Ronald McDonald House Charities of Jacksonville, Inc.

Target demographics: young kids that are ill and to keep families closer with their kids to heal kids and to cope better

Geographic areas served: Jacksonville , Florida

Programs: Ronald mcdonald house charities of jacksonville, inc. Is a nonprofit corporation established to support the health and well-being of children by providing lodging and support services to families of critically ill, chronically ill, and seriously injured children. The organization has four main programs: the ronald mcdonald house in jacksonville, florida, the ronald mcdonald family room at wolfson children's hospital, a ronald mcdonald care mobile in conjunction with st. Vincent's hospital, and a local grant program. The ronald mcdonald house (rmh) is the cornerstone program of ronald mcdonald house charities of jacksonville, inc. (rmhc jacksonville). Celebrating its 25 years in jacksonville, the ronald mcdonald house is a "home away from home" for over 1,200 families a year, representing 24 states and 9 countries internationally as jacksonville has become a regional and global destination for pediatric healthcare. Additionally, rmh has served over 32,000 families since its establishment in jacksonville. In 2014 the occupancy rate of rmh was 95% with the length of family stay averaging 8 days. During 2014, rmhc entered into a capital campaign to expand and renovate the facilities to meet the increased need for its services. Due to the long-term protocol of proton therapy treatment, one-third of the families stay at rmh an average of 6 to 8 weeks. The cost per night of sponsoring a family is approximately $184 which includes all lodging services, meals, transportation and programs. Fifty-eight percent of families self-identify as low-income. As jacksonville has grown as a leading medical destination for children's healthcare, the demand for the ronald mcdonald house to provide lodging for families to gain access to medical care has also increased. The cost of lodging and meals while seeking medical treatment is often cost prohibitive for families. For the 58% of families that self-identify as low-income, the ability to stay at rmh allows them access to the medical care they need. The ronald mcdonald house is located in close proximity to jacksonville's major pediatric healthcare facilities including wolfson children's hospital, nemours children's clinic, uf health jacksonville, brooks rehabilitation and the uf proton therapy institute. The ronald mcdonald house is a 42,000 square foot, 30-bedroom facility providing lodging, a meal program, and transportation for all families. The facility operates 365 days a year and 24 hours a day. Recreational, educational and support services are provided as part of the overall program. The recreational programs include art therapy, music therapy, exercise and health and wellness programs. The educational programs include private tutoring by local educators, nutritional programs, and access to educational programs at local museums. Rmhc provides an extensive program of support services that include social and emotional support through a visiting nurses program in conjunction with nemours children's clinic and weekly programs with a visiting physician. In 2014 a facility dog became a part of the rmhc program. The addition of the facility dog "reed" provides invaluable emotional support to the families. "reed" also acts as an ambassador of the ronald mcdonald house by attending community events and providing support for children in the jacksonville community. The benefits of a family staying at rmh are numerous as studies underscore the many positive outcomes from family-centered healthcare. The ronald mcdonald house keeps families together and provides a community of compassionate care supporting shorter recovery times, positive attitudes and decreased anxiety levels in both the parents and the child. The facility is continuously monitored and evaluated in compliance with the standards of cleanliness and maintenance set forth by global ronald mcdonald house charities (global rmhc). The ronald mcdonald family room (rmfr) is the second program of focus of the charity. Located on the children's pediatric intensive care floor of wolfson children's hospital, the ronald mcdonald family room supports the jacksonville community by providing a comfortable place of respite for over 25,000 visitors a year who are visiting their child in the hospital. The ronald mcdonald family room is staffed by trained volunteers who offer refreshments, a kind word and a socially and emotionally supportive environment. The ronald mcdonald care mobile in partnership with st. Vincent's hospital is the third program of focus of the charity. The care mobile is a medical van that provides physicals, vaccinations, basic medical care and screening targeted at public schools and low-income areas in the city of jacksonville for an estimated 2,290 children annually. Rmhc supports the jacksonville community through st. Vincent's hospital's mobile ministry which is now in its tenth year of operation. The ronald mcdonald house charities grant program is the fourth program of focus of the charity. The grant program supports the local community by providing $10,000 grants to local nonprofit organizations. This grant program is supported by a matching grant program from global rmhc. Ronald mcdonald house charities of jacksonville is a licensee of global ronald mcdonald house charities headquartered in oakbrook, illinois. The goal of global rmhc is to provide long-term, strategic direction for the chapters and to create efficiencies within administrative functions. Global rmhc provides rmhc jacksonville with the resources necessary to carry out the mission of the organization, including grantmaking, establishing house operating policies and meeting legal and accounting standards. A fundraising program in jacksonville helps to support the annual operating budget. Rmhc jacksonville is locally supported by the jacksonville community through individuals, private foundations, corporations, civic organizations, the northeast florida cooperative of mcdonald's restaurant owner operators, in-kind contributions and united way and other federated giving campaigns. Rmhc has three primary fundraisers each year which raise approximately one-third of the annual operating budget. Additional revenues are generated through corporate, individual and foundation donations and grants. The ronald mcdonald house is supported by approximately 1,600 volunteers each year. Volunteers are integral to the mission and operation of the house and provide an additional 20,000 hours of service to the organization. The volunteers support the families by cooking meals, planning activities and crafts, interacting with parents and children, and helping in any way necessary to make rmh a home away from home. In addition, they assist with administrative tasks, housekeeping, maintenance and fundraising event support. The board of directors provides governance for the ronald mcdonald house charities of jacksonville, including fiduciary oversight. An independent advisory sub-committee of the finance committee also oversees investments on a semi-annual basis. The board of directors establishes reasonable and consistent investment objectives, policies and guidelines which direct the investment of the assets. An annual report is published once a year in the organization's newsletter. Rmhc jacksonville is audited annually by an independent cpa firm.