ANNUAL REPORT
2024
St. Louis
OUR MISSION To provide a home-away-from-home for families of seriously ill children receiving medical treatment in a St. Louis-area hospital.
CORE PROGRAMS 2024 Hearing the news that a loved one is sick is a jarring, disorienting experience. For parents and families of seriously ill children, life can change drastically in only a moment. An additional stressor for families is distance—from the hospital, from home, from the comforts of daily life. Sometimes the best medical care available is hundreds of miles—or more—from home. In addition, families face the financial demands of mounting medical bills, job insecurity and a healing journey that can take months or even years. This is why Ronald McDonald Houses and Ronald McDonald Family Rooms are essential: to keep families close to their seriously ill children.
RONALD McDONALD HOUSE® • •
•
Between the new Grove House and West County House, we now have the capacity to provide a home-away-from-home to 92 families each night. Our Houses provided a necessary respite to 540 families in 2024, including private bedrooms, home-cooked meals, comfortable living areas, activities for the whole family, a kitchen and laundry facilities. Open 24 hours a day, 365 days per year
RONALD McDONALD FAMILY ROOM® •
• •
Four St. Louis-area Ronald McDonald Family Rooms serve as an oasis inside the hospital, including Mercy Children’s Hospital (2), St. Louis Children’s Hospital, and SSM Health Cardinal Glennon Children’s Hospital. Family Rooms provide comfort and care to thousands of families annually, with more than 56,000 visitors in 2024. Each Family Room is equipped with the cares and comforts of home, including a kitchenette, complimentary snacks and coffee, showers, laundry facilities, internet and TV.
West Pine House, retired in 2024
Park Ave House, retired in 2024
LETTER
FROM THE CHAIR AND CEO Looking back on 2024, as with any year, we had good days and we had hard days.. If you ask us, most days are good in at least a small way, because every day we are fulfilling the mission of Ronald McDonald House Charities of St. Louis to provide a home-away-from-home to families of seriously ill children. In 2024, we had some of our best days since our first house opened in 1981—we also had some of our hardest. We welcomed hundreds of families through the doors of our Ronald McDonald Houses and Family Rooms, each of whom were greeted by the welcoming, compassionate faces of our dedicated volunteers and staff. Our families are facing some of the most unimaginable challenges, and on their hardest days, we are privileged enough to be able to offer a place of respite, peace and comfort. RMHC St. Louis can now house up to 92 families in two beautiful, functional, thoughtfully designed Houses, and more than 540 families benefited from those comforts in 2024. Last year, our four area Family Rooms saw more than 56,000 total visits, a 15% increase over the prior year. These numbers represent the real impact made by this organization, all of which is possible because of the friends and leaders whose tireless work paved the way. The good days are made possible because of that work and the strong foundation laid by every person who has been a friend of RMHC St. Louis. In 2024, we saw the loss of a truly great friend and exemplary leader, Dan Harbaugh. Dan’s legacy and impact endure through the relationships he fostered, the paths he forged, the ongoing impact of the Dan Harbaugh Endowment and in his unflagging leadership of our beloved organization. There could be no stronger foundation upon which our organization stands, and as our work continues, so does our gratitude. As we reflect on a year of both triumphs and tribulations, good days and hard, we carry that gratitude and appreciation into every step forward. The resilience, perseverance and unending commitment shown by every friend of RMHC—volunteers, donors, staff, families and more—is the promise of even better days to come. With gratitude, Chris Giarla Board Chair
R.J. Crunk President/CEO
