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A publication of Ronald McDonald House Charities®

of Central New York..

away from home

Save the date!

In May 2009, Pelensky Joassin, an 8-year-old boy from Haiti, was run over by a truck on his way to school and suffered massive internal bleeding, a skull fracture and serious excretory system injuries. He underwent emergency surgery in Port-au-Prince.

Since his accident, Pelensky has had multiple infections and has been hospitalized several times – the longest for 22 days. Pelensky’s father, Hyvernat, has taken him to 14 hospitals and clinics in Haiti in an unsuccessful effort to get him the appropriate care. Hyvernat estimates he has accompanied his son to more than 100 doctor visits in the past three years. As a result, Hyvernat has lost his teaching job and the family has no regular source of income. Pelensky, the second oldest of six children, can no longer enroll in school because he has accumulated too many absences.

Pelensky and his father traveled from Haiti to Syracuse in June so Pelensky could get the best in medical care at Upstate Golisano Children’s Hospital. Working with the Partners In Health Right to Health Care program, the Central New York Ronald McDonald House hosted the father and son while they were in Syracuse. The two returned to Haiti after Pelensky was released from doctors’ care in August.

Our new House will be ready to open this November, and we are getting very excited as we continue to make progress on some of the fi nishing touches. Thanks to a recent matching grant from The Allyn Foundation, we are now less than $100,000 from our $6 million fundraising goal!

We have naming opportunities on the fi rst fl oor, along with three guest rooms that are still available for individuals, companies and organizations interested in joining our team. Also, please check with your company or organization to see if it offers a matching-gift program. For more information, contact Jennifer Saraceni Leitgeb at jsaraceni@cnyronaldmcdonaldhouse.org or 315.476.1027.

It takes many hearts to make this one home. To make a donation today, visit www.cnyronaldmcdonaldhouse.org.

Thank you to all those who have helped make our new House a reality.

1027 East Genesee Street, Syracuse, NY 13210 | cnyronaldmcdonaldhouse.org

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Ronald McDonald House Charities® of Central New York1027 East Genesee Street, Syracuse, NY 13210P: 315.476.1027 | F: 315.476.5022 | cnyronaldmcdonaldhouse.org

VISIT CNYRONALDMCDONALDHOUSE.ORG TO SIGN UP FOR OUR NEW E-NEWSLETTER

N o n - P ro f i tOrganizationUS Postage

Syracuse, NYPermit No. 999

paid

2012 Board of DirectorsChris Geiger, PresidentLeola Rodgers, 1st Vice PresidentAaron Hugo, 2nd Vice PresidentMaureen Dunn McGlynn, Immediate Past PresidentPatrick D. Leitgeb, TreasurerKathleen Kotz, SecretaryJean CzarniakSteven Gross, MDJustin HummelDouglas K. LattnerYvonne Annese LoReMike MadiganHenry PearlMark RenquinPaul RossMatt SchiroColleen M. SchmidtBrian Sickora

Staff MembersBeth M. Trunfi o, Executive DirectorJennifer Saraceni Leitgeb, Development DirectorJoe Walsh, Business ManagerLee Wilder, House Program ManagerBrian Hayes, Special Event CoordinatorKaren Hynes, Administrative Offi ce AssistantAnne Dashnaw, Housekeeper

Save the date!

Baldwinsville Kiwanis Club Turkey TrotThursday, Nov. 22, 2012Baldwinsville, N.Y.

25th Annual Billy Leader Memorial RaceSaturday, Jan. 5, 2013 Walt’s Hobby ShopSyracuse, N.Y.

Baldwinsville Big Chill and Polar Bear PlungeFriday, Jan. 25, and Saturday, Jan. 26, 2013Baldwinsville, N.Y.

Fifth Annual Bella Casa Celebrity Fashion ShowThursday, May 2, 2013 Holiday InnLiverpool, N.Y.

For more information about upcoming events, visit www.cnyronaldmcdonaldhouse.org.

For event ticket, advertising or sponsorship information, please contact Brian Hayes at 315.476.1027 or EventCoordinator@cnyronaldmcdonaldhouse.org.

Baldwinsville Big Chill and Polar Bear Plunge

Friday, Jan. 25, and Saturday, Jan. 26, 2013Baldwinsville, N.Y.

New House Update

OUR HEARTSALWAYS

HAVE ROOMFOR MORE.

Fourth Annual Bella Casa Celebrity Fashion Show Is A Success!More than 65 local celebrities walked the runway at the Fourth Annual Bella Casa Celebrity Fashion Show on May 3 at the Holiday Inn in Liverpool, N.Y. A record-setting 625 guests turned out to see the latest fashions from Elsbeth Rose East, Eva’s Boutique, Giovanni’s Men’s Fashion & Formal Wear, Jet Black, Koolakian & Manro Menswear, Manny’s, Melissa James Dress Salon, Mr. Shop, Oleander at Armory, Showoffs Boutique and Spybaby Boutique. More than $65,000 was raised to help fund the ongoing operations of Ronald McDonald House Charities of CNY.

