Wish Lists - Ronald McDonald House Charities of Chicagoland and ...

Ronald McDonald House Charities
of Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana
1900 Spring Road, Suite 310
Oak Brook, Illinois 60523
BOARD OF DIRECTORS:
Paul Clark, Chairman Emeritus
Mike Kotynek, Chairman
Paul Huebener, Vice Chairman
Mary Haggerty, Treasurer
Todd Schaefer, Secretary
Jim Brady
Steve Brunner
Mark Butterly, M.D.
Don Camp
Maneesh Chawla
Mike Cronin
Carmen DeCarrier
Mark Duffy
Greg Ellison
Meg Floersch
Mark Freeman
Mary Herrmann
A.J. Hotaling, M.D.
Bill Keyser
Greg Koerner
Patty Kryscha
Dean Lane
Sheila Musolino
Lorraine Nelson
Tim Nevins
Jim Norberg
Jim Petrowich
Dave Pojman
Sue Singleton
Charlie Stone
Liz Thompson
Wish Lists
Northside House
Toilet paper
Paper towels
White bath towel sets
Liquid laundry detergent
Standard pillows
Target, Bed Bath & Beyond, and
Jewel gift cards
RMHC-CNI OFFICE
Doug Porter, Chief Executive Officer
1900 Spring Road, Suite 310
Oak Brook, Illinois 60523
(630) 623-5300 office
(630) 623-5307 direct
(630) 623-0808 fax
www.ronaldhousechicago.org
RONALD MCDONALD HOUSES:
Near Children’s Memorial Hospital
(Northside House)
Anne Czarnecki, House Director
622 West Deming Place
Chicago, IL 60614
(773) 348-5322
(773) 348-7619 fax
Help us update our information
Near University of Chicago Comer
Children’s Hospital (Southside House)
Mardelle Gundlach, House Director
5444 S. Drexel Avenue
Chicago, IL 60615
(773) 324-5437
(773) 493-2905 fax
Near Loyola University Medical Center
Andi Wadas, House Director
Tripp Avenue at Air Mail Road
P. O. Box 7002
Hines, IL 60141
(708) 327-2273
(708) 327-6000 fax
Near Advocate Hope Children’s Hospital
Kelly Evans, House Director
4410 W. 93rd Street
Oak Lawn, IL 60453
(708) 423-5285
(708) 423-5658 fax
HAND IN HAND EDITORIAL STAFF:
Jill Sterling, Editor
Anne Czarnecki
Kelly Evans
Mardelle Gundlach
Jamie Haberkorn
Mary Agnes Laguatan
Sue Vadovicky
Andi Wadas
SPECIAL THANKS TO:
Janel Toal, Graphic Designer
McKay Printing Services
MISSION:
Ronald McDonald House Charities of Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana is a leader in making the lives of children and their families better
by operating Ronald McDonald Houses which provide a home away from home for the families of children being treated at local hospitals,
operating a Ronald McDonald Care Mobile and funding scholarships for local college students. RMHC-CNI is supported by its volunteers,
generous donors and staff, as well as the McDonald’s family, which includes owner-operators, suppliers and employees.
Southside House
Individual snacks and cereal
Good quality paper plates
OfficeMax gift certificates
Sam’s, Wal-Mart & Gordon Food
Service gift certificates
Loyola House
Laundry detergent (powdered)
Disposable aluminum cookie sheets
and bakeware
Oust disinfectant air spray
Coffee filters (basket type)
Non-latex gloves
White zippered pillow protectors
(standard size)
____ My name and address need correcting as shown.
____ I received more than one issue of this newsletter.
____ I would like to share this newsletter with a friend
(provide address information).
____ I would like to be removed from your database.
Please return the above to the RMHC-CNI office in
Oak Brook. Thank you.
Hope House
Queen size mattress protectors
Travel size deodorant
Small laundry linen bags
Toilet paper
Paper towels
Copy paper
Non Profit Org.
US Postage
Paid
Michigan City IN
Permit No. 63
Gift cards for Home Depot, Sam’s Club,
Target, Jewel & local restaurants
Check out our website at RonaldHouseChicago.org for up-to-date news and information every day!