2024 BOARD OF DIRECTORS CHAIR BRIDGET HOY BEARDSLEY VICE CHAIR CHRIS GIARLA TREASURER MARK HEFFERNAN SECRETARY JOAN ELHOFFER DANA BACICH BRANDY BEAUPRE BRAD BEIGLE NORA BLACK KYLE DARNELL STEVE DELLA CAMERA GREG DIEKEMPER CULLY EISENBEIS BEVERLY GARNER DAN HEGGER SCOTT KARCHUNAS SIRUS KARIMI ANDY KRAMPER CARRIE LEE APRIL LOPINOT STEVE MALTER DR. HOSSAIN MARANDI DR. PHINEAS OREN ELLYN ROSENBLUM STEVE RUESCHHOFF NOLAN RUIZ DANNA STONE DAVE TORNETTO
OPENING THE DOORS TO THE HOUSE LOVE BUILT The new Ronald McDonald House in St. Louis opened its doors in 2024, marking the culmination of a journey from Groundbreaking to Grand Opening. The project began with a vision to provide a comforting home-away-from-home for families of seriously ill children and fulfilled that dream when families moved in last August. When construction kicked off with a Groundbreaking ceremony on December 2, 2022, we could only imagine what the House could mean for the families we serve. The dedicated team of donors, volunteers, and staff worked tirelessly to bring the dream to life. Now, the new facility is a beacon of support, offering expanded services and accommodations for families in need. The Grand Opening on June 18, 2024, celebrated compassionate care, collaborative resilience and community dedication. It’s incredible to witness what can be accomplished in only 565 days. Since its opening, the Grove Ronald McDonald House has welcomed hundreds of families to a beautiful, comfortable, accessible home-away-from-home in the heart of the city of St. Louis. With proximity to multiple of our exemplary hospital partners, the Grove House is ideally situated to serve the ever-changing needs of the families at the heart of our mission. Between our two Houses in the Grove and West County, RMHC St. Louis can now serve up to 92 families per night in the St. Louis area. It's due to this increase in capacity that we were able to exhaust the waitlist of families needing a place to stay for the first time in early 2025. The work to fulfill our mission is never-ending, but hitting this milestone is an important marker for the completion and success of the intention behind the Let's Make Room campaign.
WATCH THE RIBBONCUTTING CEREMONY
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2024 FINANCIAL REPORT
Support and Revenue Special Events and Miscellaneous Promotions Annual Giving McDonald’s/RMHC Funds Lodging Miscellaneous Income In-Kind Donations TOTAL
$916,923 $3,063,513 $2,609,581 $95,622 $53,155 $673,897 $7,412,691*
*The information reported in this pie chart does not include any “investment income” revenue, including unreal gain/loss, which RMHC of St. Louis reports below the net operating income line of the financial statements.
Net Assets
Expenses
Programs General and Administrative Fundraising TOTAL
$5,368,150 $1,295,644 $1,522,978 $8,186,772**
**The information reported in this pie chart does not include any “other income or expense” items which RMHC of St. Louis reports below the net operating income line of the financial statements. Such items include dividends and unrealized losses on investments, interest expense and depreciation expense.
Net Assets Available for General Use Net Investment in Property and Equipment Board Designated for Endowment Permanently Restricted Net Assets Temporarily Restricted Net Assets TOTAL
$16,573,078 $21,991,414 $5,606,327 $1,766,257 $4,245,688 $50,182,764
1% 6%
12% 19%
15%
1%
13%
1% 12% 68%
13% 38%
42% 60%
Special Events/ Miscellaneous Promotions
Lodging
Annual Giving
Miscellaneous Income
McDonald’s/RMHC Funds
In-Kind Donations
Programs General and Administrative
Fundraising
Net Assets Available for General Use
Permanently Restricted Net Assets
Net Investment in Property and Equipment
Temporarily Restricted Net Assets
Board Designated for Endowment
19,646
HOURS OF RECORDED WORK*
$657,945
MEALS PROVIDED BY GENEROUS COMMUNITY MEMBERS
TOTAL VALUE OF VOLUNTEER HOURS WORKED
900 ACTIVE VOLUNTEERS *Hours reflect House, Family Room, Committee and Special Event volunteer hours, and do not include the numerous hours spent by our dedicated Meals from the Heart program or Service Group volunteers.
