Newsletter Holiday 2024_web

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Published by RONALD McDONALD HOUSE CHARITIES PIEDMONT TRIAD
Holiday 2024
Love Notes 2 Chuck’s Corner 3 Special Events 4 Ways to Give
A Home for the Holidays
In a journey that began with a routine ultrasound, the Patton family faced an unexpected challenge when
they learned their baby was significantly smaller than expected at 31 weeks. The couple was urged to
travel 80 miles from Hickory, NC to Atrium Health Wake Forest Baptist Hospital for close monitoring.
Upon admission, doctors prepared parents Crystal and Mark for a likely
early delivery. They carefully monitored baby Gabriel’s heart rate, aiming to
keep him in the womb until 34 weeks. However, on the fourth day, they
discovered that he was less reactive, leading to an early delivery on
December 2, 2022. He was born at 31 weeks and 4 days, and weighing just 3
lbs. 2.5 oz,, Gabriel required immediate NICU care.
Crystal couldn’t hold her baby until four days after he was born and only
got to do so upon her discharge. Gabriel remained in the NICU and the
family moved into our Ronald McDonald House – just steps away from
Gabriel. They appreciated the private room, meals, and Bingo games
provided by the House, and they were grateful to celebrate Christmas
as a family. Our dedicated staff and volunteers provided a warm and
supportive environment to make their holiday season memorable.
Before Gabriel left the NICU after 60 nights, he was diagnosed with Down
Syndrome. Yet, nearly two years later, the Pattons joyously share that Gabriel
is thriving and achieving many milestones. They remain deeply grateful for the
kindness and support they received from the Ronald McDonald House, which made a significant
difference during their challenging journey. Your contributions help ensure that families like the Pattons
receive essential love and support. Thank you for making a difference!
Holidays at the House
Santa’s Workshop is a special place for families staying in our House during the
holiday season. Thanks to generous donations from community organizations,
corporate groups, and individuals, Santa’s Workshop is filled with new, unwrapped
gifts for family members of all ages. Once gifts are selected, volunteer “elves” wrap
them and ensure delivery by Christmas Eve.
RMHCPT Guest Services staff also identify families who may struggle to celebrate
due to the financial challenges of caring for a medically fragile child. The Family
Holiday Sponsorship program helps by sharing detailed wish list information for each
family member to sponsors who purchase, wrap, and label gifts for them.
Visit rmhcpt.org/make-a-difference/holidays/ for more information or contact
Kathi Grenough, Chief Operations Officer | KathiG@rmhcpt.org | (336) 970-5653

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Holiday 2024
Chuck’s Corner
As we reflect on another year, we’re reminded of the incredible
impact your support has on Ronald McDonald House Charities
Piedmont Triad. Your generosity provides a safe, welcoming place for
families while their children receive treatment and allows us to
expand our programs to meet growing needs.
This past year has brought both progress and unexpected
challenges, including the devastation from Hurricane Helene. While
such disasters demand attention, the daily needs of families at our
Ronald McDonald House remain urgent.
We understand that many supporters face their own challenges, especially during larger crises. Yet, it’s
during these times that your year-round support becomes vital. Every donation, every hour of volunteer
time, and every event you participate in helps us keep our doors open for families who need us.
Your continued contributions ensure we provide a safe haven even when the world outside faces difficulties.
On behalf of the entire RMHCPT team, thank you for being an essential part of our mission. Your compassion
truly makes a difference, and together we can continue to provide comfort to families during their toughest
times. We are deeply grateful for your partnership and support, and we look forward to all we can
accomplish together in the year ahead.
Chuck Kraft
Chief Executive Officer
- for RMHC
Last month, Ronald McDonald House Charities across the world
celebrated 50 years of our foundational and forever partnership
with McDonald’s. Every time you visit McDonald’s, you can support
our House by rounding up your order
total to the next dollar. Those extra
cents are donated to the nearest
Ronald McDonald House. This simple
act helped 87 Triad area McDonald’s
collect over $180,000 last year!
Imagine the impact on families
through our House, Family Room, and
Family Support Services programs as
this number grows. Together, we can
make a meaningful difference for
families in need!
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.
Visit rmhcpt.org/make-adifference/cookbook

Serving Families Better
Owens & Minor gets the credit for
making mornings a little brighter at
RMHCPT! A continental breakfast of
bagels and pastries, cereal, muffins,
fruit, jam, juice, and more is now
offered to our families every day.
Thanks to you, the bottom floor running through all
sections of the Ronald McDonald House is accessible by
wheelchair! Blum Construction and Swaim Ornamental
Iron Works donated and installed a ramp in our Teen
Room (right). Thanks to the “40 for 40” anniversary fund
drive, led by matching donor Marge Silber, a convertible
wheelchair platform lift (left) has also been installed.
Family Time is Healing Time
Mary Scott Hunter was born with multiple complications,
including fluid around her brain. Her family stayed with us to be
close by her side while receiving care at Brenner Children’s. For
parents Sidney and Nicholas, the meals and recreational
programs provided at the House and the restful atmosphere of
our Family Room were especially helpful to maintain peace and
normalcy for their young sons. "When you’re watching your
two-day-old go down the hallway into surgery, you’re not
thinking about what am I gonna feed my kids for dinner tonight,
but dinner time rolls around, and everybody’s gotta eat," says
Sidney. "I just feel like the Ronald McDonald House wrapped
their arms around us and pulled everybody back together
during a time that we felt very scattered, and that was a huge
deal for our family."
Thank you for making it possible for families to rest and spend
valuable time together when they are living in some of their
most difficult moments.

