In This Issue:


December

Toss Designs Shopping Event 

Wednesday, December 10, 2014, 5:30 - 8:30 p.m. 
855 El Camino Real, Town & Country Shopping Center, Palo Alto
Toss Designs Palo Alto and Ronald McDonald House at Stanford invite you to a special night of shopping.

Toss Designs will donate 20 percent of all purchases made during the event to the House. Light bites and drinks will be served. Contact us for more information.


January
Volunteer Information Session for Adults
January 20, 6:30 - 7:30 p.m.,
Sign up here.
Giving Tuesday - December 2, 2014
You've heard of Black Friday and Cyber Monday but what about Giving Tuesday? #GivingTuesday is a global day dedicated to giving back. Your tax-deductible donation to Ronald McDonald House at Stanford helps provide the support and services families with critically ill children need to stay and heal together. Thank you!

Season of Giving

All around the House, signs of the holiday season are becoming evident -- the delicious aroma of turkey and pumpkin pie wafts from the kitchen, staff is busy unpacking ornaments and stringing up lights, and children are energized with anticipation as they count the days until Santa Claus will visit the House and perhaps leave a present or two.

 

At this time of year especially, I am reminded of the importance of family, friends, and togetherness. For families with critically ill children staying at our House, the holidays can be a particularly stressful time of year. We rely on the generous support of individuals, businesses, and organizations within our community to help us provide our families the best holiday experience possible.  

 

The beginning of the holiday season also marks the launch of our annual giving campaign, which generates nearly one-third of our annual operating budget every year. These important contributions help us continue to provide our special brand of comfort and care to our families all year long.

 

This year's campaign theme, The Gift of Togetherness, underscores the importance of ensuring that families facing dire medical crises can stay and heal together, no matter their financial situation. I encourage everyone who can to make a donation, knowing that your tax-deductible gift truly makes a real and immediate difference for families like the Hodges (read their story here), and hundreds more who call the House their home throughout the year.

 

Whatever your contribution-be it a monetary donation, an unwrapped toy, or a holiday meal, I am deeply grateful to everyone who will remember our families this holiday season and choose to give the most important gift of all -- the Gift of Togetherness. Thank you.

  

With warm regards,

 

 

 

 

Annette Eros

Chief Executive Officer 

The Hodge Family
Ben, Hailey, and Angie Hodge

Twenty weeks into her third pregnancy, Angie and her husband Ben were looking forward to finding out if their baby was a boy or a girl during a routine ultrasound at Angie's doctor's office in Idaho Falls. Halfway through the exam, the couple's joy turned to worry when the room suddenly became very quiet as the doctor and technician peered intently at the monitor. The examination showed that Angie's unborn daughter had an accumulation of fluid around the spinal area-a possible indicator of Down's Syndrome.

 

Further tests ruled out Down's, but unfortunately revealed the Hodge's unborn daughter had what appeared to be a serious heart defect. A fetal EKG and ECHO performed at the pediatric cardiology unit at St. Luke's Children's Hospital in Boise, Idaho confirmed the defect, but a definitive diagnosis was impossible for tests to reveal at that time. Read more.



Beginning in January we will introduce a new section of our monthly eNewsletter called the Community Partner Update. Each feature will focus on one of the many organizations that generously donate their time and resources to provide needed services to our families. There are so many wonderful partners that care for our families in a variety of creative ways, and we want to share these wonderful stories with you.  

 

With 2014 coming to a close, we would like to thank the following organizations for their significant support of Ronald McDonald House at Stanford. Through their ongoing donation of services throughout the year, these generous community partners help us provide our special brand of comfort and care to the hundreds of families that call our House their home.  

 
  • ACN
  • Avenir Restaurant Group (Milagros, Nola, Town)
  • Bay Area McDonald Owner/Operators
  • Blueline Rental
  • Coca-Cola Company
  • Complete Linen Service
  • Family Album Project
  • Hands On Bay Area
  • Iteratti
  • Johnson Controls
  • Maxim Healthcare Services
  • McDonald's Restaurant - Stanford Mall
  • Nova Partners
  • Palo Alto Fire Department
  • Piazza Family
  • Professional Gutter Services
  • Ronald McDonald House Charities
  • Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Bay Area
  • San Francisco Soup Company
  • Sheraton/Westin of Palo Alto
  • Southwest Airlines
  • The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter Day Saints (Palo Alto 1st and 2nd, Menlo Park, and Los Altos Wards)
  • Thirty-One
  • Way to Be
  • West Fresh
  • Wilson Sonsini Goodrich & Rosati

at Ronald McDonald House at Stanford
Participation in The Wishing Tree is a wonderful way for individuals, businesses, organizations, and groups to get involved in our local community and make a real and immediate difference for families staying at the House.
There are many ways, large and small, to get involved with Ronald McDonald House at Stanford. We welcome you to join our House community of support by contributing in whatever way you can. Here are some current opportunities to help families staying at the House feel at home.

CALL FOR DONATIONS

At Ronald McDonald House at Stanford, we rely on the generosity of donors in our community to help provide much-needed funds, goods, and services for critically ill children and families.

 

Current special donation opportunities (click the title for more information):

Gather your friends, coworkers, group members or organization and help house families 

feel at home for the holidays. All donations and tax deductible and greatly appreciated.


SPECIAL VOLUNTEER OPPORTUNITIES

At Ronald McDonald House at Stanford, volunteers are crucial to the creation of a home-away-from-home and welcoming community for families of children with life-threatening illnesses. 

 

Current volunteer opportunities (click the title for more information or to sign up):
Grab your friends and be Santa for a day! Volunteers are needed to sort and wrap donated gifts in our secret workshop. Participation is fun and easy! Simply visit the sign up webpage and type your first and last name in the blue slot located toward the bottom of the page (if you are signing up for more than one person, please enter each name separately). Next, click the time slots you are available. Our staff relies on the help of volunteers to prepare gifts in time for the big day, so please only sign up if you are certain you can attend. Thank you!
Great for Groups! Our House's "Meals for Munchkins" program ensures that lunch and dinner are provided to families most, if not all days of the week.

Right now, we are looking for volunteers to sign up to cook a meal for House families during the holidays. Gather your friends, group members, or coworkers and give the gift of a comforting meal to families. They'll appreciate it and you'll have fun, too!
Bilingual Spanish/English speaking candidates for all volunteer opportunities are given priority in the application process. The minimum age for volunteering in the House is 16 years of age.

*****

Due to infection control protocols, all donated items must be new and unused, and perishable items must be individually wrapped. If you have any questions or would like more information about donating to our House programs, please email Erica Lee, program coordinator, or call 650.470.6011.
STAY CONNECTED

Like us on Facebook   Follow us on Twitter   View our profile on LinkedIn   Find us on Pinterest
Our Mission:
Ronald McDonald House at Stanford creates a home-away-from-home and supportive community for families of children with life-threatening illnesses receiving specialized treatment at local hospitals.