CDH In The News - "Renovation for Ronald McDonald House"

http://abclocal.go.com/wpvi/story?section=news/local&id=7041408




Renovation for Ronald McDonald House
Wednesday, September 30, 2009 | 6:43 PM
ABC6 Action News

By Lisa Thomas-Laury

CAMDEN, N.J. - September 30, 2009 (WPVI) -- The Ronald McDonald House of Southern New Jersey celebrated a big $2-million dollar facelift today. It so happened on the 26th birthday of the home away from home for seriously ill children's families.

The project adds 3,800 square feet to the existing building and includes a completely renovated kitchen and a new recreation room, with a working model train set, inspired by the Philadelphia Eagles.

Paul Campise of Moorestown built the set for the 2005 Super Bowl and donated it to the Ronald McDonald House this year.

"I wanted to give it to somebody where kids could enjoy it and I managed to hook up with the Ronald McDonald House," Camprise said.
The Ronald McDonald House of Southern New Jersey celebrated a big $2-million dollar facelift today. It so happened on the 26th birthday of the home away from home for seriously ill children's families.

The project adds 3,800 square feet to the existing building and includes a completely renovated kitchen and a new recreation room, with a working model train set, inspired by the Philadelphia Eagles.

Paul Campise of Moorestown built the set for the 2005 Super Bowl and donated it to the Ronald McDonald House this year.

"I wanted to give it to somebody where kids could enjoy it and I managed to hook up with the Ronald McDonald House," Camprise said. The project also had volunteers redecorate the bedrooms with age-appropriate themes including Dora the Explorer, Wizard of Oz, and Harry Potter.

It is, after all, all about those who come to the Ronald McDonald House.

Jenni Pappas and her 3-year-old daughter Elena, from Memphis, are staying at the Ronald McDonald House, while awaiting the birth of a new baby, who has a congenital diaphragmatic hernia and will need care for several months.

Andrew Pappas says his family is grateful to be here.

"For Jenni and the peace of mind that she has that we're all together in a safe place, you can't put a price on it," Andrew said.

The Weaver family from Mississippi is staying at the House with their 3-year-old and an infant son, while his twin is treated for congenital heart disease next door at Cooper Hospital.

"So when you think about them coming from all over the world to get the best medical treatment for their children, affordability is really an issue, but more than affordability, it's that support system and this house accomplishes both," Denise Viola-Monahan of the Ronald McDonald House said.

For the Ehwakkad family it's a return visit, all the way from Egypt.

Doctors in Cairo told 14-year-old Ahmed, who broke his spinal column playing soccer, he'd never walk again, but surgery at the Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania has him back on his feet, and equating his visits, with a summer vacation; a vacation with a renovation that may be worth more than $2-million for those who come to visit.

Angel Ball Baskets

CHERUBS Angel Ball
http://www.cherubsangelball.org

Our annual Angel Ball will be held on October 30th in Durham, NC. We encourage all of you to come and attend. Money raised for CHERUBS will go to our CDH Family Support Fund.

(photo by Melody McBride)

We need baskets and other items for our silent auction! We encourage members to donate baskets in honor or in memory of their cherubs. Last year we had dozens of baskets in many different themes. This year we hope to have over 50 baskets. Here are a few ideas of basket themes....

Disney - antique Disney pieces, gift certificate to the Disney Store, or even tickets to Disney if you can afford to donate them

Noah's Ark - tickets to the Asheboro zoo, books on animals, "adopt" a zoo animal

Stars & Moons - buy a star, books on constellations, telescope, gift certificate to the UNC Planetarium

Butterflies - gift certificates to our local butterfly house. Also books on butterflies, maybe jewelry or ornaments of butterflies.

Dragonflies - books, photos, jewelry, ornaments, the movie Dragonfly on DVD

Sports - Duke, NC State and UNC baskets would be great items here in the Triangle! So would a Carolina Hurricanes basket for hockey fans or Durham Bulls or Carolina Mudcats basket for baseball.

