The new 60-room house, scheduled to open in late 2009, will double the current capacity of the RMHD so that more families can benefit from a temporary home-away-from-home to serve and sustain them while their seriously ill children receive treatment in a Dallas hospital.
RMHD Executive Director Barbara McDermott commented on the raising of the beacon. “This is a banner day for the Ronald McDonald House. As we top off the new house with this beacon we grow closer to the day when we can serve more families of ill and injured children.”
With Dallas’ growing reputation as a premier pediatric care destination, Ronald McDonald House of Dallas has experienced an increasing demand for its services and must grow to meet the needs of families of seriously ill and injured children. The House is being built at 4707 Bengal Street in the Southwestern Medical District one-half mile from Children’s Medical Center and 1 ˝ miles from Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children.
The new Ronald McDonald House will serve 60 families nightly and consist of 54 bedrooms with private bathrooms; six transplant suites for children receiving bone marrow transplants and organ transplants; a playroom; game room; small living areas; library; chapel; meditation garden; outdoor play area and sport court; a day respite room for non-resident families; a study loft and technological resources to assist siblings in keeping up with schoolwork and parents in telecommuting with work.
The new larger house will still have the same warmth and home-like feel of the current house. Services provided to families will include housing for up to five family members nightly, three meals daily, transportation to and from hospitals, holiday and birthday celebrations, recreational activities and professionally facilitated support groups.
Groundbreaking for the new RMHD took place in April 2008. HKS is the architecture firm responsible for the design and Hill and Wilkinson is the contractor. The Morris Company serves as owner’s representatives.
“Beacon of Hope”, the house’s public capital campaign, has raised $13.6 million of the $14.1 million goal. The total project cost is $24.1 million. Honorary Chairmen and campaign leaders are Annette and Harold Simmons, Alan Engstrom and Mersina Stubbs are campaign co-chairs. The Honorary Campaign Committee includes notable philanthropic and business leaders: Joel T. Allison, Norm Bagwell, Paul Bass, Vicky Chapman, Chris J. Durovich, Tucker and Rich Enthoven, Linda Perryman Evans, Robert Hallam, Martha and Don Miller, J.C. Montgomery, Lydia Haggar Novakov, Jeanne L. Phillips, Carolyn and Karl Rathjen, M.D., Phil Romano, Peggy and Carl Sewell, Kern Wildenthal, M.D., Susan and Joel Williams.
The Campaign Cabinet includes Cyndi Bassel, Carol Dalton, Sandra Estes, Caroline Gehan, Peggy Hill, Bob Penn, Jake Pollack, Debbie Scripps, Harry Smith, Jim Wales and Emilynn Wilson.
Those interested in contributing to the campaign should contact Courtney McLain, director of development, at 214.631.7354.
ABOUT RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE OF DALLAS:
In its 28-year history, the Ronald McDonald House of Dallas has served as a home-away-from-home for more than 25,000 families of seriously ill children who have traveled to Dallas seeking medical treatment in area hospitals. By providing a caring, supportive, home-like environment, the Ronald McDonald House of Dallas keeps the family intact and helps allow a family to establish a normal routine in the midst of crisis. It also provides families with the opportunity to share their concerns with other families in similar circumstances. For more information, please contact the Ronald McDonald House of Dallas at 214.631.7354, or visit the website at www.rmhdallas.com.