Special Feature
40 From Our 40
Summer 2022
Heart & Hearth
Welcome
The Haug-Ratcliff Family
In April, we celebrated the early arrival of our twins, Oaklynn, born 1 lb. 12 oz, and Greyson, born 1 lb. 13 oz. Because they were born at 25 weeks, they were transferred from our home in Linton, Indiana 90 minutes away to a hospital in Evansville. There, doctors discovered holes in Greyson’s intestine that required treatment at Riley Children’s Health. Sadly, a few days later, our little Oaklynn passed away. While Greyson is at Riley Children’s, we’ve been staying at the Ronald McDonald House. Since arriving in Indianapolis, everyone has treated us like family. The staff has been so sweet and makes sure we are comfortable and feel at home. We’ve celebrated Mother’s Day and Father’s Day here, enjoying the spa day for moms and the barbeque for dads, with the other families at the House.
We’ve been through so many emotions, coping with the pain of losing Oaklynn while celebrating how hard Greyson is fighting. Events like these helped us feel normal and escape day-to-day stresses. We want to thank everyone who donates and makes it possible for parents like us to stay so close to their children. Greyson is now four months old and weighs 10 lbs., 3 oz. The doctors and nurses at Riley tell us he’s doing great and might be able to go home in September.
With love and gratitude,
Faith Haug and Quintin Ratcliff
The House that Love Built
On October 14, 1982, the Ronald McDonald House of Indiana opened on the campus of IUPUI just a short walk from the renowned Riley Children’s Hospital, the realization of efforts that had started more than five years earlier.
The concept of the Ronald McDonald House debuted in Philadelphia in the mid 1970s. Fred Hill, a linebacker for the Philadelphia Eagles, and his wife, Fran, had been enduring the stress of watching their daughter Kimberly receive treatment for acute lymphatic leukemia at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. The Hills, like many families before them, were spending their time camped in the hospital, sleeping in lounges or their child’s room.
Leaving Your Legacy
There is no doubt the great feeling that comes from donating your time or money to one of your favorite charitable organizations. Have you ever wondered, though, if you could continue making an impact by giving to your charitable organization of choice even after you’re gone? While estate planning is usually no one’s favorite topic, it is important to know that a properly executed estate plan can allow you to decide in advance of your death how you would like your assets to be distributed. One of the components of your estate distribution strategy you might consider is how you could continue supporting a place like Ronald McDonald House after you die.
The way to leave a legacy to the organizations you’re passionate about supporting is through planned giving, which can be beneficial not only to the charity but also to your other heirs in the form of legal and tax saving strategies. A planned gift can be completed in a number of different formats including legacy planning within a donor advised fund (DAF), charitable remainder trusts (CRT), charitable lead trusts (CLT), naming a charity as a direct beneficiary of an account or life insurance policy, or a bequeath of funds or personal belongings to a charity within a will or trust document.
Depending on your personal situation, any one or a combination of these strategies can be an excellent option. So, talk to your financial planner and your estate planning attorney about what the best strategy might be for you to leave a legacy to your chosen organization.
– Margaret Gooley, CFP®, CDFA®, Worley Erhart-Graves Financial Advisors
– Margaret Gooley, CFP®, CDFA®, Worley Erhart-Graves Financial AdvisorsWorley Erhart-Graves Financial Advisors, Inc. is a Registered Investment Advisor. Registration as an investment advisor does not constitute an endorsement of the firm by securities regulators nor does it indicate that the advisor has attained a particular level of skill or ability.
40 From Our 40 Part 1
To celebrate the 40th anniversary of Ronald McDonald House Charites of Central Indiana, we launched 40 From Our 40, a storytelling initiative that showcases stories, memories and moments from 40 individuals that have had an experience with RMHCCIN in the past 40 years. Welcome to interviews 1 through 20!
Swing for Kids
The 35th Annual Swing for Kids Golf Tournament presented by NextGear Capital was a resounding success, raising $210,000 for RMHCCIN! A special thank you to our sponsors, food and beverage partners, golfers, and volunteers.
NextGear additionally issued a $20,000 matching challenge to event attendees. Thanks to the generosity of all involved, we turned a $20,000 gift into $40,000 – that’s 400 overnight stays for families. Contributions raised at Swing for Kids help cover the $100 actual cost of operating a room.
Summer Shindig
On July 21st, over 800 guests came out to The Children’s Museum of Indianapolis to support Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Indiana’s inaugural Summer Shindig event.
Summer Shindig, presented by Riley Children’s Health, was started this year to celebrate 40 years of keeping families close. Alumni families, community members and friends of Ronald McDonald House came from all over the state to celebrate with us. The families currently staying at the Ronald McDonald House were invited for free and shuttled to the museum. All guests were treated to a private takeover of the museum complete with a catered dinner buffet, a museum-wide scavenger hunt, a 40th Anniversary t-shirt and a surprise appearance from Ronald McDonald himself.
