Programs: Rmhc provides stability and vital resources to families so they can get and keep their child healthy and happy through the charities' core programs: 1)ronald mcdonald house provides a "home away from home" for families with children undergoing medical treatment at golisano children's hospital. 2) the ronald mcdonald family room located on the 2nd floor of golisano children's hospital provides families of hospitalized children use of this space to rest and re-group while being just minutes away from their child's bedside. 3) ronald mcdonald care mobile provides medical and dental screenings, treatment and sealants to underserved areas of collier county as well as monthly autism screenings in lee county. 4)grants program provides financial support to organizations that share our mission. In 1996, ronald mcdonald house charities (rmhc) of southwest florida opened its doors in fort myers to offer a" home-away-from home" to the families of seriously ill children hospitalized at the adjacent golisano children's hospital of southwest florida. Since then, services have expanded to include the ronald mcdonald care mobile program, the rmhc scholars program, a community grants program, and a ronald mcdonald family room located inside golisano children's hospital. Through our partnership with golisano children's hospital, our guests and visitors can easily be with their precious newborns that came into this world a little sooner than planned or at the bedside of their child hospitalized due to illness or injury. Whatever the reason that our paths cross, it is a true gift being part of this "home-away-from-home" for moms and dads, grandparents and siblings during the most challenging time of their lives. The ronald mcdonald house serves children and families from lee, charlotte, collier, glades and hendry counties, florida. The house is open 24 hours a day, 365 days a year and is a six bedroom house, each suite with a private bath; with a fully stocked kitchen, dining room, living room and laundry to meet the needs of the families. At rmhc, each family receives private and safe accommodations, nourishing meals, close access to healthcare and the kindhearted support of our staff, volunteers, and other rmhc families who are facing similar challenges. The gift of togetherness provided by our house allows parents and caregivers to focus on their top priority: the health and healing of their child. In 2017, rmhc hosted and served 98 families at the ronald mcdonald house for an average length of stay of 19 days. Rmhc was pleased to open and operate a ronald mcdonald family room program in the 128-bed golisano children's hospital in may 2017. A ronald mcdonald family room extends the rmhc hallmark of care and comfort beyond the house itself. While our ronald mcdonald house generally serves families who travel a distance from home for specialized medical care, a ronald mcdonald family room can serve dual roles. The ronald mcdonald family room also serves families who may live near the hospital but prefer not to leave for even a short break or a meal. The family room program distributed 2,961 brown bag lunches for any family with a child in the hospital during 2017. The ronald mcdonald care mobile is a mobile unit that annually provides much-needed medical and dental screenings and treatment to more than 3,000 underserved children in collier county. 40% of the children receiving services are uninsured. These services are made possible through our partnership with healthcare network of southwest florida. The ronald mcdonald care mobile also travels to lee county one day a month for autism screenings provided in partnership with golisano children's hospital. In partnership with family health centers of southwest florida, rmhc took delivery of a much needed second ronald mcdonald care mobile in december 2017 to provide medical and dental treatment to underserved children in lee, charlotte, glades and hendry counties, beginning in january 2018. During 2017, more than 3,650 children received medical/dental and health education services on board the ronald mcdonald care mobile in collier county. Another element of the charities is the grants program that provides financial support to other organizations that share our mission of providing programs that directly improve the health and well-being of children and their families in southwest florida. 1,000 children benefitted from a grant awarded to community cooperative to help cover food and supplies for its growing healthy kids & families programs; five children with physical challenges received an adaptive bicycle through save the kid; another 10 children were able to attend a horse camp through south west florida horse rescue; and a grant awarded to youth haven helped with the expansion of a shelter for 2,400 abused, abandoned and neglected children. And, finally, there is the rmhc scholarship program providing 10 deserving high school seniors a scholarship to further their education. Since starting the rmhc scholars program in 2009, more than 100 students from southwest florida have been awarded scholarships. There are a number of ways that the business community supports rmhc. For some, it's an annual financial contribution; for others it is participating in, or sponsoring one of our 2017 signature fundraising events: the storybook ball, offshore rodeo fishing tournament or the annual golf tournament. Still others provide donations of goods, services and/or time at the house as a team of volunteers doing projects around the house or providing an evening meal to the resident families. Individuals who volunteer and provide financial support are a huge part of our ability to do what we do. Last year, 1,876 volunteers donated their time to us at our ronald mcdonald house, ronald mcdonald family room and community/fundraising events. Volunteers are integral to the mission and operation of rmhc and in 2017 provided over 11,000 hours of service to the organization.
