20 Oct The Beginning of the CNY Ronald McDonald House – Part One

The 40th Anniversary of the CNY Ronald McDonald House is quickly approaching. Each Ronald McDonald House around the world is unique and has its own beginning, and ours is extraordinary. And so began the story ….

Part One

More than 40 years ago, Ronald McDonald House Charities of CNY (RMHC of CNY) was simply a dream.  A dream of a safe, comfortable place where families whose children were hospitalized with serious illness or injuries could find respite just around the corner.

This dream began in the late 1970s with grassroots, community efforts led by local parents whose children were being treated for cancer and blood disorders and who were members of the Special Needs Fund at the 5C Clinic at Upstate Hospital. They joined with a very dedicated pediatric oncologist, local McDonald’s franchise owners and other community leaders, and are responsible for our House as it stands today.

Two of our co-founders, Guy and Melissa Hart, were parent members of the Special Needs Fund at the Center for Children’s Cancer and Blood Disorders at University Hospital in the 1970s. Their daughter Missy was receiving treatment for cancer at the 5C outpatient clinic. The Harts were from the Syracuse area, so the specialized care provided by the clinic was within arm’s reach. But other families were not so fortunate. Many were traveling long distances to Syracuse so that their children could also receive the same specialized treatment for their child’s cancer or blood disorder. While their children received care, the parents would sleep on the floors and chairs in the hospital waiting rooms and, in some cases, their cars. It was then that the parent members of the Special Needs Fund and Dr. Jim Stockman, Director of the Center for Children’s Cancer and Blood Disorders, recognized the need for a Ronald McDonald House for families traveling to Syracuse. At that time, Guy and Melissa were approached by the parent group to help begin the process of raising money and finding property to build a new home for the families. Without hesitation, they agreed to lend their support.

Guy is in real estate development and was a natural fit to find the perfect property. He found an ideal location within walking distance to the hospital. Unfortunately, the property was being optioned by another developer. As good luck would have it, Guy knew the developer. When Guy approached him and asked him to release his option, the developer did. Guy knew the importance of the location of the House with respect to the hospital. He knew firsthand what it meant to be able to get to the hospital quickly.

Now that the location was secured, funds would be needed to renovate the property. Co-founder Meg Dunham’s deal with God would come next.

To be continued ….