.

• Providing volunteer support individually and as a group through meal programs, family activities, and administrative tasks.

• Facilitating third-party fundraisers and assisting with the execution of the annual Red Shoe Affair.

INTERESTED IN JOINING THE RED SHOE CREW?

Visit

Scan or click to become a monthly donor today!

GIVE $23 MONTHLY – GET A TOTE BAG!

By choosing to become a monthly donor, you are joining a special community of supporters that are dedicated, strategic, and provide sustained support to our programs and services. BONUS – all monthly donors (that give a minimum recurring gift of $23) will receive a durable, reusable, canvas tote bag!

But why $23? The average stay for a family in our House is 23 nights! Your gift ensures we can provide the care and resources they need, while keeping the family together – for as long as it is needed – and at no cost to them. Your donation helps RMHCAA families feel at home, even when they can’t be.

Spring Happy Hour

RED SHOE CREW

Blanket Making Service Project

Baking Buddies

ENGAGE WITH RMHCAA

Volunteer support is essential to our organization’s ability to deliver our mission and serve the families of hospitalized children. Your time and talents help keep families close.

Main House Volunteers

We need volunteers to help with wide-ranging tasks at our Main House. As a volunteer, you make a direct and meaningful impact on our families. Two-hour, bi-weekly shifts are available throughout the day, on weekdays, and weekends.

Hospitality a la Carte Volunteers

This unique program relies on volunteers to circulate the Hospitality Carte on patient floors of C.S. Mott Children’s Hospital providing comfort care items to the caregivers who are sitting bedside for long hours. Volunteers work with a partner for two-hour, bi-weekly afternoon or evening shifts.

MEALS MATTER PROGRAM

“The meals provided at RMHCAA are such a gift because sometimes I didn’t even realize that I was hungry until I came back to the House and smelled dinner cooking.” - Jack’s Mom, Alanna Rock

COOKING UP COMFORT

Join us in the Main House kitchen to cook for our families.

Register up to 8 cooks. Make a $250 donation to cover the cost of food.

RMHCAA does the shopping. The recipe and ingredients are ready to go when you arrive.

Arrive at 4:30pm to Cook Up Comfort for our families!

CHEF FOR A DAY

Join us in the Main House kitchen to cook for our families.

Register up to 8 cooks. Plan your menu to serve 45 House guests. Shop, prep, and bring ingredients needed to make your culinary creation!

Arrive at 4:30pm to be our Chef for the Day!

BAKING BUDDIES

Join us in the Main House kitchen to bake delicious treats!

Sign up for a morning time slot on Tuesdays, Thursdays, or Saturdays.

More information on volunteering can be found by clicking or scanning the code: -OR-OR-

Register up to 8 bakers. Plan your treats, shop, and bring all unopened ingredients to bake.

Arrive at 10am to bake your treats and make our House smell like a home.

PANTRY OR MEAL DONATION

Make a monetary donation of $250 to cover the cost of dinner for our families.

Donate a catered meal from a restaurant.

Donate pantry items off our Wish List.

Learn more about Meals Matter, click or scan code:

VOLUNTEER SPOTLIGHT

Josie Norcia - Cooking Up Comfort for Families

Josie Norcia of Northville wakes up each morning thinking about who she can cook for today. She cooks for neighbors, friends, family, and now for the families at RMHCAA. In the past few months, Josie has cooked five meals and baked twice in our House kitchen. Josie says it’s in her nature as an Italian mom, and now grandma, to show her love and compassion for others through food.

“I love kids, I love to cook, and I love spending time volunteering, so when my friend told me about the Meals Matter program, I was all in!”

Josie not only cooks and bakes for RMHCAA but she is a passionate ambassador of our mission in her community. With just a few quick texts, Josie can get a squad of volunteers to join her at the House to cook and bake!

We are thankful for Josie’s time, talent, and passion for the families at RMHCAA!

Josie’s Advice on Volunteering

1. Think about what you are passionate about and find a way to align that with what an organization needs.

2. Start Small. Start Simple. - Cooking a meal for one night at RMHCAA is a small deed that makes a huge impact on a family caring for a child away from home.

3. Invite your friends to join you...life is best when shared with friends!

OTHER WAYS YOU CAN HELP

Host a Fundraiser

Hosting a fundraiser is a great way to get your community involved and help support RMHCAA families. Whether you host an in-person event, like a corporate golf outing this summer, or start a peer-to-peer fundraiser, your support makes a difference for our families.

