30 Nov The Beginning of the CNY Ronald McDonald House – Part Two

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

Part Two

With the location at 1027 E. Genesee Street secured, the co-founders came together to make the CNY Ronald McDonald House a reality. That meant raising the funds necessary to not only completely renovate the newly found site, but also to ensure that the organization could meet all the needs of the guest families.

In comes co-founder, Meg Dunham. As a parent of a child with cancer, Meg saw first-hand the struggles of families traveling from great distances to receive treatment for their children at University Hospitals’ Center for Children’s Cancer and Blood Disorders. When approached by co-founder and local McDonald’s owner/operator, Paul Ross and the local McDonald’s Co-Op, Meg stepped up. She led a group of parents from the 5C Special Needs Fund, including The Harts, Barb Shelly, Candace Marsellus and others in bringing this dream to life.

By hosting “Jesse James” bake sales (at the time, charging $1 for a brownie was practically highway robbery), sleeping on the floor of the original House during renovations after vandalism occurred, and sitting in the lobby of Bristol-Myers for two full days until an executive agreed to meet with her, Meg Dunham and the parents of the Special Needs Fund are the reason we can continue serving families 40 years later.

From seven rooms to 25, a single executive director to a team of 6 full-time and 10 part-time staff, and a move from 1027 to 1100 E. Genesee St., many things have changed since our doors opened on Thanksgiving Day 1982. But the mission of helping families access the incredible care provided by our local hospitals and clinics remains the same.

From all of us at Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central New York, thank you for supporting the CNY Ronald McDonald House and the families who stay with us. We hope you will join us in providing families with comfort, kindness, and care for the next 40 years.

Did you miss part one of our story? Read it here…