Around the House

Did you know your IRA is a great source for making simple, tax-free gifts to your favorite charity? If you’re 73½ years or older, you can transfer your IRA Required Minimum Distribution (RMD) to a qualified charity, or give up to $105,000, without counting the distribution as income. And your contribution to our Ronald McDonald House would benefit families immediately! Benefits of a charitable IRA …

Longtime volunteer Janice Miles is one of the first people you’ll meet at San Diego’s Ronald McDonald House. She’s at reception three days a week, greeting visitors, giving tours, and making sure guests have what they need. Her warm and capable demeanor lets families know they’re in good hands. Connections with volunteers like Janice comfort families who may be feeling isolated and overwhelmed by …

KUSI’s Brad Perry on the Value of Handmade Cards A handwritten note can help encourage hospitalized children and their families at San Diego’s Ronald McDonald House. Messages of support can have a lasting impact, like they did for Bank of America employee Daniel Cotamagana, who was treated for leukemia at age seventeen. KUSI’s Brad Perry was on hand at San Diego’s Ronald McDonald House to meet Dan …

Efforts to “Green” the Ronald McDonald House Celebrated by City of San Diego Ronald McDonald House Charities of San Diego has been selected as one of ten Recyclers of the Year by The City of San Diego’s Environmental Services Department in their 2016 Waste Reduction and Recycling Awards Program. Last year, our Director of Operations, Gabi Rivers, and her team launched a comprehensive program to re …

Facilities Manager Mike Murphy logs more steps than anyone else at the Ronald McDonald House, but his shoes are lasting a little longer now, thanks to a new emergency radio system funded by SDG&E. This generous $10,000 grant has funded new radios and a repeater to overcome communications challenges presented by the unique construction and location of our facility atop a parking structure. Thes …

Remembering Beloved CFO Gail M. Sullivan It was with profound sadness that Ronald McDonald House Charities of San Diego learned of the death of Gail M. Sullivan on December 31, 2015. Gail joined Ronald McDonald House Charities of San Diego as Chief Financial Officer in 2009. She was responsible for all facets of financial operations and human resources. She also coordinated the 2011-2014 San Diego …

Fostering Connections for Imperial Valley Families Extraordinary volunteers Jan Hester and Jo Ann Weissman are developing partnerships in the Imperial Valley to help bridge the distance between the Ronald McDonald House and the Valley. Both have been instrumental in coordinating volunteers and sponsors for Red Shoe Day in the Imperial Valley. Jan Hester is especially grateful for the support she r …

35 Years with San Diego’s Ronald McDonald House By Connie Hernandez, a co-founder of Ronald McDonald House Charities of San Diego, pictured above with husband and co-founder Nick Hernandez We were young parents in 1976, busy raising our two sons and two daughters. That’s when we got the worst news imaginable: “Your son has a fifty percent chance of surviving the week. And he will not live to celeb …

In a great show of community support, members of the Alpha Delta Pi sorority at University of San Diego held a 5K on December 5, 2015. More than 125 runners took part in this race to benefit family care at San Diego’s Ronald McDonald House. Sorority members organized the event and recruited runners for a fun morning that raised over $7,000. Thank you, ADPi members! University of San Diego Alpha De …

Anne-Marie Penkala is a pro at our front desk, greeting families and answering questions. She’s glad to be learning something new with each shift. Anne-Marie has been on both sides of the reception desk: her two teenaged daughters had surgery at Rady Children’s Hospital when they were younger, and her family used both the former and the current Ronald McDonald Houses as guests. Anne-Marie returned …