On a cold morning late last year, parents
Mike and Letitia Yoder, along with their four
children, Hannah (11), Joshua (9), Cedric (5),
and Alecia (3), packed their car for a journey
to Asheville, N.C. to visit Mike’s parents.
Unfortunately, what began as an exciting
holiday adventure abruptly ended when the
car hit a patch of ice and slid into the back
of a jackknifed semi truck.
All four children sustained injuries in the
accident and were taken by ambulance
to Crown Point Hospital in Indiana. After
doctors evaluated the children at the
hospital, it was determined that Joshua had
sustained facial fractures, a cracked skull, and
lacerations around his eye — all requiring
surgery. Cedric, who had cracked ribs, and his
sister Hannah, were both suffering from liver
lacerations, and several of baby Alecia’s teeth
were dislocated.
That same morning, after being stabilized
and intubated, Joshua was transported by
ambulance to undergo surgery at University
of Chicago Comer Children’s Hospital. The
other three children travelled separately,
with Cedric and Hannah later being admitted
to the hospital for observation. Alecia was
not admitted but was later treated by an
oral surgeon.
While Joshua was assessed and prepared for
surgery, the children’s grandparents arrived
at the hospital. It was then that the family,
with help from an emergency room doctor
friend and Comer staff, reached out to the
Ronald McDonald House. “The House was
a Godsend,” Mike said. “It was close to the
hospital and had everything we needed,”
he said.
Twelve hours after the accident, Joshua
underwent six hours of surgery to address his
injuries. While Mike stayed in the Intensive
Care Unit with Joshua during his recovery,
the children’s grandparents and baby Alecia
stayed at the House.
Over the course of the next three days,
Hannah and Cedric were released from the
hospital and joined the family at the House.
The family appreciated a place that was
a respite away from the hospital. “I can’t
think of a more valuable and restful place
for families,” Mike said. “It was a nice, calm
setting with great meals and a child’s play
area,” he added.
The entire family was able to enjoy a
Christmas Eve meal together at the House
before Joshua was released on Christmas Day.
“It was incredible that the House was staffed
during Christmas,” Mike said. “The groups
that come in and make meals are super nice,”
he said.
Fall 2011
handinhand
Family Finds Solace At the Ronald McDonald
House ® While Four Children Are Hospitalized
The Yoder Family
Mike also appreciated that the House helps
those families who may not have any family
in the area. “The House offers an array
of options depending on the needs of the
family,” he added.
During the first week of January, several of
the children were sufficiently recovered and
able to return to school. Although Joshua
has several scars and may require additional
surgery to correct his damaged tear duct, he
returned to school several weeks later and
was able to resume normal activities.
The good news of the family’s experience at
the House spread throughout the community.
Because of the wonderful care the family
received, one of Hannah’s friends felt
compelled to ask the principal to adopt the
House as a service project. Now 450 children
at the Yoder children’s school are collecting
pop tabs to benefit the House.
1

2
From Our Leadership
A Look Forward with a Peek in
the Rear View Mirror
Doug Porter, CEO and Mike Kotynek,
Outgoing Board Chairman
A Message From
Mike Kotynek and
Doug Porter
Our first Chicagoland Ronald McDonald
House opened its doors back in 1977. The
House is a beautiful home that was built
in the late 1800s — used as a convent
for a period — and then purchased
and converted into the second Ronald
McDonald House in the world. 34 years
later, the House still stands proudly in
Lincoln Park, having served more than
25,000 families since its opening.
All these years later, our mission of
improving the health, well-being and
education of children in the Chicagoland
and Northwest Indiana area has continued
to grow. Today we have four Ronald
McDonald Houses, a mobile Care Mobile
Y Paul Bowyer
Travis Bristow
Dominic Cairo
Elijah Cline
Brian Coleman
Owen Ellis
Bruce Florine
Shaniya Gayden
Our Hearts Remember
Taylor Gordon
Micah Heinrich
Anton Hunt
DeKayla Jackson
Carrie Janik
Garv Khandelwal
Molly Kohl
Jason Krystowiak
unit providing general medical care to
children, and a robust scholarship program
that enables forty deserving young people
to pursue their college dreams. Suffice it to
say, we have come a long way.
The landscape in healthcare has also
changed over the years and RMHC®-CNI
continues to evolve to keep up with those
shifts. Along those lines, I am proud to
report that we continue to move forward
with the construction of a 14-story,
state-of-the-art Ronald McDonald House in
the Streeterville neighborhood of Chicago.
This new House will replace our Lincoln
Park House — which we have outgrown
— and our partnership will seamlessly
continue with the Ann and Robert H. Lurie
Children’s Hospital (formerly Children’s
Memorial Hospital).
Two years ago we ambitiously set out to
raise $30 million dollars to construct this
House, and through the generosity of our
donors, we have achieved 70% of this goal.
The new House will provide the comforts
of home to 86 families each night.
RMHC-CNI recently held our “Topping Off”
ceremony and we are thrilled that we are
on schedule to open the House in July
of 2012.
We are also proud that we continue
to evaluate new opportunities to serve
the needs within our community. In
partnership with Edward Hospital in
Naperville, we look forward to opening a
Elizabeth Langon
Amy LaRocque
Caroline Laufenberg
Trent Logan
Olivia Makowski
Jeremiah Martinez
Mason Parrish
Hailee Pastrana
Ronald McDonald Family Room® in early
2012. The Family Room will provide a
respite for families of critically ill children
just outside the pediatric intensive care
unit and outpatient service area.
A special note from outgoing
Board Chairman Michael Kotynek
I have had the wonderful pleasure of
being part of this great organization for
over fifteen years, and I am truly amazed
at the passion and generosity that goes
into making RMHC-CNI what it is, day
in and day out. We continue to grow in
a responsible way, knowing that there
continues to be a great need for
our services.
As my term as chairman of RMHC-CNI
comes to an end this year, I fondly
look back at my experiences and on the
relationships that I have developed. To see
people give so freely of their time, talent,
and treasure has been inspirational to me.
To witness the strength and courage of the
families we serve continues to make me
want to do more. To see a child deal with
sickness tugs at my heart and makes me
take pause. What I have seen and learned
over the past several years has made me
a better person. Thank you all for your
continued support of RMHC-CNI. Your
efforts have not gone unnoticed and have
made a difference in many lives.
Respectfully,
Michael Kotynek
Veer Patel
Seth Petreikis
Riley Philpot
Sophie Prom
Preston Pryor
Santos Ruiz
Jesus Sanchez
Matthew Sanders
Tylor Smoot
Joanna Somaily
Joaquin VanVuren
Vincent Villacci
Alexis Villalobos
Maryelle Weatherford
Consuela Wilson

