Annual Report 2021
Letter from Leadership
Innovation can emerge from terrible circumstances, as the brave families we serve demonstrate time and again. During the pandemic, Ronald McDonald House New York (RMH- NY) provided support that our healthcare partners could not under COVID restrictions. Our partners and volunteers continued to donate food and virtual services, keeping our seamless circle of support intact during the crisis. We now extend services to an even broader population – families of children with serious pediatric illnesses, including those from all five boroughs of New York City. They are now in RMH-NY’s family.
We are delighted to offer this virtual glimpse into 2021’s accomplishments as part of the digital transformation and Health Equity priorities outlined in our strategic plan. We have expanded staffing and our partnerships with hospitals, institutions, and social services to better address the social determinants of health to bolster our family centric model. We have forged new relationships and deepened existing ones to provide additional assistance to our families such as educational services, social services, nutrition, transportation, healthcare navigation and wellness during and after their stay at the House.
READ MORELetter from Leadership
Innovation can emerge from terrible circumstances, as the brave families we serve demonstrate time and again. During the pandemic, Ronald McDonald House New York (RMH- NY) provided support that our healthcare partners could not under COVID restrictions. Our partners and volunteers continued to donate food and virtual services, keeping our seamless circle of support intact during the crisis. We now extend services to an even broader population – families of children with serious pediatric illnesses, including those from all five boroughs of New York City. They are now in RMH-NY’s family.
We are delighted to offer this virtual glimpse into 2021’s accomplishments as part of the digital transformation and Health Equity priorities outlined in our strategic plan. We have expanded staffing and our partnerships with hospitals, institutions, and social services to better address the social determinants of health to bolster our family centric model.. We have forged new relationships and deepened existing ones to provide additional assistance to our families such as educational services, social services, nutrition, transportation, healthcare navigation and wellness during and after their stay at the House.
Even when we could not meet in person, we were creating the space for when we could once again gather as a community. As we slowly return to a sense of normalcy, we are adapting existing communal space for more year- round multi-purpose use. Additionally, the second Ronald McDonald House Family room opened in NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst, providing a place for parents and caregivers to recharge as their child receives treatment. Based on research showing that such respite spaces improve overall well-being, we plan to develop four new family rooms over the next two years.
To assume our rightful place in the continuum of healing moving forward, we must measure health outcomes in new ways. In addition to increasing virtual programming, our digital transformations across the House emphasize using data analytics to drive decision making and impact, continually bringing the needs of families to the table. This continued evidence-based approach will help to further diversify our funding streams, including through grants and digital fundraising. We attract partners from a range of sectors to leverage our 40 years of experience. Our field discoveries are translated back into an expanding knowledge base reflecting the emerging confluence of healthcare and hospitality.
We are profoundly proud that in challenging times, we were able to both broaden and deepen our mission. We are deeply grateful for our staff and board’s resilience and the continued support of donors and volunteers. Because of you, the children and families we serve experience stability, normalcy and nurturance even as they navigate challenging, complex and often sustained medical treatments.
Staying Together
Families from all over the world stayed with us in 2021!
Family Support: RMH-NY eases the burden of pediatric patients by providing a home away from home for them and their families as they undergo treatment. But our mission would be incomplete without the essential emotional support provided by our Family Support team and partner across the House. Our dedicated social workers play a pivotal role in helping families access services and resources that improve their quality of care and simplify navigation of the healthcare system.
together
razem
juntos
вместе
ھتاس کیا
magkasama
一起
samen
UNITED STATES, POLAND, PUERTO RICO, CANADA, MEXICO, RUSSIA, ROMANIA, PERU, JAMAICA, ECUADOR, CHILE, CHINA, COLOMBIA, ARGENTINA, EGYPT, EL SALVADOR, ETHIOPIA, HONDURAS, IRELAND, LIBERIA, PAKISTAN, PARAGUAY, DOMINICAN REPUBLIC, PERU, UNITED KINGDOM, PHILIPPINES, SPAIN, ST. KITTS, TAIWAN, UNITED KINGDOM
Individuals Served
Family Night Stays
Average Night Stay
Total Complete Rides
Bereavement Services
Virtual House Hangouts
In House Programs
From playtime to education, wellness to the arts, RMH-NY’s program team develops and manages an impressive roster of activities for the children that reside at RMH-NY. The children’s treatment is often physically and emotionally rigorous, and free time is an especially precious commodity for House residents.