To learn more about hosting a fundraiser click or scan the code:

TOP WISH LIST ITEMS

• Individually packaged microwaveable soups, pastas, and oatmeals

• Individually packaged chips, cookies, granola bars, and trail mix

• Individually packaged cereal boxes

• Fleece throws

• Individually sized meal prep containers

• Trash bags - 6 gallon, 15 gallon, and 30 gallon

• Paper towels

To view our complete Wish List click or scan the code:

Josie serving dinner to a family staying at the Main House.

Josie doing what she loves - baking!

Josie and Ronald

Thank you to everyone who supported our 11th Annual Red Shoe Affair on April 22! The funds raised will support our inclusive community of compassion, support, and comforts of home to families only steps away from the medical care their child needs.

RED SHOE

PRESENTING SPONSOR

McDonald’s Michigan Owner Operators Business Association

AFTERGLOW SPONSOR

DTE Foundation

CARING HEARTS SPONSORS

Baughman Capital Management

Josie and Jerry Norcia

Sara and Mark Pfau

Plymouth Dentistry

Mark and Kate Van Sumeren & Karen Luther and Mike Green

HOUSE SPONSORS

Dr. Dennis Crowley and Anita Clos

Hyundai Lane Good Family

In Good Company Integrated Solutions

Kennedy Care

La-Z-Boy Furniture

Dr. Rick and Bonnie Ohye

Old National Bank

PNC Bank

Dan Papajcik and Jessie Newman

Team Adalyn & Maelyn

Debbie and Mike Tirico

Tribble Painting

University of Michigan Credit Union

Varnum LLP

FAMILY SPONSORS

Atwell, LLC

Bank of Ann Arbor

The Bouma Group Realtors

Betsy and Patrick Cavanaugh

Charles J. and Kathleen M. Baum

Family Fund

Dr. John and Kathy Charpie

Columbia Asset Management

Matt Dejanovich- Real Estate One

Dr. Pepper

Dykema

Forward Design Build Remodel

Todd and Susie McDevitt

Karen and Jeff Rothstein

Taylor Freezer of Michigan, Inc.

Jim and Renee Turissini

Tyson Foods

The Van Hooser Family

Kevin and Andrea Webber

JZ and Terry Zdanowski

SPONSORS

FRIEND SPONSORS

Patty and Rob Aldrich

Ann Arbor Area Community Foundation

Sara and Bill Atwell

Real Estate One- Debbie Bourdon

Monique Vann Brown and Keith Brown

Chelsea State Bank

The Coca-Cola Company

Loree and Mike Collett

Ewing Pros

Arthur J. Gallagher & Co.

Aaron and Amanda Gramling

Mayuri Guntupalli and James Devaney

Robin and David Hescheles

Kapnick Insurance

J. Keller Properties

Karen and David Kowal

Legacy Wealth Partners

Main Street Homes

Maya Curtis Law

McCain Foods

Dr. Christopher Newton and Mary Newton

Petersmark Financial Network

Probility Physical Therapy

Rare Bird Marketing

Anne and Greg Stevens

J.D. Wisner Electric

SUPPORT SPONSOR

A2 Global Insights

David and Katie Andrea

Avfuel Corporation

Ellen Delonis

Evangelista & Associates

Tricia Kaye

Kim Kelly and Jill Rutledge

Geraldine Kilsdonk

Becky and Eric Maley

Martin Brower Co.

Megan Mazurek, Reinhart Realtors

Preferred Title Agency of Ann Arbor

Sara and Jeff Thompson

HEADS OR TAILS SPONSOR

Linda and Randy Meadows

RED SHOE CONTEST SPONSOR

Leyla

CANDY TABLE SPONSOR

Enspire Dental

ADVERTISING SPONSORS

C.F. Burger Creamery

Harbor Results Inc.

Ann Arbor Optometry

Greener/Cleaner/Solutions

Special thanks to our family ambassadors, donors, sponsors, guests, auction bidders, board members, event co-chairsSheri Belcher Tribble and Todd Tribble & Sara and Bill Atwell, host committee members, volunteers, staff, and Ronald McDonald.

Ann Arbor

RMHC ANN ARBOR MISSION

RMHC Ann Arbor provides a community of inclusive, compassionate, supportive programs and services that directly improve the health and well-being of children and their families.

CONTACT US

1600 Washington Heights

Ann Arbor, MI 48104 734-994-4442 | rmhcannarbor.org

DID YOU KNOW?

We collect pop tabs all year-round to recycle and fund our operations. Pop tabs can be dropped off at the Main House 7 days a week 9am - 9pm. Thank you!

IN THIS ISSUE

TOY CLOSET JOY

The RMHCAA Toy Closet is a smile-maker for our youngest guests staying at the House! Siblings get to pick out a new toy from our Closet weekly. They enjoy picking out a toy for their hospitilized brother or sister as well!