A Special 40th Celebration
The following words are from our founder, Penny Latham Mothershed. Penny and her late husband
Dick, along with a group of determined parents and Dr. Richard Patterson, worked tirelessly to
establish The Rainbow House which later became the Ronald McDonald House of Winston-Salem.
This year we celebrate the 40th birthday of the House that Love Built and give thanks to all those
who have helped our families and children along the way.
To live in a “House that Love Built”,
To be loved by those inside,
To feel warmth and smiles and hugs each day
That those around you provide,
To know that they will always be there,
Whenever you need their care,
Is truly what a home is,
With which nothing can compare.
So, if you give your love each day,
That love will forever be shown,
For it’s the people who love and live inside
That make a House a home!

From a 1983 press release;
“On Thursday morning, Dec. 22, 1983, at N.C. Baptist Hospital-Bowman Gray
School of Medicine, Penny Latham, President of Rainbow House, gave the
wonderful news about the actual purchase of the facility at 419 S. Hawthorne
Rd., the start of renovations, {and} the new affiliation of Ronald McDonald
Houses with Rainbow House...Penny also emphasized that without the
generous outpouring of help in so many ways from the community, the
success of Rainbow House would never have been realized. ‘The purchase of
the facility and beginning of renovations of Rainbow House is the community’s
Christmas present to the families of sick children,’ says Penny Latham.”
In celebration of RMHCPT’s
40th anniversary, we have
created a series of videos
telling the story of our House -
from the initial work to make it
a reality to the impact our
programs have had over the
years. Scan the code to the
left to watch the series on our
YouTube channel.
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
Thank you to Sponsors
Black Sand Company | Lowes Foods
Morrisette Packaging | Truist | Walmart

From the Heart
Meeting Families Where They Are
The RMHCPT Hospitality Services Team reaches
out to families at the hospitals, inside medical
centers, and outside our front door to remove
barriers and raise awareness about our programs.
Thanks to the dedicated
volunteers who help us bring
the comfort of a hot meal to
our families every night of the
year, including the holidays.
A meal prepared with love is an important part
of every holiday tradition and helping to cover
the holiday shifts is a special gift you can give
this year.
Visit rmhcpt.org/make-a-difference/volunteer
for more information or contact Caleb Gossett,
Volunteer Services Manager | calebg@rmhcpt.org
(336) 970-5651 to learn more about giving your time.
Activities like the Fall Bash (top
left), Trick-or-Treating (top right),
and outreach by our bilingual staff
help underserved community
members become familiar with
our services for families.
We love the energy that student volunteers from across the Triad have
been bringing to our House! Several groups from Appalachian State,
Forsyth Tech, NC A&T and WSSU have visited, taken tours, prepared and
delivered bag lunches, and baked for our families. Providing nutritious
options for lunch and snacks while staying close to their children receiving
treatment is one more way to help our families..

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.
2024 Board of Directors
Executive Committee
Emily Smith, President
Curtis Bland, Treasurer
Jasmine Pitt, Secretary
Members of the Board
Ben Bloodworth
D.J. Britt
Kelly Brozzetti Cronin
John Dalena
Lelia DeWitt
Laura Dezarn
Betsy Gaona
Katie Gaynor
Justin Gomez
Manny Gomez
Debbie Grant
Karen Gainey
Rebecca McNeely
Robert Smith
Brooks Harden
Vivian Langley
Penny Mothershed
Judy Pietsch
Kristen Quinn
Kimberly Robertson
Michael Schiftan
Ron Sutphin
Tamika Thrasher
Patrick Turner
Steve Vallos
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Holiday 2024
2024 Advisory Council
Penny Blake
Jill Cofer
Tremonteo Crawford
Jim Hardison
Will Johnson
Chris Leak
Cathy Pace
Katie Pepper
Jane Potter
Silvia Rodriguez
Collins Saint
Rich Schmidt
James “Smitty” Smith
Kathryn Spanos
Elizabeth Spires
Rob Wall
Staff
Charles W. (Chuck) Kraft, Chief Executive Officer
Kathi Grenough, Chief Operations Officer
Mindy Bloom, Chief Development Officer
Jolyn Roberts, Chief Hospitality Services Officer
Kim Brown, Senior Guest Services Manager
Caleb Gossett, Volunteer Services Manager
Stephanie Beeman, Marketing Manager
Jeannie Jones, Development Manager
Ariana Clark, Hospitality Services Manager
Abbey Gajewski, Hospitality Services Manager
Jirah Thomas, Hospitality Services Manager
Aimee Ginn, Guest Services Manager
Regina Woodberry, Guest Services Manager
Bill Boyd, Welcome Center Coordinator
Karina Hernandez-Reyes,
Hospitality Services Coordinator
Reiko Roope, Hospitality Services Coordinator
Michelle Bennett, Hospitality Services Specialist
Rebekah Ehrhardt, Housekeeper
Debbie Mitchell, Housekeeper
Kim Barron, Weekend Manager
Anna Budzinski, Weekend Manager
Evette Clemons, Weekend Manager
Karla Lewis, Weekend Manager
Thank You 2024 Sponsors
Novant Health | Alight | Walmart
Davis & Goldberg Orthodontics | Bayada Pediatrics
Novant Health Pediatrics Kernersville
Forsyth Family Eye Care
Forsyth Plastic Surgery
Hawthorne OB-GYN
Johnson Granite
Lyndhurst Gynecological
Associates
McCall’s
Rolly’s
Summit School
T.W. Garner Foods
Twin City Pressure Washing
®
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.

Love Notes
Donate
Special Events
Making Meals
Baking Treats
Packing Lunches
Hospitality Carts
Welcome Center
Cleaning Crew
Share
Round-up
Donate a Vehicle
Collect Pop Tabs
Tell Your Story
Sport a Shirt
Follow
Volunteer
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Holiday 2024