RMHCPT Holiday Newsletter

®
Published by RONALD McDONALD HOUSE CHARITIES PIEDMONT TRIAD
Piedmont Triad
Holiday 2023
Love notes
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Chuck’s Corner
“Link” to RMHCPT
Ways to Give
J.O.Y. to the World
The holidays are a time of year full of planning and shopping, hosting and
wrapping, eating and feasting, and celebrating special moments. Last year,
Kayla Young was planning for an exceptionally special moment - she was
expecting the birth of her son to coincide with Thanksgiving. At least, that
was the plan; however, in late September, Kayla developed a dangerous
condition called preeclampsia and was immediately airlifted to Winston-Salem
from her Catawba home. Baby Judsen arrived six weeks early and Kayla was
overwhelmed and frightened.
Although she’d heard of our Ronald McDonald House ® , she was uncertain
of her eligibility to stay, and she did not want to leave Judsen’s side. Nurses
referred her to the House and Kayla and her mother Annette were grateful
and relieved to stay with us. Being close to Judsen made them feel safe and
gave them a sense of belonging. The Young family felt welcomed with open
arms, and treasured the feeling of “home,” especially when returning from
long days in the hospital.
Santa’s Workshop is open to guest
families staying at our Ronald
McDonald House during the
holiday season. The Workshop is
stocked with new and unwrapped
gifts for all family members
through the generous support of
individuals, community groups,
and corporate organizations.
Once gifts are selected, volunteer
“elves” wrap the gifts which are
delivered on Christmas Eve.
To learn more about Santa’s Workshop, please contact
Kathi Grenough, Chief Operations Officer |
KathiG@rmhcpt.org | (336) 970-5653
Guest Services staff help to identify families who’ve lived
at the House throughout the year and who would not
be able to celebrate the holidays given the challenges
of having a medically fragile child in their homes. The
Family Holiday Sponsorship program ensures that these
families will be able to enjoy special gifts and celebrate
the season. Sponsors receive some family biographical
information along with detailed wishlists for presents
for each family member residing in the home. Gifts are
purchased, wrapped, labeled, and delivered to our
House and they are given to the sponsored families in a
manner respecting their privacy.
This holiday season, the Youngs are enjoying life
with a healthy one-year-old. Kayla and Annette
are expressing gratitude for their blessings by
paying it forward for other families at the Ronald
McDonald House. In September, they partnered
with the NC Division of the National Softball
Association and created an annual fundraiser to
celebrate Judsen’s birthday. The event is named
the J.O.Y. Drive (Judsen’s initials) and the first event
had a tremendous start by raising more than
$1,000! That’s over 100 nights of comfort and care
for families experiencing similar journeys with a
hospitalized child in our community. Thank you
to the Young family, and to all who continue to
remember our families during the holidays!
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Holiday 2023
Chuck’s Corner
When does a few cents make sense to help so many?
Please Round-Up the next time - and every time - you eat at McDonald’s.
Round-Up means whatever your order totals, you elect to round it up to the
nearest dollar, and those extra cents will be donated to the Ronald McDonald
House nearest that McDonald’s. These few cents add up in a hurry, and
currently provide more than $80,000 annually to help fund the families we
serve through our House, Family Room, Hospitality Cart, and Family Support
Services programs. Rounding up just makes good sense!
When does a few feet allow many more feet to be helped?
The Ronald McDonald Family Room at Novant Health Forsyth Medical Center is relocating from the
secured Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) to an under-utilized waiting area on the Third Floor - just
down the hall - just a few feet away! The original location, opened in 2008, allowed us to serve family
members of newborn babies in the NICU. Moving the Family Room means we’ll be able to welcome
many more families in a convenient and visible location. Moms and Dads can stop by for refreshments
when they are visiting with their babies, and other guests will have a comfortable and welcoming
respite area as they wait to see the babies. This Family Room is strategically located to also welcome
moms staying in the Antepartum Unit and families with children in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit
(PICU) - these familes were unable to access the Family Room in its previous location. Remodeling
affords us the opportunity to implement COVID-inspired best practices of social distancing and family
pod gathering spaces and provides great storage for our hugely popular Hospitality Cart.
On behalf of the Ronald McDonald House Charities of
the Piedmont Triad, we wish a happy, healthy and safe
holiday season to you and your family!