Our Supporters
Adding Our Heart to
Chicago’s Skyline
We came one step closer to
completion of the new Ronald
McDonald House near Lurie
Children’s on September 27 as we
“topped off” this historic construction
project. Thanks to our wonderful team
of architects at Antunovich
and Associates, contractors at
Bulley & Andrews and project
managers at CR Daccord, Inc, our
project is meeting or exceeding
all goals.
The ceremony was a commemoration
of the important milestone of placing
the final beam at the very top of the
building. Hundreds of supporters of
the House attended the event, which
was held on the rooftop parking
deck of the garage just across the
street. Longtime friend of the charity
Grace Altrock, a guest at the
Northside Ronald McDonald House,
attends the topping off ceremony
with Ronald McDonald.
and honorary chair of the capital
campaign, WLS-TV Sports Director
Mark Giangrego, was our master
of ceremonies.
Our program included an amazing
rendition of the national anthem
by famed vocalist Jim Cornelison,
the official voice of the Chicago
Blackhawks. Congratulatory words
were offered by Alderman Brendan
Reilly and Pat Magoon, CEO of
Children's Memorial Hospital, rounded
out the momentous occasion. A
beautiful symbolic heart-shaped
balloon release followed the raising of
the beam. Our grand finale included
a moving original song performed by
the Kenwood Academy Concert Choir
(lyrics by Nancy Slattery and music
by Ira Antelis).
Now that the exterior of the building is
complete, we look forward to watching
the interior take shape. Thanks to the
leadership of our design firm – Gettys
— and our operational planning team,
the House will continue its progression
into becoming a “home away from
home” for thousands of families.
You need a very tall crane to raise the
last beam to the top of the world’s
largest Ronald McDonald House.
RMHC-CNI is grateful for the generous
support of Stevenson Crane for the
donation of all crane and operator
services throughout the construction
of the new Ronald McDonald House
near Lurie Children’s. Owners Donna
and Dan Stevenson have become a
wonderful part of the RMHC-CNI
family and their passion for our
mission will help to add our heart to
the Chicago skyline!
handinhand
3

4
Become a Supporter
Help Us Bring the Final Touches of Home to
the World’s Largest Ronald McDonald House!
The Ronald McDonald House near Lurie
Children’s will open in the summer of
2012. Once open, the House will serve as
a haven of comfort and hope for families
who travel from all parts of the globe
to receive treatment for their medically
fragile children. As construction
continues, we’re moving closer every day
to making this House a reality! You can
help us fill our new House with all the
items needed to make it a “home away
from home” for the families we serve.
Once construction is complete, the
new House will need everything from
silverware and dishes to laundry baskets
and umbrellas. With your help, we
will be able to provide a comfortable
home-like atmosphere for families while
their children receive critical medical
treatment in downtown Chicago.
If you are interested in helping us equip
the new House, you can find our Amazon
Wish List by visiting Amazon.com and
searching Ronald McDonald House near
Lurie Children’s. When purchasing an
item, please include the donor’s name
and address in the gift note section so
that we can acknowledge the donation
accurately. If it’s a tribute gift, please
include that information as well.
For more information please
call (773) 348.5322 or visit
www.RonaldHouseChicago.org
Leave a Legacy of Love
Each year, generous donors
make gifts to support the
thousands of children and
families served by our four
Ronald McDonald Houses,
our Care Mobile program
and our scholarship program.
These contributions sustain
our annual operations and
allow us to continue to serve
thousands of families and
children in our area.
We also welcome contributions
from individuals who are
making plans for a gift from
their estate.
NAME
ADDRESS
Depending on your personal
preferences and the cash
basis of your assets, planned
giving options might include:
a bequest; the transfer of
stocks, real estate, or life
insurance; naming a charitable
beneficiary for a retirement
plan or IRA; the establishment
of a gift annuity; or the
establishment of a charitable
lead or remainder trust. The
option you choose will depend
on your unique objectives
and circumstances.
A planned gift can offer
you substantial tax savings,
I’ve already included RMHC-CNI in my estate plan.
retirement income, economic
benefits for your loved ones,
and the intrinsic satisfaction
of leaving a legacy.
For more information on
planned giving, log on
to rmhccni.org/pages/
plannedgiving.php. If you
would like to discuss planned
gift options, please contact
Bill Melka at 630-623-6842 or
bmelka@rmhccni.org. You can
also fill out the form below
and return it to our offices at:
RMHC-CNI, 1900 Spring Road,
Suite 310, Oak Brook, IL 60523
(ATTN: Bill Melka).
I would like someone to contact me about including RMHC-CNI in my estate plan.
CITY, STATE, ZIP
PHONE NUMBER / EMAIL

