Kelly Cares Foundation donates $100,000 to Ronald McDonald House Charities of Michiana

South Bend, Indiana (JULY 26, 2016) - Ronald McDonald House Charities of Michiana (RMHC®) today received a $100,000 donation from the Kelly Cares Foundation as part of their capital campaign to raise funds for a Ronald McDonald House. The check was presented by University of Notre Dame Football Coach Brian Kelly and his wife Paqui, founders of the Foundation.

RMHC of Michiana recently started construction of a new Ronald McDonald House, a home- away-from home for families of seriously ill and injured children. The new 20-bedroom house will be located in the Skyway Building across from Memorial Children's Hospital.

"Paqui and I deeply respect the mission of Ronald McDonald House Charities and are thrilled that the Michiana area will now be home to the new Ronald McDonald House at Memorial Children's Hospital,” remarked Coach Kelly. “The Kelly Cares Foundation is enthusiastic about partnering with RMHC of Michiana to make the new 20-bedroom house a reality. We want every family in our community, that has a child suffering from illness, to have a comforting place to call 'home' while they are enduring these uncertain times.”

Kelly Cares Foundation was established by the Brian and Paqui Kelly family to support organizations, initiatives and programs that closely align with the goals and values of the Kelly family. A strong emphasis has been made on three main pillars – health, education and community.

“We are very grateful and honored to accept this donation from the Kelly Cares Foundation,” said Becky Summers, CEO and president of RMHC of Michiana. “Their Foundation has supported so many wonderful organizations in the Michiana area as well as across the country, so we are very privileged to be one of their charities of choice. This generous donation to our capital campaign will go along way in meeting our goal and ensure that our families will have a place to stay that is close to their child in the hospital.

At the groundbreaking ceremony in May, owner/operators of McDonald's restaurants in the Michiana area presented a check for $500,000 to RMHC as a contribution to the organization's capital campaign and will match an additional $500,000 raised from the community. The “McDonald's Love Shining Through Community Challenge” is a dollar-for-dollar challenge, so every dollar donated will be doubled up to $500,000. This challenge provides a way for the entire community to help build the new Ronald McDonald House right here in Michiana.

Since 2002, Ronald McDonald Family Room® has been located on the third floor of Memorial Children's Hospital, just down the hall from the Newborn Intensive Care Unit and the Pediatric Unit, but only has three bedrooms. In 2015, the Family Room was utilized over 20,000 times by more than 2000 unique families – a 30 percent increase from 2014. Since the beginning, people have walked through the Family Room doors 166,000 times.

“Lack of space has forced the Family Room to turn many families away,” noted Tom McGovern, president of the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Michiana Board of Directors. “With the future expansion of Memorial Children's Hospital, the need for our services will only increase. We desperately need more space and Memorial Hospital is graciously providing that. But we need additional monies to fund the expansion and renovation project in the new building.” 

The goal of “Let Your Love Shine Through,” the capital campaign to build the new Ronald McDonald House, is $2,900,000. Plans call for a 15,000-square-foot facility. In addition to the 20 guest rooms, the House will include laundry facilities, a library, meditation room, computer area, large kitchen with multiple cooking spaces, dining room, children's play area, storage space, meeting space and common areas. RMHC offices will also be relocated to the new building to meet the needs of volunteers and staff.

To learn more information about this project, go to www.loveshinethrough.org. And to learn more about Ronald McDonald Family Room and ways you can volunteer or help families in our community, please visit www.rmhcmichiana.org.