- 174 Digital Drop In Programs offered for Children & Families
- 1782 Program Packages Delivered
- 32 Individualized Birthday Deliveries with personalised presents & cake
Wellness
Motivated by the ethos of “care for the caregiver”, RMH-NY’s wellness team provides services that maintain the physical and mental health of caregivers. Despite restrictions still in place, our bustling Blavatnik Family Foundation Wellness Center was able to offer families virtual wellness sessions such as meditation, sound baths, and breathwork tutorials throughout the week along with online exercise and stretch and strengthen classes individualized to meet the caregivers needs
- 208 Live Virtual Wellness Sessions Offered
- 138 Caring Crates Delivered
Volunteers
Fulfilling wishes and needs both big and small, volunteers often make the impossible possible at RMH-NY.
While our Volunteers could not enter the House for most of 2021 they did not give up on RMH-NY, and they found creative ways to continue supporting our families either virtually or by being our “Helping Hands” and packaging breakfast, programs or holiday gift bags to be delivered to our families both in-House and through our hospital partners. Thankfully, we were able to safely welcome some volunteers back in September of 2021 to help us in continuing to deliver 3 meals, programs and special treats directly to families rooms daily.
41,089
3,695
107
399
28
2,360
Hospital Outreach
In addition to providing essential services and support to families living at the House, the Hospital Outreach team brings programs from the House to hospitalized young children and teens. From costumes, games, activities, and YouTube links, our Events In a Bag initiative delivers everything needed for a child to participate in a House event from their hospital room. RMH- NY is also proud to announce that we currently have 2 family rooms offering a place of respite to caregivers built directly onto the floors of pediatric hospitals. The family rooms, located at NYC Health + Hospitals / Elmhurst and NYC Health + Hospitals / Kings County served as a hub for our hospital outreach programs in 2021 as we still were challenged with COVID-19.
10,044
Children & Caregivers Served at House & Seven Partner Hospitals
5,916 Patients & Children & 4,128 Caregivers
3,650
Hospitality to Go packages delivered
Healthy snacks & selections for caregivers. Our Hospitality Cart in box form!
3,496
Programs to Go: Enrichment Series
Packaged enrichment programs for children, in three key age/developmental ranges
12
Monthly Digital Performances
7
Live Performances at NYC H+H Elmhurst, Jacobi, and Kings County
24
Breathe In Breathe Out
Digital Sessions: This restorative relaxation program began at Kings County Hospital in 2015
Events to Go
(5 Events Delivered in 2021) All the fun of an RMH- NY Outreach event, delivered to children inpatient & at our partner hospitals!
- 775 Event in a Bag
- 143 Virtual ESL Sessions
Back to Fall Event
Outfitting our children, teens & young adults with a hand-picked & packed STATE Backpack with incredible supplies, materials (and surprises) to start a new season and new year of school off right!
- 300 Backpacks to Go
- 520 Programs to Go
2021 RMH-NY Annual Report
Communications Highlights
Wini Cudjoe, Director of Operations, shared inspiring stories from the work she has done during her 28 year tenure at the House to everyday operations to meet the needs of families staying at RMH-NY.
A billboard in Times Square in celebration of RMH-NY’s 29th Annual Gala.
Ran a 30 Mile Walk/Run Challenge on Facebook during September (Childhood Cancer Awareness Month) to raise funds and awareness.
In partnership with the FDNY and NYPD, Santa stopped by the House with some special goodies and to wave hello to families through their room window.
RMH-NY President and CEO, Dr. Ruth C. Browne, sat down with Mastercard’s Cheryl Guerin for a fireside chat to discuss how the House has used innovation and technology to broaden our scope and serve even more families during the pandemic.
Dr. Ruth C. Browne joined Antwan Lewis from Fox 5 and Dr. Randi Wasserman of NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst to discuss the House’s partnership with Elmhurst Hospital, and how it helps reduce obstacles and health inequities by providing much-needed resources, relief, and normalcy for families.
2021 challenged us in many ways, but one thing remained constant – our commitment to provide a loving and supportive home away from home for our families.