Partnerships & Support
Birdies for Charity
On September 6, 14 Chicago-area golf professionals hit the course at River Forest Country
Club for the inaugural “Birdies for Charity” event, which raised funds for RMHC-CNI and
the Illinois PGA Foundation. The pros solicited pledges for each hole they finished under
par, with the money racking up for each birdie they shot. After an amazing 72 holes
played that day, nearly $28,000 was raised for RMHC-CNI! Special thanks to the Illinois
PGA, all the pros who participated, and Chris Gumbach and the River Forest Country Club
for donating the use of the course for the day.
Casey Brozek, Head Golf Professional at Crystal Lake Country Club, Travis Johns, Director of
Instruction at Twin Lakes Golf Course, Doug Porter, RMHC-CNI CEO, Eric Schmidt, RMHC-CNI
Director of Development, Sports Programs, and Chris Gumbach, Head Golf Professional at River Forest
Country Club. Photo credit to Mike Schoaf/Illinois PGA.
mc2 Expands Commitment to RMHC-CNI
MC Squared Energy Services, LLC (mc2), an Illinois-based retail electricity supplier, has expanded
its commitment to RMHC-CNI. Through December, mc2 will donate $5 to RMHC-CNI every time
someone switches their home electricity supply to mc2. You can help support RMHC-CNI and save
on your home electricity supply costs at the same time. Visit www.mc2energyservices.com for more
information. Each new enrollment can make a difference for you and families in need.
This announcement comes just after mc2's 3rd Annual Golf Outing and Raffle to benefit
RMHC-CNI. We are grateful for the continued support of mc2 for the last three years.
RMHC-CNI Director of Events Christina Thomas and Chuck Sutton, president of mc2.
Sun-Times Media Newspaper
The Sun-Times Media Group has partnered with RMHC-CNI to help us build the world’s largest Ronald
McDonald House at 211 E. Grand in Chicago’s Streeterville neighborhood.
Simply subscribe online to any Sun-Times Media newspaper at www.stmedianetwork.com/ronaldhouse
or call the Sun-Times Media Customer Service line at 1-800-680-2086 and $10 from your subscription
will be donated to RMHC-CNI.
Subscribe today and you can help provide care and comfort to those families in need.
Women's Auxiliary Rooftop Retreat
More than 200 Chicagoans converged on River North’s Studio Paris to attend RMHC-CNI’s
Rooftop Party. The fundraiser, hosted by the Women’s Auxiliary Board of the Ronald
McDonald House near Lurie Children’s, raised close to $50,000 to support the House’s
rooftop healing garden. We are grateful for the commitment of this incredible group led
by co-chairs Carol Beitler, Lesley Goodman and MaryAnne Smith.
USG
RMHC-CNI is pleased to work with USG who is providing us with almost 400,000 square feet
of sheetrock and other materials. Thanks to this committed company, we are building the new
14-story, 86-bedroom Ronald McDonald House with the best quality materials in the industry.
Headquartered in Chicago, our House will be just down the street from USG, a company that has
provided materials to many Ronald McDonald Houses around the globe.
handinhand
5

6
Around the Charity
Photo credit: Getty Images
Our 13th Annual Sporting Clays Tournament held at Northbrook
Sports Club was a huge success, with over 350 shooters and a
sold out crowd. Each year, the two day event continues to grow
and features a large silent auction, a pig roast and other fun side
events, raising over $160,000 for our charity.
Upcoming Events
Y Friday, November 11 - Come “Rock the House” at The Cubby Bear
with McDonald’s owner/operators Nick Karavites and
John De Carrier. Chicago, Ill.
Y Thursday, December 29 – Join us for an extravagant Holiday Open
House hosted by Sheila Musolino & Michael Giambrone.
La Grange, Ill.
Magnificent Moments leaders accept a $100,000
donation from the PGA as a result of the “Ryder Cup
Captains’ Charity Golf Shot”. Ryder Cup Captains Davis
Love III and José María Olazábal took aim at a floating
green in the Chicago River and shot three shots each
off the 16th Floor Terrace at the Trump Tower.
For the third year in a row, Macy’s
designated RMHC-CNI as the beneficiary
of “Macy’s Passport Presents Glamorama”.
Thanks to this incredible partnership,
RMHC-CNI received over $250,000
this year. The event was exciting and
moving, with a musical performance by
Cee Lo Green and remarks from Ronald
McDonald House guest Alisha Van Fosson,
who served as our ambassador.
Pictured are Ronald McDonald House guest
Alisha Van Fosson (second from left),
performers from Far East Movement and dancers
Sharlese & Bailey (front row)
Y February 17 – 26, 2012 - Windy City Circus’ “A Circus with a
Purpose” will benefit RMHC-CNI. Navy Pier, Chicago, Ill. For more
information, please visit www.windycitycircus.org
For more information and a complete list of upcoming events please visit www.RonaldHouseChicago.org.

