PHILADELPHIA RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE INC
3925 CHESTNUT STREET, PHILADELPHIA, PA 19104 www.philarmh.org

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Organizations Filed Purposes: THE PHILADELPHIA RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE (RMH) OWNS HAS TWO RONALD MCDONALD HOUSES WHICH PROVIDE TEMPORARY LODGING, TRANSPORTATION, MEALS, AND SOCIAL SERVICES TO FAMILIES WHO TRAVEL TO PHILADELPHIA FOR PEDIATRIC CARE. RMH'S THREE RONALD MCDONALD FAMILY ROOMS EXTEND THE SUPPORT OF ITS HOUSES INTO THE HOSPITAL SETTING AND OFFER A QUIET RESPITE SPACE FOR FAMILIES AT CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL OF PHILADELPHIA AND ST. CHRISTOPHER'S HOSPITAL FOR CHILDREN. RONALD MCDONALD CAMP IS A WEEK-LONG OVERNIGHT CAMP FOR CHILDREN WITH CANCER AND THEIR SIBLINGS HELD IN THE POCONO MOUNTAINS EVERY AUGUST. THE RONALD MCDONALD CARE MOBILE, OPERATED IN PARTNERSHIP WITH ST. CHRISTOPHER'S FOUNDATION FOR CHILDREN, PROVIDES COMPREHENSIVE AND CONTINUOUS ORAL HEALTHCARE TO CHILDREN IN NORTH PHILADELPHIA.

RMH SUPPORTS FAMILIES OF SERIOUSLY ILL CHILDREN BY CREATING A COMMUNITY OF COMFORT AND HOPE.

HOUSE PROGRAM - TWO RONALD MCDONALD HOUSES, TOGETHER SERVING UP TO 65 FAMILIES EACH NIGHT, OFFER HOLISTIC SUPPORT AND LODGING TO FAMILIES TRAVELING 25 MILES OR FURTHER TO PHILADELPHIA TO RECEIVE MEDICAL CARE FOR THEIR SERIOUSLY ILL CHILDREN. FOUNDED AS THE FIRST RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE IN THE WORLD, RMH IS THE MODEL FOR MORE THAN 365 HOUSES IN 43 COUNTRIES AROUND THE GLOBE AND HAVE SUPPORTED THOUSANDS OF FAMILIES IN MORE THAN 40 YEARS OF OPERATION.SINCE OPENING, THE FIRST HOUSE - LOCATED AT 3925 CHESTNUT STREET - RMH HAS GROWN TO 72,000 SQUARE FEET TO ACCOMMODATE A TOTAL OF 45 FAMILIES EACH NIGHT; IN 2008, RMH OPENED A SECOND 27,000 SQUARE-FOOT, THREE-STORY HOME WITH 20 BEDROOMS LOCATED AT 100 E. ERIE AVENUE TO MEET THE EXPANDING NEED FOR SERVICES THROUGHOUT THE CITY OF PHILADELPHIA. RMH IS CURRENTLY IN THE MIDST OF EXPANDING THE CHESTNUT STREET LOCATION FROM 45 BEDROOMS TO 127 BEDROOMS TO ADDRESS THE INCREASING DEMAND FOR SERVICES. CONSTRUCTION OF THE NEW FACILITY BEGAN IN THE SUMMER OF 2017.THE HOUSES OFFER FAMILIES A COMFORTABLE AND SECURE ROOM, DAILY HOME-COOKED MEALS, A 24-HOUR FOOD PANTRY, TRANSPORTATION, FREE PARKING, AND LAUNDRY FACILITIES - ALL JUST MINUTES FROM THE HOSPITAL. THE HOUSES ALSO OFFER TV LOUNGES, INDOOR AND OUTDOOR PLAY SPACES, EXERCISE ROOMS, FAMILY ACTIVITIES, LOANER LAPTOP COMPUTERS AND WIFI, AND SOCIAL WORKER ASSISTANCE. ADDITIONALLY, THE HOUSES OFFER THE SUPPORT OF OTHER FAMILIES WHO UNDERSTAND WHAT IT IS LIKE TO HAVE A SERIOUSLY ILL CHILD. WHILE IT COSTS RMH MORE THAN $148 PER NIGHT TO PROVIDE THESE SERVICES, FAMILIES ARE ASKED TO PAY $15 PER NIGHT. HOWEVER, MANY OF THE FAMILIES ARE SO FINANCIALLY DEVASTATED BY THEIR CHILD'S ILLNESS (AS A RESULT OF TREATMENT COSTS, JOB LOSS OR LEAVE, TRAVELING, AND PAYING EXPENSES AT HOME) THAT THEIR FEE IS WAIVED OR REDUCED; NO ONE IS EVER TURNED AWAY DUE TO INABILITY TO PAY.FAMILIES TRAVELING FROM 25 MILES AWAY OR FURTHER FOR MEDICAL CARE AT PHILADELPHIA HOSPITALS ARE ELIGIBLE TO STAY AT THE HOUSES, AND CHILDREN MUST BE UNDER THE AGE OF 22 AND IN ACTIVE TREATMENT. IN 2018, RMH'S TWO HOUSES COMBINED HAD 2,136 FAMILY STAYS WITH FAMILIES TRAVELING FROM 48 STATES, THE DISTRICT OF COLUMBIA, ONE U.S. TERRITORY AND 29 COUNTRIES; 30% OF FAMILIES TRAVELED FROM WITHIN PENNSYLVANIA. THE AVERAGE LENGTH OF STAY WAS 11 NIGHTS, WITH THE LONGEST LENGTH OF STAY FOR ONE FAMILY TOTALING 323 CONSECUTIVE DAYS. WHILE RMH SERVES FAMILIES WHOSE CHILDREN ARE BEING TREATED FOR AN ARRAY OF ILLNESSES, THE TOP DEPARTMENTS IN 2018 WERE ORTHOPEDICS, ONCOLOGY, NEONATOLOGY, AND CARDIOLOGY. EACH YEAR, RMH'S HOSPITAL PARTNERS INCLUDE CHILDREN'S HOSPITAL OF PHILADELPHIA (CHOP), ST. CHRISTOPHER'S HOSPITAL FOR CHILDREN, SHRINERS HOSPITAL, WILLS EYE HOSPITAL, THE HOSPITAL OF THE UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA, AND OTHERS.VOLUNTEERS ARE TRULY THE HEART OF THE HOUSES AND RMH RELY ON THE DEDICATED SERVICE OF MORE THAN 310 VOLUNTEERS TO CREATE A HOME FOR THE FAMILIES WE SERVE. VOLUNTEERS STAFF THE FRONT DESK, DRIVE THE SHUTTLE VANS, AND SUPPORT OPERATIONS IN A VARIETY OF OTHER CAPACITIES. IN 2018, VOLUNTEERS CONTRIBUTED 30,264 HOURS OF THEIR TIME, REPRESENTING THE EQUIVALENT OF 14.6 FULL-TIME STAFF POSITIONS.

