Ronald McDonald House Charities Announces Winners of the 2019 Remarkable Impact Grants

CHICAGO, April 29, 2019 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) today announced the winning Chapter recipients of the 2019 RMHC Remarkable Impact Grants.  Thanks to the generosity of AbbVie, 29 RMHC Chapters in the United States will receive funding to enhance their depth of support and services through new or expanded family-centered initiatives for guest families.  View the full winner list here.

In 2018, the 182 Ronald McDonald House programs in the United States provided more than a million overnight stays for families with children receiving medical treatment – saving families more than $550 million in food and lodging costs. The 2019 RMHC Remarkable Impact Grants will build upon these initiatives by implementing innovative new ways to address the unmet needs of the children and families we serve, focusing on the following categories:

• Wellness and Nutrition: Providing nutritious meals to families; programming to encourage healthy eating habits, exercise and overall self care.
• Child Enrichment: In-House classrooms and educational offerings for children to help build their self-esteem and ensure they remain academically engaged.
• Addressing the Needs of Unique Populations: Reaching new populations of guest families with support and services, including families with children in the autism spectrum or behavioral and/or mental health diseases.  
• Family Support: Providing family-centered spaces where parents can work, learn more about their child’s diagnosis and take part in educational and recreational activities.
• Before and After the Ronald McDonald House Experience: Chapter programs providing continued support and resources to enhance a guest family’s return home and adjustment to a new normal once they leave the Ronald McDonald House.  

“RMHC recognizes the unique needs of the families we serve,” said Sheila Musolino, president and CEO, RMHC. “We are grateful to our tremendous partners at AbbVie for making the Remarkable Impact Grants program a reality – and enabling our Chapters to lead the way in providing family-centered services and support at a time when families need it most.”

Critical to the success of the Remarkable Impact Grants program is the element of community engagement.    From outreach to local businesses, hospitals,  and colleges in the development of materials and sharing their resources, time and talent, to new opportunities for volunteers participating in meal programs and providing education on healthy eating and holistic wellness.

“As a company that is committed to supporting families and strengthening our communities, we are proud to partner with Ronald McDonald House Charities in support of the 2019 RMHC Remarkable Impact Grants,” said Laura Schumacher, vice chairman, external affairs and chief legal officer, AbbVie. “We thank RMHC for adding these meaningful programs to the resources they provide to help families thrive during and after a child’s treatment.”

In August of 2018, AbbVie gifted RMHC with a historic donation of $100 million.  This contribution, the largest single donation in both AbbVie and RMHC history, continues to provide essential support such as housing, meals and education for hospitalized children and their families across the United States. As part of this donation, $2 million over the next two years has been allotted to support the RMHC Remarkable Impact Grants program. 

About AbbVie
AbbVie is a global, research and development-based biopharmaceutical company committed to developing innovative advanced therapies for some of the world’s most complex and critical conditions. The company’s mission is to use its expertise, dedicated people and unique approach to innovation to markedly improve treatments across four primary therapeutic areas: immunology, oncology, virology and neuroscience. In more than 75 countries, AbbVie employees are working every day to advance health solutions for people around the world. For more information about AbbVie, please visit us at www.abbvie.com. Follow @abbvie on Twitter, Facebook or LinkedIn.

About Ronald McDonald House Charities
Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC), is a non-profit, 501 (c) (3) corporation that creates, finds, and supports programs that directly improve the health and well-being of children and their families. Through its global network of over 275 Chapters in more than 64 countries and regions, and its three core programs: the Ronald McDonald House, the Ronald McDonald Family Room and the Ronald McDonald Care Mobile, RMHC helps families with sick children stay together, and close to the medical care their child needs at leading hospitals worldwide. RMHC programs not only provide access to quality health care, they enable family-centered care ensuring families are fully supported and actively involved in their children’s care. For more information, visit rmhc.org.  Follow RMHC on Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and LinkedIn.