The Ronald McDonald House of Dallas (RMHD) will break ground on its new 60,000 square foot house Friday, March 7 at 10:00 a.m.

The new house will be located on Bengal Street, within ½-mile of Children’s Medical Center Dallas and 1½ miles of Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children.  As a signature design element, the house will include a beacon so that children staying in one of the nearby hospitals can see the light at night and know that their family is close at hand.

Community and business leaders joining in the groundbreaking are: Councilwoman Pauline Medrano, RMHD Executive Director Barbara McDermott, RMHD Board Chairman Bob Penn, Campaign Co-Chairs Alan Engstrom and Mersina Stubbs, Crystal Charity Ball’s Vicki Chapman and UT Southwestern President Dr. Kern Wildenthal. Also speaking from the podium will be Lisa Stokell and her son Ryan whose family has been served by RMHD.  The T.G. Terry Choir, which is made up of DISD 1^st through 5^th graders, will sing at the groundbreaking. The ceremony will feature RMHD and community leaders participating in a shovel dig as well as a bulldozer moving dirt.

The Ronald McDonald House of Dallas is a temporary home-away-from-home that serves and sustains families of seriously ill children receiving treatment in a Dallas hospital.

Barbara McDermott, RMHD Executive Director said, “We feel so fortunate to have acquired 4.5 acres in the heart of the prestigious Southwestern Medical District.  The close proximity to the premier care provided by Children’s Medical Center and Texas Scottish Rite Hospital for Children is extremely important to families of seriously ill children.  The new DART rail line near us will also allow families easy access to Baylor Hospital.”

The house will be able to serve 60 families each night, double the current capacity, and still maintain the treasured “home-like” feel.  The new house will have 60 bedrooms, including six transplant suites. Amenities include a library, chapel, outdoor play space, meditation garden and common living areas.

Upon completion, the new house will offer the same amenities that the current house offers to families staying there including three meals daily, transportation to and from area hospitals, recreational activities, holiday and birthday celebrations and professionally facilitated support groups. The house will also have technological resources to assist children with school and parents with work.  The cost per night spent at the house, which has not changed since 1981, will remain $10.  No family has ever been turned away because of an inability to pay. 

Launched in late 2007, the public campaign to raise funds for the new house is entitled “Beacon of Hope” and its goal is $21.5 million. Honorary Chairmen and campaign leaders are Annette and Harold Simmons.  Alan Engstrom and Mersina Stubbs are the campaign co-chairs.

The Honorary Campaign Committee includes notable philanthropic and business leaders: Joel T. Allison, Norm Bagwell, Paul Bass, Vicki Chapman, Chris J. Durovich, Tucker and Rich Enthoven, Linda Perryman Evans, Robert Hallam, Martha and Don Miller, J.C. Montgomery, Lydia Haggar Novakov, Jeanne L. and David Phillips, Carolyn and Karl Rathjen, M.D., Phil Romano, Peggy and Carl Sewell, Kern Wildenthal, M.D. and Susan and Joel Williams.

The Campaign Cabinet includes Cyndi Bassel, Carol Dalton, Sandra Estess, Caroline Gehan, Peggy Hill, Bob Penn, Jake Pollack, Debbie Scripps, Harry Smith, Jim Wales and Emilynn Wilson.

To date, the campaign has raised $18.7 million, which includes $6 million from the sale of property including the current location to UT Southwestern Medical Center.  The amount also includes $5.4 million in leadership gifts from the following:

·     Crystal Charity Ball, a $1.5 million lead gift, which includes a $500,000 gift from Annette and Harold Simmons, designated to build a transplant wing named the Sydney Thweatt Transplant Wing.  Sydney, the granddaughter of friends of the Simmons, recently lost a long fight with leukemia. 

·     Carol and Sam Dalton

·     The Joe M. and Doris R. Dealey Family Foundation

·     Alan and Randy Engstrom

·     Catie and Aaron Enrico

·     Tucker and Rich Enthoven

·     Sandra and Henry Estess

·     Caroline and Glenn Gehan

·     Peggy Hill

·     Hillcrest Foundation

·     Hoblitzelle Foundation

·     The JLK Foundation

·     Lowe Foundation

·     Norma and Bob Pearson

·     Katherine and Bob Penn

·     Natalie S. Potter

·     Debbie and Ric Scripps

·     Mersina and Phin Stubbs

·     Southwest Airlines

·     Melissa and Steve Utley

·     The Varrichio Family Foundation

·     Wales Family Foundation in honor of Crosstex Energy

McDermott added, “In addition, the RMHD would like to recognize and thank the following professionals for their assistance: Bradley & Bradley Realtors; FirstWorthing;  Trammell Crow Residential; Koons Real Estate Law. Providing on-going services are The Morris Company; HKS, Inc.; Blum Consulting Engineers, Inc.; Hill & Wilkinson and Coronado Stone.

Those interested in contributing to the campaign may contact Courtney McLain, director of development, at 214.631.7354.

ABOUT RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE OF DALLAS:

In its 27-year history, the Ronald McDonald House of Dallas has served as a home-away-from-home for more than 24,000 families of seriously ill children who have traveled to Dallas seeking medical treatment in area hospitals. By providing a caring, supportive, home-like environment, the Ronald McDonald House of Dallas keeps the family intact and helps allow a family to establish a normal routine in the midst of crisis. It also provides families with the opportunity to share their concerns with other families in similar circumstances. For more information, please contact the Ronald McDonald House of Dallas at 214.631.7354, or visit the website at www.rmhdallas.com.