Ronald Mcdonald House Charities of Northwest Florida

The Ronald Mcdonald House (rmh) Charities of nwfl, Inc. Provides a 26 bedroom home away from home for families with seriously ill or critically injured children being treated at hospitals in the pensacola area. These facilities include but not limited to ascension studer family children's hospital, nemours, baptist hospital, hca Florida west hospital and lakeview center. Rmh serves families primarily from the bay, walton, okaloosa, santa rosa, and escambia counties, but has served families from other states and countries. The House includes a fully stocked kitchen, laundry room, fitness room, playroom, nursing nook, free wifi, computers and an outdoor playground for families staying at rmh. Other community programs include art therapy, animal therapy, massage therapy, and activities throughout the week. Outside community partners provide dental and eye care for the families in the House. These services are at no cost to the families. The large communal kitchen and dining room provides opportunities for families to share meals which are provided by community volunteers, or to prepare their own food if they choose. In 2023, we served 556 families for 6,462 nights. Volunteers play a significant role in serving our families. In 2023, 4,602 volunteers logged in 17,000 hours. Families are asked to consider a donation of 10 per night, but no one is ever turned away for inability to pay. The actual cost per night to House a family, as well as provide meals and services, in 2023 was 101. Rmh is licensed by Mcdonald's corporation to use the brand name which is universally recognized today. Mcdonald's corporation continues to provide our programs with valuable training and network opportunities, however, like every rmh, we depend on our community for most of the annual financial support, private foundations, corporate and individual gifts and pledges, and in-kind contributions. Our other core program, the Ronald Mcdonald family room (rmfr), provides us with the ability to serve more families who do not want to leave their child's bedside and families who live locally. The rmfr is minutes from the level iii nicu, located on the 2nd floor of the studer family children's hospital. The rmfr has several common areas: full kitchen, dining area, living room, laundry room, playroom, and a quiet room where families can have privacy. The common areas are open every day from 8a-8p to any family who has a child receiving treatment at the studer family children's hospital. At the rmfr, they can enjoy quiet moments of respite, a cup of coffee, snacks, a meal, start a load of laundry, and freshen up with a shower. The family room also features three sleeping rooms, for families who need to be steps from their critical child's bedside. For 2023, the Ronald Mcdonald family room served 717 families and 6,000 visits. The overnight bedrooms served a total of 339 nights. An independent advisory finance committee overseas the fiduciary responsibilities, including working with an independent cpa firm to provide an outside audit. An independent advisory investment committee oversees investments on a quarterly basis.