Chuck Kraft, CEO
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Friends of the Ronald McDonald House
Thank you sponsors
Davis & Goldberg Orthodontics
Novant Health
Brenner Children’s Hospital
Tina S. Merhoff and Associates
Pediatric Dentistry
American National Bank and Trust
Bayada Pediatrics
Novant Health Forsyth Pediatrics
Kernersville
Triad Kids Dental
Walmart Neighborhood Markets
A Magical Start to the Holidays
Our annual Character Breakfast has become a beloved
tradition, allowing the littlest heroes among us to spend
magical moments with their favorite characters from
stories and movies. Children get the chance to hug, chat,
and even dance with the beautiful princesses and fantasy
heroes, while families get to experience the wonder of it all
through a child’s eyes. A big thank you to the sponsors who
came together to bring this special event to the community
this year!
Craige Jenkins Liipfert & Walker, LLC
Forsyth Family Eye Care
Forsyth Plastic Surgery
Hawthorne OB-GYN Associates
Johnson Granite
McCalls
Novant Health Robinhood Pediatrics
and Adolescent Medicine
Rolly’s
Summit School
T.W. Garner Foods
Twin City Pressure Washing, LLC
Volvo Financial Service
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A Magnificent day on the course
October 30 delivered lovely weather
for a round of golf at Sedgefield
Country Club. Our valued partners,
McDonald’s Owner/Operators and
suppliers, delivered record-breaking
results at the 8 th Annual Dickie Britt
Memorial Classic. The event raised
more than $135,000, enabling us to
serve hundreds of families through our
House, Family Room, and Hospitality
Cart programs!
Save the Date ! 9 th ANNUAL DBMC | OCTOBER 21, 2024 | SEDGEFIELD COUNTRY CLUB
Thomasville, Here We Come!
Our newest Hospitality Cart at Novant Health Thomasville
Medical Center launched earlier this month marking the
eighth cart in our “fleet”! Families on the Antepartum, Labor
and Delivery, and Pediatric units will have access to the cart
as it rolls around the hospital. Want to volunteer to host the
Hospitality Cart? Please contact
Jirah Thomas | Hospitality Services Manager
JirahT@rmhcpt.org | (336) 907-5668
Thankful for Volunteers in 2023
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Thanks to the generosity of our
friends at Parkway Ford, two
RMHCPT-branded vehicles are
motoring around the Triad. Dubbed
“The Ronald Car” and “The New
Ronald Car,” these vehicles are
used to transport guests and
supplies between our House and
partner medical facilities.
One of Winston-Salem’s most enduring
holiday traditions continues this year as
luminaries are lit throughout the city on
Christmas Eve. Each glowing luminary
honors an RMHCPT family. Individual
kits containing six luminaries can be
purchased for $10 or you can illuminate
your neighborhood by signing up to be a
street captain.
Visit rmhcpt.org/luminary for more
information, or contact
Jeannie Jones | Development Manager
JeannieJ@rmhcpt.org | (336) 970-5659
Moving up...
Congratulations to Jolyn Roberts on
her promotion to Chief Hospitality
Services Officer! Jolyn began her
RMHCPT career as Family Room
Manager in 2016. As our Family
Rooms grew from two to three and
responsibilities increased, Jolyn was
promoted to Hospitality Services
Director in 2021. That role continued
to expand with program growth
and the hiring of additional staff
members. Jolyn currently oversees
six staff members, three Family
Rooms, eight Hospitality Carts, and serves as staff
liaison for the NEW Friends. We offer best wishes to
Jolyn in her new and evolving role.
And moving on...
After 23 years of faithful service in her position as
Housekeeper, our beloved Wilma Dobson retired in
September. Wilma always greeted guest families,
volunteers, and staff with a warm smile. She was
dedicated to maintaining a clean and welcoming
environment for all who entered the doors of the Ronald
McDonald House. She could often be heard humming
while she worked... and she gifted that song in her heart
to all who crossed her path. Wilma said that working
at our House was a gift that kept her young while
helping others,
especially children
and families
experiencing
hardship. We
congratulate
Wilma on her
retirement and
share our sincere
gratitude for a job
well done!
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A meal prepared with love is an important part
of every holiday tradition. We offer thanks to
the deicated volunteers who help us bring the
comfort of a hot meal to our families every night
of the year, including the holidays. Helping our
staff and volunteers cover the holiday shifts is a
special gift you can give this year.
Please contact Caleb Gossett |
Volunteer Services Manager
CalebG@rmhcpt.org | (336) 970-5651 to learn
more about giving your time during the holidays.
Searching for the perfect
gift for the chef in your
family? The Dillard’s
Southern Living Christmas
Cookbook and Cooking
With Love for the House
That Love Built
cookbooks
have amazing recipes, and
proceeds provide support
for RMHCPT families.