One sponsor said, “This was a wonderful way to celebrate the great works of the House and again, keep families together.” We loved having so many families and supporters in one place to Celebrate Together, Together.
Thank You to our Sponsors!
2021 Impact
The impact of COVID-19 lingered throughout 2021 with continued restrictions to ensure the health and safety of our guests. Throughout the entirety of the year, the Ronald McDonald House operated at a 63% capacity cap. Ending the year on a positive note, RMHCCIN opened two new Ronald McDonald Family Rooms inside Riley Children’s Health in November, 2021.
- $2.9 Million Saved by Families in Out-of-Pocket Lodging and Meal Expenses
- 21 Days Average Length of a Family’s Stay
- 144 Direct Service Volunteers
- 12,591 Total Pounds of Food Rescued Through our Partnership with Second Helpings
New Spaces for Families
A milestone in bringing comfort and care to families where they need it most, more than 2,400 guests visited our two new Ronald McDonald Family Rooms inside Riley Children’s Health after opening in November 2021. Providing quiet escapes from the stress of hospital life, caregivers can enjoy a well-deserved break, warm meals, snacks, naps, and more. For families, they’re private spaces away from the medical place.
November – December 2021
- 2,434 Guests Checked in at the Family Rooms
- 1,599 Meals Provided at the Family Rooms
- 498 Snack Bags Provided at the Family Rooms
2021 Financial Summary
Total Assets |
$15,485,004 |
|
Total Current Liabilities |
$161,935 |
|
Total Net Assets |
$15,323,069 |
|
Total Operating Revenue |
$3,181,804 |
|
Contributions |
$1,581,178 |
49.7% |
Foundations/Grants* |
$750,676 |
23.6% |
| *Includes Employee Retention Credit | ||
Gifts Through Planned Giving |
$83,644 |
2.6% |
Guest Rooms |
$56,547 |
1.8% |
Special Events (Net) |
$215,980 |
6.8% |
Value of In-Kind Donations* |
$493,779 |
15.5% |
| *Grant and In-Kind revenue related to buildout of new Family Rooms | ||
Total Revenue* |
$4,343,445 |
|
| *Including investment gains and losses | ||
Total Expenses |
$2,615,142 |
|
Administrative & Management |
$313,455 |
|
Community Relations, Awareness & Fundraising |
$698,697 |
|
Family Services & Programs |
$1,602,990 |
Our Community Partners
Our McDonald’s Partnership
McDonald’s® has been a proud mission partner of the Ronald McDonald House since its inception. Here in Indiana, your favorite local restaurants support RMHCCIN through Donation Boxes, “Round-Up for RMHC” (rounding your purchase to the next dollar), “Sleeves for Support” (sale of drink sleeves) and donations of two pennies per Happy Meal® sold, as well as hosting local charity events, and giving volunteer support. We are so grateful for our “first and forever partner.”
- 255 McDonald’s Restaurants in Indiana that directly support RMHCCIN
- $220,000 from McDonald’s Donation Boxes
- $61,500 from McDonald’s Round-Up for RMHC campaign
- $131,000 from McDonald’s Penny per Happy Meal program
I write today celebrating summer and the exciting things happening at Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Indiana (RMHCCIN). Instead of digging into sandy beaches, we are digging into the archives of RMHCCIN history. Instead of relaxing into a slower pace, we are moving full steam ahead.
We have returned to serving families at 100% capacity at the Ronald McDonald House on Limestone Street. In summer, we typically see more children around the House and this year is not an exception. It is great to see kids getting a chance to feel at home playing in our game room, on the playground, and with our House dog Mac.
Additionally, our Ronald McDonald Family Rooms continue to serve more families. When we opened our First Floor Family Room in Riley Children’s Health in November 2021, we provided 333 meals that month. This past June, we served more than 2,000! What that number really means is that we fed more hungry moms, dads and weary caregivers that didn’t have to find lunch in a vending machine or make important care decisions for their little one on an empty stomach.
We’ve enjoyed our trips into the archives and journeys down memory lane, capturing stories from the past. Meeting the individuals that laid RMHCCIN’s firm foundation has been an honor. I have loved the chance to comb through old photos and articles in the process. We’ll be sharing more stories of our 40-year history in our upcoming fall/winter issue of Heart & Hearth.
Unfortunately, though, summer doesn’t last forever. As days get shorter, school starts and summer ends, I look forward to fall knowing we are just a few months away from October 14 and our official 40th Anniversary. Since last year, we have been planning, researching, and reconnecting in preparation for this special occasion. While so much has changed in the past four decades, so much about RMHCCIN remains the same. We provide families with a place to heal, rest, and find peace. We know we couldn’t do it without you! Thank you for your continued love and support.
Wishing you find something to celebrate this summer before the first leaf falls.