NOVEMBER 2023 NOVEMBER 2020
Family Story
The Polejewski Family Over the past year, we’ve enjoyed catching up with past RMHC families as we celebrate 40 years of #KeepingFamiliesClose. As we wrap up our yearlong celebration, our hearts are full of gratitude for the brave families who have called our house a home and the amazing generosity of a community that has made 40 years of life-changing work possible. Angie and JP Polejewski were thrilled to welcome
their fourth child into their home in late 2008. What was supposed to be an
exciting and joyous time
quickly turned into a time
of unknowns and unpredictability. Their
son Joe made his debut in Fergus Falls, MN on November 18, 2008, weighing
a healthy seven pounds. However, he struggled to breathe on his own. His family and the medical team quickly realized that Joe displayed all the
physical features of a child born with
Down Syndrome and feared he had a
hole in his heart. On November 19, Joe was taken by ambulance to Sanford in Fargo, where he would stay for the next week.
After getting Joe settled in the NICU,
JP saw a poster for Ronald McDonald House and called to see if his family would qualify to stay. To the family’s
delight, there was space available and
Angie, JP, and their daughters Hannah (5) and Grace (3) moved into the house.
While at RMHC, the family was wrapped in
love and care from staff and volunteers. For Angie, staying at RMHC provided comfort in knowing her daughters had a fun place
“RMHC was a safe space to land,” Angie said. “It was unconditional love. It was
cookies on the kitchen counter. It was a
meal to eat as a family. It was a space to
play. It was all the things that I just couldn’t find the energy to do.”
to play and thrive, allowing her to fully focus on getting Joe healthy.
Continued on pg. 2
The Polejewski Family continued
beds. She has continued to give school
presentations, donate money, and collect pop tops for RMHC.
meal prepared for them by Concordia College students.
For Angie, watching Joe grow into a healthy boy has made the struggles of his birth a
chapter they look back on with gratitude.
“It was unconditional love. It was cookies on the kitchen counter. It was a meal to eat as a family. It was a space to play. It was all the things that I just couldn’t find the energy to do” - Angie Polejewski
She is also proud of how their daughters
have taken a scary time in their lives and
turned their RMHC experience into a desire to extend love and care to others.
Today, Joe and his siblings are thriving. Joe
is now 15 years old and in the 9th grade. He is on the basketball team, and competes in
adaptive bowling and the Special Olympics. Also, his fellow students nominated him for
For Grace, the impact of her experience at RMHC has lasted a lifetime. In the fourth grade she wrote a school essay on the
topic of “What would you do with $100?”
Her answer was simple: she would donate the money to RMHC. For her, the house
was a “cozy place with people who loved
us, gave us food, and cared for us.” Grace remembers how helpful the staff and
volunteers were to her family, and especially remembers the Beanie Babies left on their
Angie was able to gain comfort and strength from all of the people she met at the house,
from staff to volunteers to her fellow parents.
homecoming court! Grace is now a senior in high school and Hannah is a sophomore at South Dakota State University, majoring in
biology and dreaming of becoming a doctor.
“They all knew what was in my heart even
Scan here to meet the Polejewski Family
when I couldn’t find words to explain it,” she said. One of the best memories her family has from their stay was coming
back to the house after being with Joe and seeing the beautiful Thanksgiving
AANOTE NOTEFROM FROM
JILL JILLCHRISTOPHER CHRISTOPHER CEO
This past year has been a celebration of the
As I reflect back on our 40th year,
what a wonderful walk down memory
lane it has been. When I joined RMHC of the Red River Valley, I could have never imagined the road it would
lead me down. I have had the honor to meet amazing families served by our mission, witness incredible
generosity from our community and work with extremely talented
board members, staff, and volunteers. I hold the stories and memories deep in my heart.
dream born from a little girl that sparkled and her family’s hope for a better way for other families with sick kids in the future. It was a celebration of the determination of a dedicated group of volunteers led by social worker, Wayne Allard to make the Ronald McDonald House a reality. It was a celebration of the tremendous support and spirit of hospitality within our community. Now we move on to the next 40 years and beyond. As long as there are sick kids, our work continues, and the future is bright. Thank you for helping families with sick kids feel at home even when they can’t be. Together with you,
BOARD OF
DIRECTORS During this season of gratitude, we give thanks for the amazing leaders who serve on our Board of Directors. Keeping the families we serve at the heart of all we do, this talented and thoughtful group governs, stewards and strategizes. Their time and energy is a gift to our mission and we’re grateful for their service. A special thanks to Madison Quamme for serving as our 2023 Board President and to Emily Cook and Nicole Christensen who will be wrapping up their board service this year.