We make Friends easily! Contact Jolyn Roberts, Chief
Hospitality Services Officer, at JolynR@rmhcpt.org or
(336) 970-5655 to learn more about connecting with the
NEW Friends and joining this dynamic and social group
for volunteer projects throughout the year.
Wine Women & Shoes:
The Most Fashionable Way to Give Back
RMHCPT’s inaugural Wine Women & Shoes (WW&S)
event is May 9, 2024! Presented by Allegacy Federal
Credit Union and held at Legacy Stables and Events,
WW&S will be THE place to be! Filled with fun and
fashion, the evening will include wine tastings, a
seated dinner, designer pop-up shops, a charming
“Shoe Crew,” Best in Shoe Contest, incredible auction
lots, and a fashion show by Dillard’s. Mark your
calendars for tickets to go on sale February 13. VIP
tickets at $175 are limited and general admission
tickets are $125. For more information about how you
or your business can get involved in WW&S, please
contact Stephanie Beeman | Marketing Manager
StephanieB@rmhcpt.org | (336) 970-5656
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Mission
Ronald McDonald House Charities ®
Piedmont Triad provides a home away from
home in our House and Family Rooms for
families with children receiving medical
care in our community.
2023 Board of Directors
Executive Committee
Robert Smith - President
Karen Gainey
Emily Smith - President Elect
Rebecca McNeely
Curtis Bland - Treasurer
Erika Mielke
Jasmine Pitt - Secretary
Members of the Board
Ben Bloodworth
Katrina Patterson
D.J. Britt
Judy Pietsch
Tremonteo Crawford
Kristen Quinn
Kelly Brozzetti Cronin
Kimberly Robertson
John Dalena
Michael Schiftan
Laura Dezarn
Jaleema Nanton Speaks
Betsy Gaona
Elizabeth Spires
Justin Gomez
Ron Sutphin
Brooks Harden
Tamika Anderson Thrasher
Vivian Langley
Patrick Turner
Penny Mothershed
Steve Vallos
Cathy Pace
2023 Advisory Council
Penny Blake
Jane Potter
Jill Cofer
Silvia Rodriguez
Brooke Eagle
Sarah Saint
Jim Hardison
Rich Schmidt
Will Johnson
James “Smitty” Smith
Chris Leak
Kathryn Spanos
Katie Pepper
Rob Wall
®
Holiday FALL2023
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When the clock strikes Twelve
and the Ball drops on New Year’s
Eve, RMHCPT will begin the
year-long celebration of our 40th
anniversary! We’ll be honoring
40 years of serving the Piedmont
Triad community with memories
throughout the year. Stay tuned!
Scan the QR codes on
this “Link Tree” to learn
more about RMHCPT and
connect with us on
social media!
1984 -2024 Piedmont Triad
S t a ff
Charles W. “Chuck” Kraft
Chief Executive Offi cer
Kathi Grenough
Chief Operations Offi cer
Mindy Bloom
Chief Development Offi cer
Jolyn Roberts
Kim Brown
Chief Hospitality Services Offi cer
Senior Guest Services Manager
Stephanie Beeman
Marketing Manager
Jeannie Jones
Development Manager
Abbey Gajewski
Hospitality Services Manager
Aimee Ginn
Guest Services Manager
Bill Boyd
Hospitality Services Coordinator
Reiko Roope
Hospitality Services Coordinator
Debbie Mitchell
Housekeeper
Anna Budzinski
Weekend Manager
Caleb Gossett
Volunteer Services Manager
Ariana Clark
Hospitality Services Manager
Jirah Thomas
Hospitality Services Manager
Regina Woodberry
Guest Services Manager
Michelle Bennett
Hospitality Services Coordinator
Rebekah Ehrhardt
Housekeeper
Kim Barron
Weekend Manager
Evette Clemons
Weekend Manager
Karla Lewis
Weekend Manager
Ronald McDonald House Charities ® Piedmont Triad does not share donor information. Financial information about this organization and a
copy of its license are available from the State Solicitation Licensing Branch at 888.830.4989 for NC residents.
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A recent social media post from Hannah G., a mom
from Asheville, NC who is staying at the House with
her two daughters.
Make a meal at
the House
Share our
social media
posts
Host a
community
fundraiser
Donate
your
vehicle
Become a
legacy donor
Fulfill our Amazon
wishlist
Round-Up at McDonald’s
Host a Facebook
fundraiser
Follow us
on Facebook
Join the
Friends
Bake treats for our
families
Become a monthly donor
Donate your pop tabs
Share your story
with us
Sport a Shirt and
Share a Night in 2024
(coming soon!)
Volunteer
in a
Family
Room
Sponsor an
event in 2024
4
Holiday 2023
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