Meet the Tracy Family. - Ronald McDonald House

Meet the Tracy Family.
In November 2008, our 5-year-old daughter, Ava,
suffered two major strokes. Although she remained
cognitive and able to understand and recognize the
world around her, she was unable to walk, talk or
eat. We spent most of the following year at St. Louis
Children’s Hospital.
During that time, the Ronald McDonald Family
Room became our go-to spot. Although we live just
an hour away in O’Fallon, Missouri, my husband,
Chris, and I never wanted to be too far from our
daughter. The Family Room offered free snacks,
Internet access, washers, dryers, and hot showers.
Most importantly, it kept us close to Ava.
On Thanksgiving Day, November 26, 2009, our
sweet Ava died at St. Louis Children’s Hospital. We
were right by her side.
But our story doesn’t end there. During the course
of Ava’s illness, our youngest daughter, Bryn, was
diagnosed with the same heart condition that
caused Ava’s strokes. In 2010, we found ourselves
living at the hospital again when Bryn was listed for
a heart transplant. That December, she received the
greatest gift imaginable - a donor heart. For the next
two months, the Ronald McDonald Family Room
was once again our “home-away-from-home.”
— Chanda Tracy
Scan this QR code with your smart
phone or visit www.rmhcstl.com
to hear more words of thanks from the
Tracy Family.
Find us on Facebook at
www.facebook.com/rmhcstl and Twitter
at www.twitter.com/rmhcstl.
ST. LOUIS
3450 Park Avenue
St. Louis, MO 63104-1334
(314) 773-1100 • www.rmhcstl.com
43483
2013 APPEAL
2013 APPEAL
In 2012, St. Louis’ three Ronald McDonald Houses
provided 18,866 nights of lodging to 1,646 families.
In order to meet our growing financial needs, we
Last year, our three Ronald McDonald Family Rooms
provided comfort and care to 6,436 families, many of
whom visited more than once.
It is our hope that you will sponsor a family’s stay
at the Ronald McDonald House so they can focus on
what really matters — caring for their seriously ill
child. Many donors find that fulfilling their pledge
over time enables them to make an even greater impact. Please see the table below.
Cost
The actual cost of a family’s one-night stay at the
Ronald McDonald House is about $70; however, RMHC
of St. Louis asks families to contribute just $5 a night for
their stay.
40% of these families cannot afford the $5 per night fee
due to mounting medical bills. No family is turned away
due to inability to pay.
Volunteers
Sponsor a family.
1 year$1,825* *Those who sponsor a family for
6 months$1,000* 6 months or more in 2013 will
become Members of the
3 months$450
Cornerstone Society.
1 month$150
1 week$35
More than 150 volunteers help operate our three
Ronald McDonald Houses, which are open 24 hours
a day, 365 days a year.
Over 400 volunteers staff our three Ronald
McDonald Family Rooms, which are open 12 hours
a day, 365 days a year.
More than 300 volunteers support our special events.
Stewardship
Our mission:
Consider a pledge.
To provide a “home-away-from-home” for families of
seriously ill children, and support to organizations that
serve the needs of children.
$150.00
$75.00
$37.50
$15.00
$450.00
$225.00
$112.50
$45.00
$1,000.00
$500.00
$250.00
$100.00
Love lives here.
$1,825.00
$912.50
$456.25
$182.50
Ronald McDonald House Charities® of St. Louis keeps
families together at a time whent their lives have
unraveled. Our organization has grown from an eightbedroom facility to now include three Ronald McDonald
Houses, three in-hospital Ronald McDonald Family
Rooms, and a Ronald McDonald Care Mobile, which
provides free eye care to underprivileged children.
Service
We need your help.
have initiated the 2013 Home Away from Home
Appeal, an annual giving program that will provide
the financial foundation for the yearly operation of
our three Ronald McDonald Houses and Ronald
McDonald Family Rooms.
The Cohn Family called our Ronald McDonald House on Park
Avenue their “home-away-from-home” for more than four months
while their newborn son received treatment.
Did you know?
AnnuallySemi-annually QuarterlyMonthly**
**10 months
Please respond today.
Thank you for helping us help children heal for more
than three decades. It is only through your generosity
that we are able to serve more than 8,000 children
and their families every year.
97% of our $3 million operating budget is raised
through contributions and fundraising efforts.
A small staff of just 28 employees serves more
than 8,000 families 24 hours a day, 7 days a week,
365 days a year.
RMHC receives $0 in federal or state grants.