Meet Danny Pelletier - Sites@Duke
Transcription
Meet Danny Pelletier - Sites@Duke
Ronald McDonald House Durham, NC Volunteer Newsletter June 2009 Volume 1, Issue 4 What’s Inside This Issue Meet Danny Pelletier Page 1 Meet Danny Pelletier Pages 2 &3 Volunteer Pages Danny doing tricks on his skateboard) Danny has been a guest at Ronald McDonald House of Durham many times over the past 7 years. Now 16 years old, this typical teenager spends time playing video games, texting, and skateboarding. Despite being paralyzed from the waist down as a result of a tumor growing on his spine, Danny has been skateboarding since he was 6 years old. So far, Danny has been in one skateboarding competition, and loves learning new tricks. While he is originally from Florida, Danny and his family now live in the mountains of Waynesville, North Carolina— where he hopes to take up snowboarding soon. For now, Danny is catching up on homework and getting ready to return to his life as a 10th grader in Waynesville very soon. This newsletter is published monthly by the Ronald Mc Donald House of Durham. The House provides lodging, comfort and care to families who have critically ill children being treated at nearby hospitals. Join Us For A Friends Of Ronald McDonald House Social Date: Wednesday, June 17th Time: 5:00-8:00 p.m. Place: Mez 5410 Page Road Durham, NC 27703 www.mezdurham.com *Friends of Ronald McDonald House is a social organization whose members commit to giving at least $10.00 each. month to the Ronald McDonald House of Durham to defray the costs of caring for critically ill children and their families. We would love to have you join as a member, but there is no pressure to do so. RSVP: [email protected] Durham Ronald McDonald House Newsletter Page 2 Around the House Board President Richard Ballard President - Elect Ric Richards Treasurer Edith Rosenblatt Secretary David Knobeloch Assistant Secretary Carol Martin Jim Bressler Bart Brunk Darnell Crews Bill Donovan David Knobeloch Scott MacLeod Art Pappas Cheryl Russell Joe St. Geme, MD David Welsh Jim Wulforst Staff Noreen Strong Executive Director Karen Morgan Assistant Manager Jessica Long Development Coordinator Lisa Lambert Community Events Director Yaw Boadu Facilities Maintenance Michelle Audette-Bauman Administrative Assistant Jordan Travis Administrative Receptionist Ava Bland 2nd Shift Manager Althea Mangum 3rd Shift Manager Our Volunteer Recognition Picnic Was a Blast!! Thanks to all our faithful volunteers who do so much for our House! In May we hosted our annual volunteer recognition picnic to honor and celebrate all the AMAZING volunteers we have. The volunteers were treated to a very special entertainer, Gary Mitchell. No pig picking would be complete without our famous, incredible Chef David Knobeloch. David has been cooking for all of the volunteer picnics for more than 12 years. He was presented with a Lifetime Achievement Award—the first the House has ever presented to a volunteer. The delicious side dishes included coleslaw, potato salad, and a veggie and cheese tray donated by Whole Foods. There were muffins and cookies from Fosters Market, as well as rolls and hush puppies from Costco. Wal-Mart in Brier Creek donated 150 pieces of fried chicken, and BJs provided the plates, Relief Managers plastic ware and cups. To finish this fine meal, Good Taste Cake Designs Dewayne Hinnant, Catherine Stevens, treated our volunteers to a yummy cake and cupcakes. Volunteer Camille Meghan McMahon Stubbs secured all these donations by calling a few of our favorite local **Sue Lindsey was this year’s recipient of the RMH Family Room Volunteer of the Year Award. businesses. Even during these difficult economic times these fabulous venders For over 3 years, Sue has coordinated the Thursday went the extra mile and donated all the fantastic food. afternoon volunteers for the RMH Family Room at the hospital. Camille was awarded this year’s House Volunteer of the Year Award. Each **George Grody is this year’s Development week Camille comes to the office and secures in-kind donations that have saved