RED SHOE SOCIETY ENTERPRISE FLEET MANAGEMENT
STL CAPS
800+
ST. LOUIS CITY SC
2024 VOLUNTEER HIGHLIGHTS
MEET THE CASTILLO FAMILY
Elisa and Sarid have found comfort and calm at Ronald McDonald House. Elisa Castillo Morales and her 13-year-old daughter, Sarid Palacios Castillo, come from the city of Estelí, Nicaragua, located 150 kilometers from their country’s capital. Their journey to St. Louis, Missouri, began on September 11, 2024, with one goal in mind— seeking the best medical care for Sarid. “When I was 18 weeks pregnant, they told me there was a slight problem,” Elisa recalls. “But when Sarid was born, we realized the problem wasn’t as minor as they had said. We began looking for help, but we couldn’t find the right care in our country.” Sarid was born with Larsen Syndrome, a rare condition that affects the development of bones and joints. Determined to find the best care for her daughter, Elisa searched tirelessly for medical help in Nicaragua, but the resources available could not meet Sarid’s needs. Their hope was renewed when they connected with the World Pediatric Project, an organization that partners with hospitals globally to help children like Sarid. Through their assistance, Elisa and Sarid were given the opportunity to travel to the United States for Sarid’s treatment at Shriners Hospital. “The journey has not been easy,” Elisa admits, “but every step forward brings renewed hope.” More than just medical care, Elisa needed a safe and welcoming place to stay while her daughter underwent treatment. That’s when she learned of Ronald McDonald House Charities of St. Louis. “For me, it is a wonderful and great thing to be able to stay in this house,” Elisa said. “They have welcomed us very well, treated us with kindness, and we have everything we need here. It’s beautiful, big, and so nice.” The warmth of RMHC St. Louis became even more evident when Sarid celebrated her birthday. “It was such a special moment,” Elisa said. “The staff gave her a big gift, and in the kitchen, they prepared a cake and sang ‘Happy Birthday’ to her. It made her feel so loved and celebrated.” Before arriving in St. Louis, Elisa had never heard of RMHC, but her experience has been eye-opening. From the kindness of the staff
RMHC ST. LOUIS STAFF to the thoughtful meals provided through programs like RMHC St. Louis’ Meals from the Heart, every detail has made a difference. “Honestly, I don’t know where we would have stayed if not here,” she says. “This place is a blessing for people who come from other countries with their children for medical treatment.” For families like Elisa and Sarid, RMHC is more than just a house—it is their home-away-from-home that provides them with the best comfort and care. “People should know that this is a safe space where families can recover after long days at the hospital,” she explains. “We have everything we need to be comfortable and calm.” As Sarid continues her recovery, Elisa remains deeply grateful for the kindness, generosity, and unwavering support of RMHC St. Louis. Their journey has been filled with challenges, but through it all, they have found a home within the walls of Ronald McDonald House.
