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 The Houston Chapter of the Institute of Management Accountants has a great history of giving back to the community and one of the greatest contributors from our chapter was Charles Sheppard. In addition to other community service activities, he regularly attended our Ronald McDonald House events for many years. The Lord called Charles home on May 31, 2007. In honor of his service to the IMA and his love of the House, his family has requested that contributions be made in his honor to the Ronald McDonald House of Houston. The Houston Chapter is accumulating your donations and will make one presentation to RMH. If you would like to participate, you may make contributions by the following: DonationLink.com c/o Melanie Michalovich 1103 Sugarloaf Drive Spring, Texas 77379 For additional information, please contact Melanie Michalovich at 281.655.8601 or mrmichal@yahoo.com. Contributions are tax-deductible to the fullest extent of the law. The Ronald McDonald House of Houston offers a home away from home for families with children being treated at a Texas Medical Center institution for cancer or other serious illnesses. Since opening its doors in 1981, Ronald McDonald House has offered a home away from home to the families of children undergoing treatment for cancer and other serious illnesses at Texas Medical Center institutions. Often, they travel long distances for treatment and the families’ anxiety over the child’s illness is compounded by lengthy hospital stays, months of outpatient treatment, and the expense of being away from home. RMH answers the special need of these special families by offering loving, home-like environments where they can find support and share experiences with others who are also undergoing the trauma of childhood illness. The programs include: The Holcombe House (at 1907 Holcombe Boulevard) located in a three-story brick atrium building the 50-bedroom home away from home includes an eight station kitchen, special needs kitchen, dining room, playrooms, laundry room, outside play area, and even a one-room school. In an average year, over 16,000 nights of lodging are provided to about 700 different families. RMH operates a House inside Texas Children’s Hospital for families with children in the Neo-Natal Intensive Care Units. This second House offers a large kitchen and living area, a private quiet room, laundry area, and 20 sleep/nap rooms with private baths. The space is designed to give parents, a place to rest or spend the night and serves many Houston area families. RMH also has two Family Rooms within TCH. One serves the inpatient section of Hematology/ Oncology and the Bone Marrow Transplant section and the second serves Texas Children’s Cancer Center’s Outpatient Clinic. Both Family Rooms have areas with comfortable seating, TV/VCR, as well as a kitchenette area used by volunteers and families. In early 2007, RMH opened a House inside Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital. This 14 bedroom area offers a home away from home to families with children in the ICU. Spread over two floors, the facility has two Family Lounge areas as well as laundry facilities. Since families pay little or nothing for the services provided, RMH is able to operate these facilities only through gifts of time and financial support. Volunteers help in all areas, and generous donations from individuals, companies, and foundations from throughout the community support the operations. |