DurhamCares

2012 Total Operating Budget: $1.3 million

Q1 Results:

Ronald McDonald House renovated 1 guest room in the first quarter and has lined up 3 renovations in the second quarter.

Ronald McDonald House currently hosts 15-20 house volunteers per week.

Ronald McDonald House provides shuttle services to and from the hospital for families up to two times a night and five times on the weekends.

What

The mission of the Ronald McDonald House of Durham is to enable families to focus on the health and wellbeing of their critically ill children by keeping families together who are in need of a community of hope, comfort and empathy.

Why

Every pediatric department at Duke Medical Center has children and families in need of a room at the Ronald McDonald House of Durham. Families with critically ill children face immense emotional, physical and financial challenges when trying to be with their children during periods of hospitalization and treatment; knowing that Ronald McDonald House of Durham will be there to support them in a safe and caring environment helps to alleviate some these challenges. Our programs provide families with the comforts of home as well as a network of other families going through similar situations on which to lean on. The hope and support RMHD provides through our programs helps families get through the toughest of times.

The Ronald McDonald House of Durham’s core service is to provide a “home away from home” for families. Both the Ronald McDonald House of Durham and the Family Room at Duke Medical Center help fulfill this vision.

Housing Program:

The Ronald McDonald House of Durham has 29 bedrooms, including 7 long-term bone marrow transplant suites, as well as an offsite apartment at the Lofts at Lakeview for long term stays. The RMHD offers families all of the amenities of home - a fully stocked kitchen, inviting dining area, computers and wireless internet access, laundry facilities and a play room and library.

Our Housing program also offers the following additional services to relieve stress and provide emotional support to families:

• Daily Meal Program provided by groups and individual volunteers.
• Tutor Program provided in conjunction with the hospital to ensure children receiving treatment do not fall behind academically.
• Activities Program includes weekly Bingo games, arts and crafts nights, outings to local events such as Carolina Hurricanes, Duke Basketball and Durham Bulls games, theatre productions, museum exhibits, etc.
• Pet Therapy Program with certified and trained therapy animals and their volunteer handlers.
• Volunteer transportation services to help families run errands like pharmacy visits and grocery shopping.
• Special activities and meals around holidays.

Family Room Program:

The Ronald McDonald Family Room is located on the pediatric floor of Duke Medical Center, just steps away from the pediatric and neo-natal intensive care units. The Family Room serves families of hospitalized children who live in the local area, as well as families who have traveled long distances and may be staying at our House. Open 365 days a year, the Family Room offers parents a comfortable living room, stocked kitchenette, showers and bathroom facilities, laundry services and computers to stay in touch with family, friends and workplace responsibilities while at the all while staying close to their children.

Bill Donovan

Executive Director

Mr. Donovan has been the Executive Director at RMHD since January 2010. Prior to that, Mr. Donovan was the Senior VP of Human Resources at Nortel for 25 years and also served on the Board of Trustees for RMHD from 2008-2010.

David Knobelach

Director of Operations

Mr. Knobelach began volunteering at the Ronald McDonald House of Durham in December of 1992. He was then asked to sit on the Board of Trustees in 1997 where he served until June 2009 when he accepted a full time position as Director of Operations at RMHD. While on the Board of Trustees, he served as the House and Grounds Committee Chair, Building Committee, House Operations Committee, Executive Committee, Assistant Secretary and Secretary for the Executive Board of Trustees.

Vanessa Nelson

Director of Development

Vanessa Nelson joined the Ronald McDonald House of Durham in May of 2011 and serves as the Director of Development.  Vanessa leads the development team and oversees all fundraising campaigns including the annual fund and the current capital campaign. 

Vanessa received her Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Duke University in May of 1997.  She also holds a Certificate in Nonprofit Management from Duke University.  Vanessa is a member of the Triangle Chapter of the Association of Fundraising Professionals.

Prior to joining RMHD, Vanessa’s development experience included working as Director of Development and Marketing at Cape Fear Botanical Garden and Director of Corporate Relations at the American Heart Association.  Vanessa’s previous work experience also includes over ten years of leadership roles within the financial services industry.  Vanessa is a North Carolina native, and has resided in the Triangle since 1995.  She is married and the proud owner of two puppies.

Karen Morgan

Family Room Manager

Mrs. Morgan is the Family Room Manager for the Ronald McDonald House of Durham Family Room at Duke Medical Center and the Wake Med Family Room. She has been with the Ronald McDonald House of Durham for 5 years where she also served as the Volunteer Coordinator for the House. Prior to coming to the Ronald McDonald House, she had 28 years of award winning sales and marketing success with Eastman Kodak.

Lindsay Hege

Special Events Manager

Mrs. Hege coordinates all events for RMHD including our annual Winterfest gala, Treyburn golf tournament, Hillendale golf tournament, Fitness World 5k, among many others. She attended Elon University and graduated with a BA in Human Services. She then attended UNC-Chapel Hill where she received her master’s degree in Social Work.

Jessica Johnson

Development Manager

Ms. Johnson is responsible for grant writing, the direct mail campaign, and fundraising efforts at the Ronald McDonald House of Durham. She graduated from UNC-Chapel Hill with a degree in Health Policy & Management from the School of Public Health. Ms. Johnson has been with RMHD since July 2010.

Holly Hutchinson

Donor Information Specialist

Ms. Hutchinson is responsible for managing our donor database at RMHD. She graduated from Indiana
University of Pennsylvania with a degree in sociology and psychology. Ms. Hutchinson interned with the
Ronald McDonald House of Durham from May-July 2010. Upon completion of her internship, she was offered a full-time job as Donor Information Specialist.

Ava Bland

Evening Manager

Althea Mangum

Night Manager

Jessica Maynard

Family Services Manager, Volunteer Coordinator

Mrs. Jessica Maynard has been at the Ronald McDonald House since September of 2010. She first started as the Weekend Manager and spent every weekend for nine months serving the families at the House. She was very honored to be promoted to Family Services Manager in June of 2011. She has her Bachelor of Social Work degree from Florida State University and is married to Justin Maynard, a current Duke Divinity student.

Board of Directors

Richard Blakenship- Relationship Manager, Franklin Street Partners
Jim Bressler- Director of Sales & Marketing, Washington Duke Inn & Golf Club
Ed Denning- East Division Finance Director, McDonald’s Corporation
John Falletta- Chair of Pediatric IRB, Duke University Health System
Deborah Holmes- Real Estate Broker, Northside Realty
Martha Idler- Community Leader
Geoffrey R. Krouse- Partner, Smith Anderson Law Firm
Jane Mericle, RN, BSN, MHS-CL - Associate Chief Nursing Officer - Duke Children’s Hospital and Health Center
Johnny Moore- President/General Manager - Duke/ISP Sports Network
Art Pappas- Managing Partner - Pappas Ventures
Ric Richards- McDonald’s Owner/Operator
Edith Rosenblatt- Volunteer Coordinator - Duke Children’s Hospital and Health Center
Cheryl Russell- Former Director of Marketing - McDonald’s Raleigh Region
Mike Schoenfeld- Vice President for Public Affairs and Government Relations, Duke University
Joe St. Geme, MD- Chairman of Pediatrics - Duke Children’s Hospital, Duke University Medical Center
Jim Wulforst- Director, Duke University Dining Services

Ronald_McDonald_House_2011_Report.pdf