R.J. CRUNK, PRESIDENT & CEO CHERI WUERTZ, VICE PRESIDENT, FINANCE ERIC EILER, VICE PRESIDENT, OPERATIONS ALISON KASPAR, VICE PRESIDENT, HUMAN RESOURCES TIFFANY KILPER, VICE PRESIDENT, DEVELOPMENT JUDY SCHULER, OPERATIONS CONSULTANT PAT NEWBY, DIRECTOR, ADMINISTRATION JACOB MCGUIRE, DIRECTOR, FACILITIES JANE FOERSTEL, DIRECTOR, HOUSE OPERATIONS COURTNEY FISCHER, DIRECTOR, FAMILY ROOM PROGRAM MATT BORCHARDT, CHEF MICHELLE BURMANN, SENIOR MANAGER, FINANCE MCKENNA BUNJAN, VOLUNTEER MANAGER DARA MARKUS, DEVELOPMENT MANAGER EMILY TETRAULT DATA MANAGER KELLY ROECKLE, EVENT MANAGER SARAH IBA, FAMILY SERVICES MANAGER LATIFA LEWIS, HOUSE MANAGER KYLE LOEFFEL, ASSISTANT FAMILY SERVICES MANAGER GRETA VANDAMME, ASSISTANT FAMILY SERVICES MANAGER JILLIAN ZICCA, ASSISTANT FAMILY SERVICES MANAGER CIERRA WEST, FAMILY ROOM PROGRAM COORDINATOR PETE TOLPA, FAMILY ROOM PROGRAM COORDINATOR MEREDITH SIEGFRIED, CORP. & FOUND. RELATIONS COORDINATOR RYAN PLEUS, FINANCE COORDINATOR MIYA ANDREWS, MARKETING COORDINATOR HOLLY AHAUS, DATA COORDINATOR CHANDRA PIPER, HR ASSISTANT MEG MURPHY, FAMILY CARE SPECIALIST SHARON JOHNSON, FAMILY CARE SPECIALIST BECKY JUMP, CHEF ASSISTANT TONY HEDGER, CHEF ASSISTANT MILES BAUBLITE, KITCHEN PORTER MIKE AUER, SHUTTLE DRIVER SUSAN PECK, FAMILY ROOM ASSOCIATE JOY TATE, HOUSEKEEPER VICKI RUCKMAN, HOUSEKEEPER DEIDREIA BOYD, HOUSEKEEPER KEN JONES, HOUSEKEEPER
MCDONALD'S GIVING PROGRAMS 2024 PARTNERSHIP WITH MCDONALD'S McDonald’s is a founding and forever partner of Ronald McDonald House Charities. Local restaurant owner/operators have supported RMHC St. Louis since we opened our doors in 1981. McDonald’s customers can support RMHC St. Louis by rounding up their total at the counter, kiosk or drive thru, donating change in the RMHC cannisters in-store, purchasing a Happy Meal or participating in a seasonal fundraiser such as our Shamrock Shake buy back. The Round-Up For RMHC program began as the brainchild of local owner/operator and RMHC Board Secretary Joan Elhoffer, and now contributes millions of dollars of support to chapters globally. In 2024, the local McDonald's Co-op expanded from 148 stores to 177, due to the reorganization of area co-ops. The numbers detailed here reflect post expansion data, effective November 2024.
Total Donations from Customers Round-Up for RMHC $3,103,629 Canister Program $132,742 Penny for a Happy Meal $61,059
177
23
NUMBER OF STORES IN OUR LOCAL MCDONALD'S CO-OP
6
OWNER/OPERATORS HAVE RAISED MORE THAN $1 MILLION THROUGH THE ROUND-UP FOR RMHC PROGRAM
Seasonal Fundraisers $16,167 TOTAL $3,313,597 1%
TOTAL NUMBER OF OWNER/ OPERATORS IN OUR LOCAL CO-OP
129
LOCAL MCDONALD'S STORES RAISED AN AVERAGE OF $1,000 OR MORE EVERY MONTH IN 2024
5% Round-Up for RMHC
2%
Canister Program Penny for a Happy Meal Seasonal Fundraisrs
93% OVERALL RUNNING TOTAL OF ROUND-UP FOR RMHC DONATIONS SINCE 2019
$11,886.090
2024 IMPACT
RONALD MCDONALD FAMILY ROOMS
IN OUR RONALD MCDONALD HOUSES
56,904
540
TOTAL VISITORS TO THE FOUR ST. LOUIS-AREA RONALD MCDONALD FAMILY ROOMS
FAMILIES RECEIVED LOW OR NO COST HOUSING
4,829
15,236
FAMILIES SERVED ACROSS ALL FOUR FAMILY ROOMS
ROOM NIGHTS OCCUPIED
7,719
22.7 DAYS AVERAGE LENGTH OF STAY
UNIQUE DONORS SUPPORTED RMHC ST. LOUIS IN 2024
76%
25%
OF FAMILIES SERVED WERE FROM MISSOURI OR ILLINOIS
OF FAMILIES HAD INFANTS IN A NEONATAL INTENSIVE CARE UNIT
FAMILIES FROM
15
COUNTRIES WERE SERVED BY RMHC ST. LOUIS
15,768 HOURS OF WORK BY FAMILY ROOM VOLUNTEERS
RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE CHARITIES® OF ST. LOUIS Grove Ronald McDonald House 4321 Chouteau Avenue St. Louis, MO 63110 314-773-1100
West County Ronald McDonald House 300 Ronald McDonald House Ln. St. Louis, MO 63141 314-485-0300
VISIT US ONLINE AT RMHCSTL.ORG AND FIND US ON SOCIAL MEDIA @rmhcstl
St. Louis