The Southside House
Celebrating 25 Years
On a nostalgic and joyous weekend in September, our Ronald McDonald
House celebrated its 25th anniversary with a reunion open house.
The history behind the House is one rooted in a commitment to the
service of families and their medically-fragile children. Working closely
with the staff of the then Wyler Children’s Hospital administration,
three pioneering women — Ann Eppen, Ann Pettigrew and Marge
Forest of Love
The Junior Board
of Northbrook Serving
“The House”
since 2004
(L to R) Founders Ann Eppen, Margie
Saville and Ann Pettigrew.
(L to R) Mary Agnes Laguatan, Mardelle Gundlach,
Ruth Peckenbangh and daughter Janis. Mary Agnes, Mardelle
and Ruth all served as House Managers over the years.
D & S Schafer
M & J Freeman
Thank You
June 18, 2011
The Forest of Love is a magnificent
bronze wall sculpture that was created
in memory of Nicholas V. Trkla in 1997.
The sculpture is displayed in the rotunda
Live Life Freely
and Live it with
Compassion
Our Beloved Balei
Saville — coordinated the construction of the Southside Ronald
McDonald House which was brought to life on September 13, 1986.
Our open house was a spectacular celebration that brought together
hundreds of caring people — our founders, staff, parents, current and
past patients, volunteers, donors and friends. All of them are a part of
“The House That Love Built”, that started 25 years ago.
Visions ’11 Celebration
The fun didn't end after our anniversary celebration was over.
The next day on Sunday, August 26, our “Visions '11 — "25 Years of
Caring & Sharing" welcomed friends to the Marriott in Burr Ridge for
a cocktail reception, silent auction, luncheon and fashion show.
A special feature of our fashion show has always been to include
models who were previously hospitalized children and their siblings.
This year we are honored to have six recent and six returning child
models. As in years past, our incredible supporters, Madison & Friends
("Unique Clothes for Unique Kids"), not only styled our young models
but graciously gave them their outfits.
One of our returning models was
Kailyn Stieber who was a liver
transplant recipient before she was
one year old. Her father Scott became
a loyal supporter who assisted us with
our plumbing needs and later served as
a board member and board president.
of our House near University of
Chicago Comer Children’s Hospital.
The sculpture consists of leaves,
butterflies and doves which are
Dr. James Nachman
Doc Nach’s Mission
Curing Kids with
Cancer
Model Nick Locke was diagnosed
with Hodgkin's Disease when he
was seven. His parents stayed at
our House for four months while
Nick was hospitalized for treatment.
Nick’s father Jack Locke served for
years as Vice President of our House
Board and his mother Carol helped
out with fundraising.
purchased and engraved with messages
celebrating the lives and milestones of
special people. Here are recent additions
to the Forest of Love.
The Junior Board
of Northbrook
Serving “The House”
Since 2004
handinhand
7

“ We are so thankful and
will forever remember you
helping make a difficult
time a positive one. ”
8
Recycle for a great
cause! By donating
your old electronic
items and cartridges
to our new recycling
program, we are
able to protect the
environment and
preserve our natural
resources by keeping
these items out of
landfills. Drop off the
following items to
the Northside House:
empty inkjet and
laser cartridges, used
cell phones, laptops,
digital cameras, iPods,
and palm pilots.
The Northside House
American Idol Season 10 contestant Paul McDonald
and the Helm Family smile for the camera during an
American Idol “Meet and Greet” set up by our good
friends at Coca-Cola this summer. Paul and fellow
contestant Stefano Langone answered questions about
their journey to American Idol, signed autographs, and
took pictures with the families at the House. Thanks
Stefano and Paul for spreading some musical cheer
at the House and thanks to Bob Sheehan and Gus
Rohleder at Coca-Cola for making it happen!
Our friends at Career Education Corporation never cease to
amaze the Northside House with their generosity! This year,
they made it a goal to re-outfit our kitchens with new dishes,
cutlery, utensils and other kitchen items. VP of Admissions
Operations, Brian Kummet, had the fun job of dropping all of
the donations off at the House. Thank you so much, CEC, for
continuing to shower our House with love.
First Place Overall and 2nd Chance
Bracket winners get their picture taken
on the historic Wrigley Field with
event Co-Chair Jill Geritano. The House
Auxiliary Board’s 5th Annual Battle
of the Bags tournament was held on
August 27 at Captain Morgan’s Club at
Wrigley Field and raised over $7,300
through ticket and raffle sales for
the current House on Deming and an
additional $1,800 towards the Capital
Campaign to build the new House.
Special thanks to this year’s sponsors:
Recruit 121, Sara Lee Foodservice,
Chi-town Custom Cornhole and
Weinberg Choi Realty. THANK YOU
Auxiliary Board Members!
(L to R) Paul McDonald, Brandon, Macy and Kelly
The House hosted its annual Adrianne Chunowitz
Volunteer Appreciation Luncheon this summer
in our beautifully landscaped yard (thanks to
our master volunteer gardener and past award
recipient Joe Hobein). This year’s theme was a
fiesta, complete with a piñata, sombrero and
yummy Mexican food from our friends at Las
Fuentes. This year we honored Kathy Kirk, and
the Flying Chefs who have been "Meals from the
Heart" volunteers for the past 7 years.

Our New House
A Sneak Peek At
Our New House
Our team has been planning for the new Ronald McDonald
House near Lurie Children’s for many years. When the time
came to put our vision into action, we relied on over 30 years
of experience in serving families and anticipating their needs.
Our experience allowed us to envision how we might provide
an intimate “home away from home” for up to 86 families
every night of the year.
In April of 2009, our interior design firm, Gettys, led a team of
RMHC-CNI staff and volunteers through a creative
and practical brainstorming process to develop
the values that would influence our design
decisions. We agreed that our overall goal
would be to create an accommodating oasis
for families with a familiar and Chicago feel.
Armed with these core concepts, our design
team went to work. With such a large number
of bedrooms slated for this House, we built a
“model room” on the fourth floor of our own
Ronald McDonald House near Loyola.
The model allowed us to review our design and
tweak elements to make sure the rooms would
be comfortable, durable, and appealing.
Most of our bedrooms will feature beautiful bay windows,
allowing light to illuminate the room. Rooms will feature
a window seat and an open space underneath that will
accommodate luggage. Blackout drapes will allow our guests
to take a much-needed rest at any time of the day.
Engrave a brick on the rooftop of the new Ronald McDonald House near Lurie Children’s!
We’ve just kicked off our
Engraved Brick Program for
supporters who want to leave
their legacy in the world’s
largest Ronald McDonald House.
The engraved bricks will create
the pathways and patios on
the House’s rooftop healing
garden and retreat. Bricks can
be engraved to recognize family,
a company or a loved one or
to express words of comfort
When a family enters their bedroom, they will be welcomed
by a “porch light” to welcome our guests to their temporary
home. The tiles on each door sign will be different colors so
our smallest guests will easily recognize their rooms.
or inspiration to our families.
When you purchase a brick,
you will help families find
comfort, care and community
that only a Ronald McDonald
House can provide.
Chicago is a city uniquely
situated where the prairie
meets the lake. Our interior
colors will reflect both the
blues of the lake and the
warm colors of the prairie.
Our rooms will also feature
an “amenities table”, which
will provide families with
a space to drop their keys,
hang their backpack or
purse, plug in their cell
phones, and post notes and
cards on the bulletin board.
If you’d like to order a brick,
please log on to our website at
www.RonaldHouseChicago.org/
brickorderform.
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9