CAMP PROGRAM - EVERY AUGUST, RONALD MCDONALD CAMP ENABLES CHILDREN WITH CANCER AND THEIR SIBLINGS TO EXPERIENCE THE JOYS OF SUMMER CAMP. CREATED BY RMH CO-FOUNDER DR. AUDREY E. EVANS IN 1986, THIS ONE-WEEK CAMP WAS ONE OF THE VERY FIRST OF ITS KIND TO OFFER A CAMP EXPERIENCE SPECIFICALLY DESIGNED FOR CHILDREN WITH CANCER AND THEIR SIBLINGS. RONALD MCDONALD CAMP, LOCATED IN THE POCONO MOUNTAINS OF PENNSYLVANIA, INCLUDES ALL OF THE ACTIVITIES FOUND AT A TRADITIONAL OVERNIGHT SUMMER CAMP, SUCH AS SWIMMING, SAILING, HIKING, SPORTS, ARTS AND CRAFTS, YOGA, AND ROPES COURSES, EXCEPT THAT AT THIS CAMP, CAMPERS CAN PARTICIPATE NO MATTER WHAT LIMITATIONS THEY HAVE. FOR MANY CAMPERS, THE WEEK AT CAMP IS THE FIRST TIME THEY HAVE EVER TRIED THE ACTIVITIES OFFERED, AND THEY GO HOME NOT ONLY HAVING DISCOVERED A NEW TALENT OR LEARNED A NEW SKILL, BUT HAVING GAINED A SENSE OF SELF-CONFIDENCE. FOR CHILDREN WHO HAVE FELT ISOLATED FROM THEIR PEERS THROUGH THEIR ILLNESS, AND SIBLINGS WHO HAVE FELT LEFT OUT, CAMP IS ALSO AN OPPORTUNITY TO JOIN A FAMILY OF CAMPERS WHO CAN RELATE TO ONE ANOTHER, AND TO DEVELOP A WIDE-REACHING SUPPORT NETWORK THAT WILL LAST LONG AFTER THE WEEK OF CAMP IS OVER.CHILDREN AGES 7 TO 17 (INCLUDING CURRENT OR FORMER CANCER PATIENTS AND ONE SIBLING) ARE WELCOME AT CAMP AND ARE DIVIDED BY AGE INTO JUNIOR AND SENIOR CAMPS. MORE THAN 100 FULLY-TRAINED VOLUNTEER COUNSELORS (MANY OF WHOM ARE CANCER SURVIVORS AND PAST CAMPERS) AND A FULL TEAM OF OVER A DOZEN MEDICAL STAFF, INCLUDING PEDIATRIC ONCOLOGISTS, NURSES AND SOCIAL WORKERS FROM CHOP, DEDICATE A WEEK OF THEIR SUMMER VACATION TO MAKE CAMP POSSIBLE. IN 2018, 232 CAMPERS ATTENDED THE WEEK OF CAMP.WHILE THERE IS NO CHARGE TO THE PATIENT CAMPERS, AND SIBLINGS CAN ATTEND FOR A NOMINAL FEE OF $150, THE ACTUAL COST TO ATTEND CAMP IS OVER $600 PER CAMPER; FUNDING FOR THE WEEK IS PROVIDED SOLELY THROUGH THE CONTRIBUTIONS OF INDIVIDUALS AND ORGANIZATIONS. RONALD MCDONALD CAMP IS ACCREDITED THROUGH THE AMERICAN CAMP ASSOCIATION (ACA) AND IS A MEMBER OF THE CHILDREN'S ONCOLOGY CAMPING ASSOCIATION, INTERNATIONAL (COCA). RONALD MCDONALD CAMP IS HELD AT THE CAMP TIMBER TOPS FACILITY IN GREELEY, PENNSYLVANIA.