of the Red River Valley
BOARD OF DIRECTORS Officers
Members
Flint Group
WE Ortho
Madison Quamme President
Todd Anderson
Josef’s School of Hair, Skin and Body Vice President
Katie Rizzo
Sanford Health Past President
Lindsey DiFiore
Concordia College Treasurer
Emily Cook McDonald's Secretary
Katie Bjornson
Nicole Christensen Arkos Health
Josh Malnourie
Blue Cross Blue Shield Of ND
Jeremy Ostrowski Aldevron
Shawn Paschke Xcel Energy
Amanda Richter Arkos Health
Jessica Shawn WEX
Jeff Shipley
JSE, Inc. Family of Companies
Scott Steinmetz WEX
Caitlin Stoecker Bobcat Company
Measure of Love
Cookbook In December of 2022, we kicked off a year-long celebration of 40 years of helping sick kids and their families while receiving medical care in the Fargo area. To honor the brave families we’ve served and the generous community that has made our mission possible, we’ve compiled a commemorative cookbook. “Measure of Love” is a collection of 40 recipes from local chefs, volunteers, community partners, and past families all inspired around the theme “comforts of home”.
Cookbooks are $40 each with all proceeds supporting the families we serve.
Purchase your cookbook today!
Makes a great Gift
Scan here to purchase or visit our website at rmhcfargo.org/support-us/rmhc-merchandise/cookbook/
STRIPES
#forRMHC IN OCTOBER
Each October we raise awareness for RMHC by wearing the iconic striped socks! “Show your Stripes” Day allows our community to proudly share their heart #forRMHC and invite others into supporting our mission. THANK YOU to all who wore socks, shared in the fun and enjoyed donuts #forRMHC! If you missed out on the fun, have no fear. With a minimum donation of $20, you can receive your very own snazzy pair of socks, just like Ronald wears.
Make your gift now at
www.rmhcfargo.org/make-a-donation and note “socks” in the memo section. (Available while supplies last.)
Thank you to Sandy's Donuts!
Saturday, Feb 10th, 2024 Delta by Marriott I 6:00p.m. Our Sweetheart Ball is always a special evening to honor the brave families who have called our house a home and celebrate the generous hearts that make our mission possible. Funds raised at this event directly benefit families with critically ill children receiving medical care in Fargo. Your support provides a place to stay, the amenities of home, a stocked pantry, hot meals, a shoulder to lean on, an ear to listen, and a place to feel safe and comfortable when a family is facing the uncertainty a medical diagnosis brings.
Visit www.rmhcfargo.org
for more information on registration and sponsorship opportunities.
(Scan here for event)
AROUND THE
HOUSE There are many ways you can make an impact on sick kids and their families this holiday season.
Choice Dollars
VEHICLE
Scan the QR code or contact us for more information
Donations
Are you a Thrivent member? Consider applying for
Donate your used vehicle, boat, or motorized
a Thrivent Action Team Grant or choose to direct
vehicle and support RMHC. It’s fast, free, easy, and
your Thrivent Choice Dollars to support the mission
tax deductible.
of Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Red River Valley.
NORTH DAKOTA TAX CREDIT
IRA REQUIRED MINIMUM
The state of North Dakota offers a generous 40 percent state
Make an immediate impact on our mission and avoid
income tax credit for gifts of $5,000 or more to our qualified
taxes on transfers up to $100,000 from your IRA direct
endowment fund. It’s a win-win for both you and the families
to RMHC of the Red River Valley. Contact your IRA
your gift will so generously serve for generations to come!
plan administrator to make your gift. Our tax ID number
Endowment Gifts
If you’re interested in this opportunity, please contact us today and we’ll get you the details you need to facilitate this gift.
MATCHING GIFTS
Programs
Distributions
is 45-0365598.
Does your employer offer a matching gifts program? Check it out to see your donation go further by doubling your contributions! Thank you to all employees and businesses who take part in these programs to help this community keep families close together.
Questions? Contact Jill Christopher at jill@rmhcfargo.org or 701.232.3980
4757 AGASSIZ CROSSING FARGO, ND 58104
SAVE THE DATES
FM Area Foundation Caring Catalog
November 27TH - December 8TH The FM Area Foundation is hosting the Caring Catalog, an online giving platform to support nonprofit work in Cass-Clay this holiday season. From November 27th – December 8th, you can donate online at areafoundation.org/caringcatalog and help support RMHC of the Red River Valley! Watch online for information about fun incentives from the FM Area Foundation for donors like you to multiply your support!
February 8TH, 2024 Giving Hearts Day is a 24-hour online giving event co-hosted by Dakota Medical Foundation, the Impact Foundation, and the Alex Stern Family Foundation. Your support on February 8 will help us continue our work of keeping critically ill children close to their families as they grow strong in the hospital.