Mission

The Ronald McDonald House of Long Branch provides a “home away from home” for the families of seriously ill children undergoing medical treatment at area hospitals. Both Houses, one located in Long Branch and the other in New Brunswick, NJ offer a safe, comfortable, supportive haven for families during a time of uncertainty, stress and difficulty. The whole family is able to stay together, keeping the family strong through this time of crisis.

The Ronald McDonald House of Long Branch is a part of the larger, internationally recognized Ronald McDonald House Charities with a reputation for excellence in client service and professional ethics. In 2003, Worth Magazine named the Ronald McDonald House as one of the top 100 charities in the country. Although they are a part of the greater international effort, the Long Branch and New Brunswick Houses are run autonomously by a local Board of Trustees, staff and volunteers. They are able to fulfill their mission through the generous support of the local communities.

History

When an unlikely partnership was formed in Philadelphia in 1974 between an NFL team, a children's hospital and a restaurant chain, none of its members could have imagined that their dream of a “home away from home” for families of seriously ill children would grow to become an international phenomenon. They simply wanted to create a place where parents of sick children could be with others who understood their situations and could provide emotional support.

This partnership began when Kim Hill, the 3-year-old daughter of Philadelphia Eagles tight end Fred Hill, was diagnosed with leukemia. Hill and his wife camped out on hospital chairs and benches, ate food from vending machines and did all they could to keep Kim from seeing their sadness, exhaustion and frustration.

All around them, the Hills saw other parents doing exactly the same thing. They learned that many families had traveled great distances to bring their children to the medical facility, but the high cost of hotel rooms was prohibitive. There had to be a better way.

Hill rallied the support of his teammates to raise funds to help other families experiencing the same emotional and financial traumas as his own. Through the Philadelphia Eagles General Manager, Jim Murray, the team offered its support to Dr. Audrey Evans, head of the pediatric oncology unit at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. It was Dr. Evans' dream for a house that could serve as a temporary residence for families of children being treated at her hospital that led to the first Ronald McDonald House.

Since this first “home away from home” opened in Philadelphia in 1974, local communities throughout the world have founded 274 Ronald McDonald Houses in 30 countries, serving over 8,000 families every night.

Services

The Ronald McDonald Houses are located near children's hospitals and offer families a refuge 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. Up to eight families can be accommodated in the Long Branch House with another six in New Brunswick. All bedrooms feature a private bath, phone line and answering machine. Disability accessible rooms are available. The families share a fully equipped kitchen, common living and quiet areas, a wonderful playroom, laundry facilities and lovely gardens with an outdoor play area. Houses are designed to encourage guest interaction and it is not uncommon for families to get together in the kitchen to share a meal, to discuss their sick child's situation or ways to deal with the everyday occurrences of living with a child in the hospital.

The financial costs accompanying the treatment of a seriously ill child are often enormous. Many parents take time off from work, while some have to leave their job altogether in order to care for their child. This has a strong impact on all families, but especially those with low to moderate incomes. The Ronald McDonald House helps in reducing costs, as the room rates are far more reasonable than those of a local hotel. Families are asked for a contribution of $10.00 a night for their stay, but no family is ever turned away if they are unable to pay.

Medical care or counseling is not given in the House. The purpose is to provide a secure and happy place for families and for their sick children when they are able to be away from the hospital. Families receive tender, loving care and a sympathetic ear when they need them. Staff and volunteers, trained to know when a family needs assistance, to talk or to be left alone, are available 24 hours a day. Children often comment that they feel “safe” in the House where they don't have to think about what happens to them at the hospital. Parents can take a much needed break or spend time with their children, doing everyday “kid things” like reading a book, playing a video game, drawing on a chalk board, surfing the internet or baking cookies.

Hygiene products, linens, towels, and food items are provided to families. Through the generosity of the community, guest families can receive gift certificates to local restaurants, tickets to entertainment events and new items such as toys, school supplies and clothing. Some nights volunteers or a local restaurant will provide a meal for all of the families in the House. If a family feels it needs additional assistance not provided in the House, such as grief counseling, financial assistance, etc., the Ronald McDonald House staff reach out into their community network to obtain appropriate referrals for these services.

