SPRING 2020
Family Story
The Rodriguez Family “We are truly grateful for your support and giving us a warm and friendly place to stay during a time of stress, and not knowing what the future was to hold for our family.” When Shelly and Gilbert Rodriguez’s
daughter Ella was born six weeks early,
McDonald House Charities of the Red
River Valley (RMHC-RRV). Their worries were immediately eased knowing they
could be just minutes away from Ella. For
18 days, they shuffled back and forth from the hospital to RMHC-RRV to spend their days with their beautiful baby girl. IIn the
comfort of the Ronald McDonald House, they were able to get a good night’s
sleep—which prepared them to take care
they were met with much uncertainty.
of little Ella during the day. Meals prepared
bed rest for two months due to
donated food were lifesavers, as they did
eclampsia. Due to her unstable vitals,
worry about where they would find their
to the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit
right at RMHC-RRV.
Shelly and Gilbert were 60 miles from
Ella was so small that none of the hospital
and they needed to find a way to stay
her parents didn’t have anything prepared.
Shelly had already been on hospitalized
by volunteers and a pantry stocked with
gestational hypertension and pre-
not need to spend time away from Ella or
newborn Ella was immediately rushed
next meal. Everything they needed was
at Sanford Health in Fargo. Suddenly
their home in Valley City, North Dakota,
clothing fit her, and she was so early that
close to their daughter.
Thankfully, Shelly and Gilbert had time to
Soon after they arrived in Fargo, Shelly
to get all the essentials Ella would need,
and Gilbert were told about the Ronald
visit the Petite Boutique at RMHC-RRV
including baby hats, clothing, blankets,
toys, and diapers. “This was a true blessing for us to have clothes to put on her,” Shelly said.
During their time at RMHC-RRV, Shelly
and Gilbert were surrounded by a support network of other parents who were going through similar situations. All the families
were from different places and situations, Continued on pg. 2
The Rodriguez Family continued but they had one thing in common: they would do anything to help their children heal.
Those connections helped ease the stress that the family carried on their shoulders,
and eventually Ella healed. Today, she has blossomed into a happy and healthy six-
month-old who loves to laugh and play with her toys.
“The love and support from the staff, the amenities that were offered for all ages,
and all of the giving... You gave us peace of mind knowing we could be with her daily,” Shelly said. “It is hard to put in words, and at times I was speechless from all that
you do for families. We thank you from
the bottom of our hearts and are eternally grateful for the Ronald McDonald House and staff.”
A NOTE FROM JILL CHRISTOPHER Executive Director My column is much different than I had planned in light of the last few weeks. As the
COVID-19 global pandemic has spread in full to the US and around the world, we have made some major changes to our operations to keep the families we serve safe. Please see our website for a full recap of our COVID-19 procedures. However, we still have much to be thankful for: •
To our volunteers that we are celebrating this month and missing this month, please know that your work is vital to our
•
To our incredible staff, thank you for stepping up to fill all the roles – prepping food, deep cleaning, and being a shoulder
•
To our donors, thank you for dropping off needed items, donating funds to help us keep our doors open, and your
operations and we are anxious for your return! While we aren’t seeing you right now, we are so grateful for you!
for our families during a very scary time. I could not ask for a better team to serve our mission!
continuous belief in our mission. I appreciate you more than you will ever know!
Thank you for your continued support and well-wishes during this unprecedented time. It lifts our spirits!
FEELIN’ THE LOVE IN FEBRUARY The Sweetheart Ball was extra sweet this year!
Gonzalez, Jean Zimmerman, Kevin and Pam Cook, and
On February 8th, we celebrated our 31st Annual Sweetheart
We welcomed a past RMHC-RRV family, Luke and Melinda
more people. Generous supporters and volunteers filled the
House of the Red River Valley for 17 days as their baby Jacob
attendees dedicated to keeping families together during times of
Melinda expressed their gratitude for their accommodations, the
James Bergman.
Ball at the Delta Hotel, a new location this year to accommodate
Davidson, to the stage. They stayed in the Ronald McDonald
room: we were thrilled to share this wonderful night with over 500
grew strong after being born six weeks early. Both Luke and
medical need!
meals from volunteers, and the kindness that embodied each person they came across in their journey.
Emcees Amy Iler and JJ Gordon from KFGO took to the stage to welcome guests as they enjoyed a delicious meal. Guests
Afterward, we asked the audience to Share a Night to help us
chance to win a $500 West Acres gift card, thanks to West Acres
child is in the hospital. The room came alive as people pledged to
Director, and Shauna Wimer, Board President, took to the
night away with a live band, The Deadbeats.
were encouraged to join in playing a heads-or-tails game with the
continue to care for families who need a place to stay while their
Development. RMHC-RRV’s Erica Johnsrud, Development
help future families. Finally, attendees were invited to dance the
stage to give thanks for the generous support from sponsors,
By the end of the night, we had raised $160,000!
to have James Bergman serenade the audience with an original
The Ronald McDonald House would like to extend a huge thank
volunteers, and friends throughout the year. We were delighted song he wrote just for RMHC-RRV:
“I found everything I needed
you to all of the businesses and individuals who helped make
this year’s Sweetheart Ball a success, especially our presenting sponsor, McDonald’s Restaurants – Dakotas Association.