10
“
The Loyola House
We were happy to welcome the Andrews family,
who stayed at our House ten years ago when
baby Maddie was born prematurely. (L to R) Sister
Destiny, Maddie, and mother Heather travelled
from Florida to visit us.
Thank you so very much for all
of your kindness and generosity.
You made us feel like family.
Frank Fontana, interior designer and host of “The Down and Dirty” show, surprised
us with a fabulous makeover on our 4th floor. Frank and the Craftsman team
transformed the existing area into an inviting room that focuses on our core values
of hope, care, comfort and love. The space will be used for meetings and family
activities. Since the renovation, families are utilizing the space more often and
returning families rave about the improvements. A HUGE thank you to Frank and
his crew for designing such a creative use of our space.
”
A happy and healthy reunion
between Maddie and the doctor
who cared for her — Dr. John
Muraskas.
Pop tabs are one of the biggest “Friend-raisers”
at the House. We are grateful to the individuals
and groups who donate to our House day after
day. The program has become so popular and
relatively easy to do that in 2004 we started a
“Thanks a Million Club”.
Over 9,500 families have stayed at the House
since we opened in July 1995 and the majority
of our furniture was original to the House. We
were thrilled when La-Z-Boy included us in
their donation drops to all four of our Ronald
McDonald Houses.

The Hope House
“ It relieved stress and provided us
a place to escape from the hospital. ”
The 4th Annual Running for Hope 5K Race and Fun Run was
held this summer with more than 1,400 participants. Supporters
of the Ronald McDonald House near Hope Children’s Hospital and
Advocate Hope Children’s Hospital turned out and together raised
$80,000 for the House and the hospital.
While in town for the RMHC International Conference in August,
more than 30 of our colleagues from the Ronald McDonald House
Australia came to visit. We enjoyed sharing experiences and best
practices in caring for the families of hospitalized children.
Last June a team of ten staff and supporters from our
House ran in the Warrior Dash, an extreme 5K race.
In addition, more than 35 of our supporters volunteered
at the event. Thanks to the efforts of our staff and
supporters, we were able to raise $3,000 to buy a brick
at the new Ronald McDonald House being built near
Lurie Children’s.
We were thrilled to welcome Julie Foudy, FIFA World
Champion and Olympic Gold Medalist in Women’s Soccer,
to our House in July. Julie, along with a group of players
from the Julie Foudy Sports Leadership Academy, helped
with a variety of tasks around the House, which included
baking sweets and weeding our garden.
Upcoming Events
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11

“
12
RMHC-CNI Programs
Thank you for this wonderful award.
Although I know I have a long journey
ahead of me, this scholarship will make
it that much easier to achieve my goals.
New scholarship winner entering freshman year
at Indiana State University
The Ronald McDonald Care
Mobile continues to positively
impact the Chicagoland area,
providing vital care to the
neediest children. For the first
time in its four year history, the
Care Mobile is on track to treat
2,000 children in 2011.
We are grateful to the dedication
of our Care Mobile medical
team and the commitment of
the school nurses who schedule
patients for care. Virtually every
one of the 2,000 visits include
at least a 20-minute complete
”
(L to R) Scholarship winner Amanda Gallegos,
Board Member and Education Committee member Liz
Thompson, and scholarship winner MaryBeth Gronek
attend the 2011 Scholarship Winners Reception
Members of RMHC-CNI’s Education Committee and
our scholarship winners at our 2011 Scholarship
Winners Reception
physical, the administration
of vaccinations if needed, and
referrals to additional medical
care if the situation warrants.
Our wonderful partners at
Advocate Hope Children’s
Hospital provide thorough and
thoughtful care, encouraging
children to lead healthy lives.
Not only is the quantity of
our service expanding, but our
quality of care and commitment
remains consistently exceptional.
As we plan for the future, the
RMHC-CNI Announces
New Scholarship Winners
for 2011 School Year
This summer, RMHC-CNI’s Education
Committee and board of directors
continued their commitment to the higher
education of young people in our area.
Our robust scholarship program continued
to touch the lives of many young people
as we awarded ten new scholarships for the
2011 school year.
Each year, hundreds of applicants from
Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana apply
for one of our four scholarship programs
— ASIA, AAFA, HACER and Scholars.
After an extensive review of these
applications and individual interviews
of finalists, we are proud to announce
our scholarship winners for 2011. These
academically outstanding and communityminded
students are eligible to receive
$4,000 each year for four years of college:
Erin Bodnar Wheeler H.S.
Andrew Carpenter Crown Point H.S.
Jillian Dixon Griffith H.S.
Jennie Gauthier Hyde Park Academy H.S.
Amy Ho Crete Monee H.S.
Wayne Hosley Hales Franciscan H.S.
Elizabeth Lee Lake Park High School
Manuel Valle Jones College Prep
Weronika Wasilewski Schaumburg H.S.
Brianna Winbush St. Joseph H.S.
Advocate Hope Children’s
Hospital team has done
an extensive assessment
of the health needs of
communities in the area. The
team has developed a list of
communities most in need of
our support. Armed with this
focus, we will target these
communities for expansion
of the Care Mobile program
in 2012. We look forward to
another great year!
In July, RMHC-CNI celebrated our current
and new scholarship winners at our
annual scholarship winners reception.
Held at the Ronald McDonald House near
University of Chicago Comer Children’s
Hospital, the event was attended by our
scholarship winners and their families,
RMHC-CNI’s Education Committee, board
of directors and staff.
Our program continues to thrive and
impact the lives of talented and ambitious
young people. In 2011, we were proud
to celebrate the college graduation
of six of our scholarship winners. In
addition to our new winners, we are also
currently supporting eight freshmen, nine
sophomores, six juniors and eight seniors.
We are grateful for the support of Fifth
Third Bank and The CarMax Foundation
for their generous monetary support
of our program this year. If you are
interested in helping RMHC-CNI further
its mission of impacting the lives of
young people, please call Jill Sterling at
630-623-5175.
Care Mobile’s Services Reach More Children in 2011
The Care Mobile recently visited a FireFest event outside Toyota Park prior to a Chicago Fire soccer match and
Sparky, the Chicago Fire mascot, joined the fun. The Care Mobile occasionally appears at community events to
encourage healthy lifestyles and to distribute health education information.