Garden basket - seeds, gloves, small tools, bulbs, plant vitamins, book on gardening

Electronics - cell phone, ipod, chargers, etc... lots of electronics stores are franchises with local owners who will be more likely to donate

Games - big basket full of the traditional board games.. Monopoly, Scrabble, Yahtzee, etc

Photography Theme - you could include a digital camera, memory card, gift certificate to have prints made, picture frames, photo album, etc

We are also looking for celebrity autographed items to auction off. If you can help us to contact celebrities or can donate items, please contact us.

(photo by Melody McBride)

Below are some of the items donated for our 2008 Angel Ball:

Australia Basket
donated by members of CHERUBS Australia

Avon Basket
donated by Barbara Wagner in honor of Logan Wagner

Scrapbooking Basket
donated by Barbara Wagner in honor of Logan Wagner

Beach Basket
donated by Shane & Stephanie Olivarez in honor of Shelby Olivarez

Baby Phat Basket
donated by Judi Toth in memory of Christopher Toth
(photo by Emory Lane Photography)

Dr. Seuss Basket
donated by Steve and Amy Miles in memory of Faith Miles
(photo by Leah Bowman Photography)

Stress Relief Basket
donated by Judi Toth in memory of Christopher Toth

Willow Tree Basket
donated by Steve & Amy Miles in memory of Faith Miles


Victorian Basket
donated by Judi Toth in memory of Christopher Toth


South Carolina Basket
donated by Lynne Brogdon in honor of Baer Brogdon


Red Sox Basket
donated by Nate & Corin Nava in memory of Gabriel Nava
(photo by Leah Bowman Photography)

Italian Basket
donated by Judi Toth in memory of Christopher Toth


Chesapeake Bay Basket
donated by Judi Toth in memory of Christopher Toth



Arbonne Basket
Donated by Barbara Wagner, in honor of Logan Wagner


donated by Kate Crawford in memory of Shannon Crawford


Autographed Jeff Foxworthy Book
Donated by Dawn Williamson in memory of Shane Torrence





Olympics Edition Ray Ban Sunglasses
Donated by Dawn Williamson in memory of Shane Torrence

Green Bay Packers Donation




Dean Koontz Donation


Hyatt New York Donation



Carolina Panthers Autographed Donation

(photo by Emory Lane Photography)


(photo by Emory Lane Photography)

(photo by Flashbacks by Red)

(photo by Flashbacks by Red)

(photo by Flashbacks by Red)

(photo by Flashbacks by Red)

(photo by Flashbacks by Red)



(photo by Flashbacks by Red)

(photo by Leah Bowman Photography)


(photo by Leah Bowman Photography)

(photo by Leah Bowman Photography)

(photo by Emory Lane Photography)

The Ronald McDonald House & CHERUBS

CHERUBS is excited to announce that our 2009 Angel Ball will be a joint project for our organization and for the Ronald McDonald House of Durham, NC which provides shelter for families at Duke University Medical Center. CHERUBS and the Ronald McDonald House charities have always worked together through the years as we share in helping families of children born with Congenital Diaphragmatic Hernia. They provide an invaluable service to all families affected by all types of health problems. At least 50% of families affected by CDH have benefited from the services a Ronald McDonald House.

We are extremely excited to be working with Duke's Ronald McDonald House because it is just 2 blocks from beautiful Duke Gardens, where our Angel Ball is held and right around the corner from Duke Children's Hospital and Duke North (which houses the PICU and NICU). It is also very near and dear to my heart as I stayed there for 10 months when my son was at Duke. Even though Duke is not a CDH center and only has 4 to 5 CDH babies a year, this hospital is just 1 of the dozens of hospitals that help CDH families - with dozens of Ronald McDonald Houses that we hope to work with more in the future.

Ronald McDonald Houses help families in so very many ways - financially by providing a place to stay that is safe, germ-free, and extremely close to the hospital in case of emergency. They also provide some meals and transportation to and from the hospital. Most importantly, they provide emotional support and connections to other families also going through crisis. Their services are invaluable and we are so thankful for all that they do for CDH families. Not only because do they amazing things for the families but they help us as well in that because they provide this service to CDH families, we don't have to focus time, volunteers and money to help with housing for these families and can use those resources to focus on support, awareness and research.

We are extremely, extremely excited to be working with the Ronald McDonald House staff and volunteers, Duke's staff and so many local volunteers on this year's Angel Ball and in helping CDH families!

Formal press release with much more exciting information coming soon!