Long Branch House

The Ronald McDonald House of Long Branch, adjacent to Monmouth Medical Center, was founded in October 1987, through a true community effort. The late Ernie George, a local McDonald's Owner/Operator and Long Branch Rotary member had the dream and got the ball rolling. Jonathon Hoffman and Alexis Tucci of the Rotary Club of Long Branch and Charles Blatchley, Dr. Howard Fox, Dorothy Davis and Arlene Mageary of Monmouth Medical Center were intricately involved in the development of the idea and the formation of the organization that made Ernie's dream a reality. The House has continued to grow and be so successful thanks to the incredible support of our local communities.

New Brunswick House

In 2000, the Robert Wood Johnson University Hospital identified a critical need for the services of a Ronald McDonald House in New Brunswick, N.J. The continuing expansion of quality pediatric services in the “Healthcare City” demonstrated the very real need for comfortable, supportive and affordable housing arrangements for patients and their families. Because of their proven success with the Long Branch House and close proximity to New Brunswick, the Ronald McDonald House of Long Branch was asked to take on this project of building and operating a second location. With the generous support of the McDonald's NY/ NJ Metro Owner/ Operators, Robert Wood Johnson and many individuals, businesses and organizations throughout the community, the Ronald McDonald House of New Brunswick opened its doors in May 2005.

Family Rooms in Local Hospitals

In addition to the two Houses, The Ronald McDonald House of Long Branch operates two Family Rooms and a Hospitality Suite in area hospitals. These rooms replicate the homelike atmosphere of the Ronald McDonald House with the exception of sleeping. This partnership with Monmouth Medical Center, Long Branch, Jersey Shore University Medical Center, Neptune and CentraState Healthcare System, Freehold, allows families who must deal with the trauma of a seriously ill child to take a break from the hospital environment without leaving the pediatric department. Computer access, laundry facilities, a shower and a comfortable area to relax are all available to families.

Staff

Executive Director - Corinne LeBaron

Business Manager - Lynne Siedentop

Events Planner - Dawn Garbini

House Coordinator- Tricia Tilly

Long Branch House

House Manager - Camitha Whipple

Resident Manager - Maria Taylor

Housekeeper - Ana Valdes

Maintenance - Carmelo Gonzalez

Weekend Relief : Kathy & John Christoffersen, Ann Marie DeBlasio, Lynn Hawkins,
Gussie Broadmeyer

New Brunswick House

House Manager – Kathy Dennis

House Assistant – Alana Ponder

Resident Manager - Linda Lachesnez

Housekeeper - Vanessa Valdez

Maintenance - John Caruso

Weekend Relief : Bill & Carol McClean, Maria Owens, Linda Somers, Linda Ventura

Board of Trustees

Officers

Chair - Nancy Mazza

Vice Chair - Frank Fischer, Esq.

Second Vice Chair - Barry D. Shapiro

Treasurer- James J. Decker

Secretary- Michael Norris

Board Members

Barbara Berlanti	Susan Hudome, M.D	Kathy Rosato
Denise Boglioli	Kenneth Hullings	Carol Usher-Richards
Madiha Boraie	Philip Koury	Christopher Walsh, Esq.
Susan Collin	Glenn Leon	Ross Zimmerman
Margaret Fisher, M.D.	Mary Ann Martin
Philip Grassia	Peg Douglas Martino
Barbara Halsband	Bruce Newman
Thomas Hayes	Nancy Oliviero

Associate Board

Robert Becker	Jennifer Marra
Thomas Hayes	Lois Ann Nalasco
LeRoy Herbert	Christine Savastano
Robert Madan	Mary Steidl

Chair Emeritus

Christopher Labrecque

Angelo Massaro

Alexis Tucci, Esq.

Joan Wills