Ronald McDonald Family Room
Ronald McDonald Family Room Coming
to Edward Hospital
The Ronald McDonald Family Room®
in Edward Hospital will open in early
2012 to provide care and comfort to the
families of hospitalized children. Similar
to the first floor of one of our Ronald
McDonald Houses, the Family Room will
serve as a haven of respite and hospitality
to families, providing many of the
comforts of home. Located just outside
the pediatric intensive care unit and
outpatient service area, the Family Room
will be approximately 1,700 square feet
and will include a playroom for patients
and siblings, a kitchenette, dining tables,
television area, two computer stations and
multiple sitting areas. Two private sleep
rooms will also be available for the
parents of the most critical patients.
Ways you can get involved:
• “Meals from the Heart”
Give our families one less thing to
worry out by providing a home-cooked
meal for Family Room guests.
One Family’s Story
Makes a Difference
to Thousands
(L to R) Greg, Michael and Keri Gillespie
All meal donations must be
catered or store purchased/sealed.
Donors should plan to provide
food for 25 people.
• Family Ambassador Volunteers
Help our staff take care of
the Family Room and our
families. Volunteers will greet
and register families, handle
inquiries, answer the phones,
keep the Family Room clean
and well stocked, assist with
playroom group activities and put final
welcoming touches on the bedrooms.
Help bring the touches of home to our
Family Room by shopping our registry at
Bed, Bath & Beyond (registry #5884854
or search Ronald McDonald)!
If you are interested in being a part
of our Family Room, please contact
Katie Allabough at (630) 527-3800 or
KAllabough@rmhccni.org
Michael Gillespie was born premature
with a giant omphalocele, which is
defined as a protrusion of the intestine
through a hernia in the abdominal
wall near the navel. This diagnosis
meant that Michael would require
multiple surgeries that would keep
him hospitalized in the newborn
intensive care unit for 299 days.
During his hospitalization, parents
Greg and Keri stayed at the hospital to
be near Michael. The only opportunity
the family had for rest was napping in
chairs or returning home briefly
to shower.
During his medical ordeal, doctors
transferred Michael to University of
Chicago Comer Children’s Hospital
and the parents stayed at the Ronald
McDonald House near the hospital.
(L to R) Katie Allabough, Lori Brady, Dave
Pojman, Debby Burns, Jo Rohleder, Jim
Petrowich, Lorraine Nelson, Rosanne Huebener,
Carolyn Petrowich and Sandy Prohammer.
Ronald McDonald Family Room Council Members
serve as a critical resource for the Family Room
staff. These committed individuals have been
instrumental in obtaining monetary and in-kind
donations for our program. They have also
worked incredibly hard to get the word out to
the community and have recruited a long list of
volunteers and supporters.
Michael was later transferred back
to Edward Hospital until he was well
enough to go home.
After experiencing the care and comfort
the House provided their family, the
Gillespie family reached out to Edward
Foundation about the possibility of
providing a similar service to the
families of pediatric patients at Edward.
A partnership between RMHC-CNI and
Edward Foundation was soon forged
and the Ronald McDonald Family
Room in Edward Hospital will open
early next year.
Michael is now two years old and was
there to help Ronald officially launch
the Ronald McDonald Family Room in
Edward Hospital.
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13