FAMILY ROOM PROGRAM - THREE RONALD MCDONALD FAMILY ROOMS - TWO AT CHOP AND ONE AT ST. CHRISTOPHER'S HOSPITAL FOR CHILDREN - EXTEND THE COMFORT AND SUPPORT OF THE HOUSES INTO THE HOSPITAL BY OFFERING A QUIET PLACE TO REST AND RECHARGE AWAY FROM THE BEDSIDE FOR FAMILIES WHOSE CHILDREN ARE RECEIVING TREATMENT. OUR FIRST FAMILY ROOM AT CHOP OPENED IN THE ONCOLOGY UNIT IN 2006. THIS FAMILY ROOM IS OPEN 24 HOURS A DAY, SEVEN DAYS A WEEK INCLUDING HOLIDAYS; ANY PATIENT AND HIS/HER FAMILY IN ONE OF THE COMBINED TOTAL OF 50 PATIENT BEDS ON THE ONCOLOGY UNIT MAY USE THE FAMILY ROOM. IN MARCH OF 2017, RMH OPENED A FAMILY ROOM AT ST. CHRISTOPHER'S HOSPITAL FOR CHILDREN TO SERVE THE CRITICAL CARE TOWER. THIS FAMILY ROOM SERVES UP TO 65 BEDS A NIGHT. IN NOVEMBER OF 2018, RMH OPENED A SECOND FAMILY ROOM AT CHOP IN THE SEASHORE HOUSE, OFFERING A SPACE FOR ADULTS TO RECHARGE WHILE THEIR CHILDREN ARE IN THE HOSPITAL. THE FAMILY ROOMS OFFER A RANGE OF COMPLIMENTARY AMENITIES AND PROGRAMMING IN A WARM, HOME-LIKE ENVIRONMENT. A CENTRAL PILLAR OF THESE SERVICES IS THE MEAL PROGRAM WHICH, THANKS TO THE GENEROSITY OF DONORS, PROVIDES FAMILIES WITH BREAKFAST AND DINNER AT SCHEDULED TIMES THROUGHOUT THE WEEK AT THE FAMILY-STYLE DINING TABLES LOCATED IN ALL ROOMS. SNACKS, COFFEE AND TEA ARE ALSO AVAILABLE TO FAMILIES THROUGH THE PROGRAM. OTHER AMENITIES INCLUDE COMFORTABLE SEATING, KITCHEN FACILITIES, TELEVISIONS, DVD PLAYERS (WITH AN ASSORTMENT OF MOVIES), BOOKS, AND MAGAZINES. THE ONCOLOGY FAMILY ROOM ALSO OFFERS LAUNDRY FACILITIES AND A GUEST BATHROOM. PROGRAMMING IN FAMILY ROOMS INCLUDES COMPLIMENTARY HAIRCUTS, YOGA INSTRUCTION, STRESS MANAGEMENT WORKSHOPS, ART THERAPY, CRAFTS AND A VARIETY OF OTHER ACTIVITIES.THE FAMILY ROOMS SERVE FAMILIES TRAVELING FROM BOTH NEAR AND FAR. FAMILIES COMING FROM 25 MILES AWAY OR FARTHER AND STAYING AT PHILADELPHIA RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE IN THE EVENING ARE ABLE TO TAKE A BREAK IN THE ROOMS DURING THE DAY, AND FAMILIES RESIDING CLOSER THAN 25 MILES WHO DO NOT WISH TO LEAVE THEIR CHILD'S SIDE DUE TO AGE OR SEVERITY OF ILLNESS CAN UTILIZE THE ROOMS AS MUCH AS NEEDED.

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