Here is our revamped volunteer newsletter, The Volunteer Times! In this monthly publication you will find important information regarding the House, updates on our expansion project and dates to remember but most importantantly articles on events hosted by YOU! Our dedicated volunteer communications team sets up dates to attend nightly events at the House and cover them for us all to read.  If you would like a member of our communications team to cover your event or to submit an article for consideration please e-mail Caitlin Conklin at cconklin@rmh-newyork.org

Dr. Ruth C. Browne Appointed as President & CEO

The Volunteer Department is thrilled to welcome Dr. Ruth C. Browne as the new President and Chief Executive Officer of Ronald McDonald House New York! Dr. Browne has a deep background in public health services and joins us from the Arthur Ashe Institute for Urban Health, where she served as CEO for 12 years. We are very excited to start working with Dr. Browne in September! read more

More than 1,000 people attended the 20th Annual Team Ronald Heroes fundraiser in New York City, raising more than $600,000 to support residents fighting pediatric cancer at Ronald McDonald House New York.
Held at the iconic Guastavino’s under the 59th Street Bridge, revelers enjoyed music by DJ Mr. Biggs and a sumptuous feast provided by Tony’s DiNapoli. With this year’s fundraiser once again led by Event Chairman Bruce Dimpflmaier, general manager of Tony’s DiNapoli, and co-chairs Ken Schulman and Dennis McGarry, the event’s fundraising totals reached record levels.
The evening’s biggest highlights included a performance by American Idol Star, Constantine Maroulis, appearance by the The Rockettes, and a brand new “Color the Lives of Our Children” live painting by artist, Deirdra Kelly. Once again, our volunteers showed up with their overwhelming support and we can not thank them enough! The funds raised from the event will help to underwrite programming activities for the families.

All regular volunteers are required to get a flu shot annually. Flu shots are offered at the House at the beginning of flu season for all. We will send notice of the dates shots wil be available as soon as they are confirmed.  Those who choose to receive the flu shot on their own must provide the House with a copy of the receipt stating that they are vaccinated by October 17, 2016. These requirements are precautions to the children of the House, whose safety and health is our first priority.

We are underway! This is the first major capital improvement to the House since it opened in 1994.  Upon completion, the building will have modern state-of-the-art systems throughout, 11 newly constructed rooms and 6 post-transplant suites. The lobby will also be completely renovated with two new spaces defined, one for guest check-in and across the lobby a check-in area for volunteers and volunteer groups. Thank you all for helping us accomplish this very exciting expansion.

As you may already know, Ronald McDonald House New York has expanded the “house that love built” to numerous private and public hospitals in the greater New York Metropolitan area. The Happy Wheels Coffee Cart at the Hospital for Special Surgery has been open for almost 2 years and we are ready to take on more! A New Happy Wheels Coffee Cart is projected to open this fall at New York Presbyterian/Weill Cornell Medical along with our very exciting addition, The Ronald McDoald House Family Room at Kings County in Brooklyn. Do you know anyone interested in volunteering in Brooklyn? Contact us for more information!... read more

Ronan, now 19 years old, and his mother, Patricia, have many memories from their years staying at Ronald McDonald House New York starting when Ronan was just a baby. Coming from their home in Ireland, Patricia fondly recalls the warm welcome our volunteers would give her and her son on their yearly visits to the House. After listing many volunteers by name, Patricia mentioned that she was most taken aback by their generosity, explaining the sense of relief that came from knowing other people cared about her and her family. Ronan, who is now in college in Ireland, remembers the many trips he took with volunteers from ringing the bell at the NY Stock Exchange to throwing the first pitch at a Mets baseball game. His favorite memory, however, was not one specific event, but rather how he always felt so comfortable and looked after at the House. We loved catching up with Ronan and Patricia and hearing the wonderful things they had to say about their experience at the House over the past 18 years!

Hello all! My name is Mauri (pronounced like cala-MARI) Honickman and I could not be more excited to start as the new Volunteer Coordinator. To give you a little bit of background, I am originally from Philadelphia and just graduated from Tufts University where I studied Sociology and Communications & Media Studies. It has been my dream to work at a non-profit like Ronald McDonald House New York, so I am beyond thrilled to start working with you, the wonderful volunteers that I have already heard so much about. When I am not working, you can find me attempting to complete a NYT crossword puzzle without using Google, going on runs through Central Park, and searching for the best chocolate cake in NYC. I look forward to meeting you all soon!