14
Our Volunteers
Northside Southside
Loyola
Kelly Frost Rose Clay
Mary Ann Wislek
Kelly Frost first became aware of the
Ronald McDonald House when her friend
stayed at a House in California for eight
months. “I saw the comfort and support the
House offered her family during a time of
crisis,” Kelly said.
When she moved to Chicago and found
herself with some free time, her first choice
was to spend time at the Ronald McDonald
House near Children’s Memorial. At least
once or twice a week Kelly helps us by
answering the phones, helping families,
giving tours of the House, and performing
other duties as needed.
Kelly enjoys helping the families and feels
that she is making a difference in their
lives. “The families are always appreciative
and they help me feel that my efforts really
help,” she said. “Volunteering at the House
is a gratifying way to give back to children
and their families in their time of greatest
need," Kelly said. “I believe it’s always
better to give than receive,” she added.
Kelly also enjoys lending a hand to the
staff and watching their caring commitment
to House guests. “The staff here is very
impressive,” Kelly said. “Their commitment
to their jobs and to the spirit of the House
is inspiring,” she said.
We are grateful for Kelly’s exceptional
commitment to our House and the families
we serve. Volunteers like Kelly make all
the difference in the success of our
volunteer program.
When Rose Clay retired as a lieutenant
in the Cook County Sheriff's Department,
she still had energy to give back to the
community. As a long time resident of
Hyde Park, Rose had been volunteering for
seven years working with senior citizens at
Rush Hospital.
When a McDonald's owner-operator
friend introduced Rose to our staff at
the groundbreaking for the new Ronald
McDonald House near Lurie Children's,
he told her she should think about
volunteering at our House.
Rose, who is the mother of two grown
children, jumped right in. She comes to the
House on Sundays when families are taking
a break from hospital appointments and
need some extra loving care. Rose is always
there for the families and does whatever is
necessary to take care of the House.
"My father always told me to help others
and to think outside myself," Rose says.
She lives by that philosophy and we are
privileged to have her as a volunteer.
Mary Ann Wislek first became involved
with the House soon after the holidays
in 2007.
Working at Loyola University Medical
Center as an Assistant Manager in the MRI
Department, she saw many children and
their families in crisis. Mary Ann looked at
her own life and recognized how lucky she
was to have eight healthy grandchildren.
It was then that she knew that she wanted
to become a volunteer at the Ronald
McDonald House.
No task is too small or too big for Mary
Ann to take on. From general housekeeping
to laundry, Mary Ann is always there to
help the House and our families. Mary Ann
is also an accomplished seamstress and puts
her talents to use, repairing comforters and
stuffed animals in the Tree House.
We are so grateful that Mary Ann decided
to bring her commitment and talents to
make our House a better place.
Want to become part of our Volunteer Family? Contact your favorite House or visit us at ronaldhousechicago.org.

Hope Chapter
Edward
Lu and Paul Sterk Karen Kus
Debby Burns and Jo Rohleder
Lu and Paul Sterk are committed
volunteers at the Ronald McDonald House
near Hope who are partners in life and in
volunteer service.
Prior to volunteering at the House, the
Sterks had spent time volunteering with
a variety of clubs, teams and interests
that centered around their children. When
their last child went away to college, the
couple started looking for something to do
with their free time. When they found the
Ronald McDonald House in Oak Lawn, they
knew it was a perfect fit.
As volunteers, the Sterks do it all: laundry,
room turnovers, manning the front desk,
filling the pop machine, and cutting
the grass. They recently took on a new
volunteer role as Teen Board Mentors,
working to build a successful Teen Board
comprised of highly recommended high
school students from the area.
Lu and Paul especially enjoy volunteering
for their evening shift because they often
have a chance to interact with the families.
“Dinner is the family’s chance to feel
normal,” says Paul. “Many nights you see
the families sharing their burdens and
get to witness the power of the support
system,” he said.
Thanks, Lu and Paul, for your commitment
and for the love you bring to our House!
Written by Nancy Johnson (Volunteer and House
Council Member)
Karen Kus first became involved with
the Ronald McDonald House through her
employer, Career Education Corporation,
and their Social Responsibility Partnership
with the charity. Karen first volunteered
with the “Meals from the Heart” dinner
program at the Ronald McDonald House
near Hope Children’s Hospital.
After she shared her experience at the
House with her family, they also became
interested in getting involved. Karen
later gathered a team of friends and her
son to assist with our “Hoops for the
House” event. The team’s involvement has
continued to grow and they are familiar
faces at almost every chapter event.
Karen’s favorite part of volunteering
is working with the RMHC-CNI team.
“There is a feeling that you are a part
of something big, and being allowed the
opportunity to help this amazing cause in
any way feels like a gift to us,” Karen says.
“We always feel like we should be thanking
you for letting us be a part of such a
fantastic cause,” she said.
Thanks to Karen and her family for their
consistent willingness to put in time and
effort to help the charity. We are so grateful
for your dedication and enthusiasm!
Debby Burns and Jo Rohleder have
been longtime supporters of RMHC-CNI.
Now they are helping make the Ronald
McDonald Family Room in Edward Hospital
a reality.
Debby and her husband Jim, who live in
Naperville, have been involved with the
McDonald’s organization for over 30 years.
Jim is a Senior Director at McDonald’s
Corporation and Debby has been a
volunteer at the Ronald McDonald House
near Hope Children’s Hospital since it
opened in 2008.
Jo Rohleder, who lives in Aurora, has been
involved with the charity through her
husband Gus who has worked with
Coca-Cola for over 25 years. When Jo’s
nephew was diagnosed with cancer
and the family was able to stay at a
Ronald McDonald House, Jo realized the
importance of a Ronald McDonald House.
Debby and Jo were thrilled when they
heard that a Ronald McDonald Family
Room was coming to Edward Hospital.
They immediately got involved and became
members of the Family Room Council. As
new members of the council, Debby and Jo
have been busy securing in-kind donations
and recruiting other volunteers.
“I get very excited every time I get a
commitment of a donation,” Jo says.
“I know my hard work is worth it
because each donation will help provide a
wonderful place for the families," she said.
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