Volunteer of the Year. His leadership as inaugural the house thousands and thousands of dollars year after year. Like all not-forchair of the Hearts of Hope Society helped to raise profits this has been a difficult year financially, and Camille has been a lifeline over $200,000—surpassing our goal. **Brona Addison has volunteered for over 3 years securing all the in-kind gifts that make such a difference in our families’ lives. at the RMH Family Room, but her work recently Also, Judy Wooden and Mary Beth Cecil were recognized as the Special Events was particularly great. Brona normally ends her shift at the Family Room at 9:00 PM, after which Volunteers of the Year. They and other behind-the-scenes volunteers made the the room usually closes. One night this year, 2009 Winterfest event another huge success. Although the Washington Duke however, she kept the room open all night to Inn and Golf Club is always a beautiful venue, Mary Beth and Judy transformed provide a place to gather for a family whose 13the ballroom into a Paris-themed scene, which included a magnificent replica of day-old baby was in very critical condition and the Arc de Triomphe. eventually lost the fight for its life. For going beyond the call of duty and remarkably providing comfort to a family in a time of need, Brona was Finally, a very large thank you to each and every volunteer who gives of their recognized as a Service Champion by the Duke time and resources to help make our House a true home away from home. University Hospital and we would like to Thank you. We appreciate you all!!! recognize her work as well. Durham Ronald McDonald House Newsletter Page 3 Swing for Hope Golf Tournament (Supported by the Law Office of Paul M. Goodson) On Friday, June 5, 2009 at Hillandale Golf Course the Ronald McDonald House of Durham played its highly anticipated and very successful second annual golf tourney. When this article was printed we had four (4) major sponsors, over 26 teams and 30 hole sponsors! We would like to thank our major donors American Equity Mortgage, Premier Chiropractic Group, DocuSource of NC LLC and Paul M. Sullivan in memory of Alan Donald Sullivan for helping to make this event a huge hit! Our heartfelt thanks goes out to The Law Office of Paul M. Goodson and Hillandale Golf Course; Fran James and all her staff; McDonald’s in Durham on Roxboro Road and McDonald’s of Oxford and Creedmoor for the wonderful Breakfast. Special thanks to Tarheel Trophy for the awesome trophies and to all the companies and individuals who donated the terrific door prizes for the tournament. An extra special thank you to all the volunteers, board, staff and players who came out to support our truly unique and amazing “House That Love Built”! Please visit our website for a list of sponsors and donors that made this a perfect day! Lisa W. Lambert Community Events Director Happy Birthday, June Volunteers!!! Linda Bailey Jan Beckwith Vicki Crenshaw Hamlin Landis Sue Lindsey James Lloyd Natalie Mota Jillian Simpson Jeaninne Wagner H.O.G., C.B.A., M.O.B. CAR & BIKE Cruise-In to support RMH of Durham WHEN: Saturday, June 20, 2009 WHERE: Burlington Square Mall (Rain Date June 27, 2009) Huffman Mill Rd. TIME: 3:00pm – 7:00pm Burlington, NC No tents allowed in the cruise-in area. DETAILS: Please join the Burlington Harley Owner’s Group (H.O.G.), Alamance Concerned Biker’s Association (C.B.A.) and the Mustangs of Burlington (M.O.B.) for a CAR and BIKE cruise-in to support the Ronald McDonald House Charities. Cruise-in is open to ALL makes and models of vehicles. Please stop by the tent and register your vehicle and pick up your donation supplies. EVERYONE gets to vote by donating money. Please be sure to attend to “vote” for your favorite vehicle with your money and/or bring supplies for the Ronald McDonald House. All proceeds will be donated to the Ronald McDonald House of Durham. Any questions please contact Raz (Richard) Zipf (C.B.A. President., Alamance County) at 336-263-5552, Kirby Page (M.O.B. coordinator) at 336-228-1482, or William Blanchard (H.O.G. Director) at 919-563-5834.