When I needed it the most
In a place I never wanted to be
Before my child was diagnosed. I’m at a place where I can smile When I never thought I could
They’ve got a way of making a home-away-from-home Feel the way it should.”
After an RMHC-RRV update from Jill Christopher, Executive Director, the live auction was led by Kimberly Fladeboe
Anderson. This year’s auction was a HUGE success thanks to our wonderful donors: Herzog Roofing, Happy Harry’s
Bottle Shops, Susan Fuglie, Ruth and Dale Hetland, Martha
A special thank you to the 2020 Sweetheart Ball Committee! Your commitment and hard work is truly appreciated. Jo Hatfield, Sheri Batesole, Amanda Buth, Sarah Kenz, Sharon Miller, Cassandra Marka, Alexandra Kizima, Jill Christopher, Erica Johnsrud, Kelly Heyer, Amber Blomberg, Jackie Schlucter, Ruth Hetland, Ann Werlinger, Caitlin Stoecker, Lori Tiongson (Pictured above)
Giving Hearts Opened Doors this Giving Hearts Day! No family who stays at the Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Red River Valley expects to have an ill child. We’re here to make their life a little easier while they navigate the challenges and concerns for their children. We run 100% on donations and we are so grateful for the support this community shows us every day, and especially Giving Hearts Day.
charities they were supporting. By
Our campaign, “Giving Hearts
McDonald House to continue
weeks before Giving Hearts Day
included matching gifts from our
8:30 a.m., we were excited to have
already raised $17,000—enough to cover the average stay of ten days for five families!
For each interval hit, a new door
opened to offer a virtual tour of the
House that was posted on our social media channels. Your generous
giving hearts opened doors all day! Some of those rooms included the Magic Room, pantry, garage, and
most importantly, the rooms where our families stay. At the end of the
day, close to 700 giving hearts had donated $117,000 for the Ronald
Open Doors,” kicked off a few
to care for families in 2020. This
as we dropped off a red & white
generous donors: Dakota Medical
businesses to raise awareness about
Company, Mike and Cindy O’Keefe,
striped door at various supporting
Foundation, Nodak Insurance
the upcoming holiday. The door
and an anonymous donor.
to unlock a giving heart. Thank you to
RMHC Kudos to the 2020 Giving
and Thunder Coffee for hosting our
Hand, Lisa Tellinghuisen, Stacy
included a mailbox that held the key
Eide Bailly, RDO, Arvig, Flint Group, door!
The entire community was buzzing
Hearts Day Committee: James Dow, LuAnn Brosz, Jordan Houselog!
on the morning of February 13th.
A special thank you to Dakota
see and feel the giving spirit that
Foundation, and Alex Stern Family
People wore their Giving Hearts Day
inspirational day of giving!
Everywhere you looked you could
Medical Foundation, Impact
encapsulates Giving Hearts Day!
Foundation for putting on such an
shirts, had stickers or wore pins, and posted on social media about the
“Providing support to families with a baby in the NICU by being a safe person to share their story and needs to. It has been very rewarding!”
SAVE THE DATES RMH
RIDE June 13th, 2020 Visiting with families with so many problems and hope to help them in any way they need.
Happy Volunteer Appreciation Month! Volunteers are the backbone of our organization; without them we would not be able to provide for our families in the same way. Volunteers help us cook, clean, and provide the extras like therapy pets, craft classes, and music. They make our house a home. In 2019, over 1,100 people volunteered over 4,500 hours to support RMHC-RRV families. We appreciate your dedication to serving families at RMHC! Never has this work been more challenging than during this time with a COVID-19 global pandemic. To keep families safe, we made the difficult decision to suspend our volunteer programs at our Ronald McDonald House and Ronald McDonald
Family Room. We have truly felt this loss of volunteers as our hallways are quiet
now and our hearts are heavy. Volunteers help us extend every donation and make
so many extra things possible for the families we serve. While we know that this will be temporary, it only accentuates why volunteers are so important to our mission.
New York Mills, MN Registration opens May 1st for the world’s largest ride to benefit a Ronald McDonald House! This year the RMH Ride will take place June 13th in New York Mills, MN including a scenic countryside, live bands, a poker run, and silent & live auctions! The weekend kicks off Friday with a concert by Tripwire. For more information check out: www.rmhride.com
21st annual Ronald McDonald House GOLF TOURNAMENT July 13th, 2020 Golf FORE a good cause! It’s time to dust off your clubs and gather your best golfing buddies! The Annual Ronald McDonald House Charities Golf Tournament will be held July 13th at Meadows Golf Course in Moorhead, MN. It’s sure to be a fun time golfing to help families stay together, and we’d love to have you. Check out www. rmhcfargo.org for more information or contact Erica at 701-232-3980 or erica@rmhcfargo.org Sponsorships are currently available!
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SPRING WISHLIST Laundry detergent (HE, hypo-allergenic preferred) Full-size shampoo & conditioner Keurig K-Cups Paper Towels Grab and Go snacks
4757 AGASSIZ CROSSING S, FARGO, ND 58104