The event began as we welcomed back special guests Kate and Brian Sickora. The Sickoras were guests at the CNY Ronald McDonald House more than three years ago when their triplets, George, Marlene and Virginia, were born prematurely at Crouse Hospital in Syracuse. On the evening of the show, Kate graciously shared her story with the audience, explaining what life was like for the family during their two-month stay at the CNY Ronald McDonald House. At the conclusion of a slideshow about the Sickoras and their triplets, the audience was stunned to see the three beautiful, healthy children come out and walk the runway.

Special thanks go to our major sponsors: CNY Central, CNY Cosmetic & Reconstructive Surgery, Empower Federal Credit Union, Hotel Clarence, JAG Environmental LLC, Summit Automotive Group, Syracuse.com, Welch Allyn and 93Q.

The Ninth Annual Ronald McDonald House Invitational was held on Sept. 13 at Turning Stone Resort Casino. More than 160 golfers participated and enjoyed a warm, sunny day of golf. The tournament was held on the Shenendoah and Kaluhyat courses at Turning Stone. Due to the tremendous support of sponsors and players, the tournament raised more than $80,000. A special thanks to our major sponsors: CNY Central, Dr Pepper, Fuccillo Automotive Group and Turning Stone Resort Casino.

A public open house will be held Tuesday, Nov. 20 from noon to 6 p.m. to allow the community to tour the new House.

Fall

2012

CNY Ronald McDonald House® Welcomes Boy from Haiti

Pictured are: Mike Schattner, Tim DeMore, Bill Tully, and Chris Harrigan.

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For the Love of FoodThe TaeKwondo America school in Oswego has been a fantastic new addition to our “For the Love of Food” program this year. Bernadette and Janet Cali have taken the lead in preparing a meal for our families twice a month. The meal always includes fresh fruits and vegetables. In addition to delivering the meal, Bernadette, Janet and a group of students also drop off wish list items each month.

Corporate ConnectionBank of America recently spent time at the House as part of their yearly volunteer efforts. The group, led by Erin Acker, prepared a wonderful dinner of spinach lasagna, salad and garlic bread for our guest families.

Our friends at CenterState CEO prepared a “Leap Day Feast” for us earlier this year. The feast included a turkey, mashed potatoes, vegetables, rolls, homemade pies, cookies and cakes. The staff at CenterState CEO includes several entities such as the Downtown Committee of Syracuse, CenterState Chamber of Commerce, Syracuse Convention & Visitors Bureau and Benefi t Specialists of NY. They held baking and cooking contests leading up to the “Leap Day Feast.” The staff each paid $1 to participate in the contests and voted for the best entries. Through the contests and a matching donation, the employees raised $1,400 for the CNY Ronald McDonald House.

Kids Helping Kids Megan Osetek’s sixth-grade class at Ray Middle School in Baldwinsville created little animals called “BooBoo Bunnies.” The animals were little, soft washcloths that were made into shapes of bunnies and given to our guest families to use when their children weren’t feeling well. The bunnies also came with a get well wish that included the name of the child who made it.

The students in the medical assistant program at OCM BOCES and their instructor, Jill MacNeil Sidle, recently held a bake sale that raised $450 for the CNY Ronald McDonald House.

Megan Golden, 17, and her cousin, Jessica Golden, 6, recently stopped by the House to present us with a donation. The two girls had come across a large box of unique items at their grandmother’s house and became curious. Their grandmother explained to them that she was planning to donate the box to the CNY Ronald McDonald House. The girls embraced the idea of donating and decided to organize a bake sale and lemonade stand to raise money for Ronald McDonald House Charities of CNY as well. The girls’ 94-year-old great-grandmother even pitched in by donating some beautiful knitted items. Thank you to Megan, Jessica and their families for the extremely thoughtful efforts!

Dear Friends,

We are excited to announce that through the hard work, dedication and help of many hearts, we are now putting the fi nishing touches on our new House, and will open our doors to families this November. This is such a memorable time in the history of the Central New York Ronald McDonald House® – it is an event to celebrate, and a moment that we have been looking forward to for several years.

Thirty years ago on Thanksgiving Day, the fi rst guest family walked through the doors of the CNY Ronald McDonald House. Since that day, more than 17,000 guest families have found a place to live, and get a warm meal and caring support during some of the most diffi cult times in their lives. Now, 30 years later, we are eager to welcome even more families into our “home away from home.” A home that is now handicap-accessible, and larger, with more privacy. It’s a place where expectant moms can prepare for labor and where grandparents, parents and siblings can fi nd comfort in our kitchens and common areas.

We would not be able to reach these milestones without the support and generosity of our community, businesses and individuals who have donated their time and resources to the CNY Ronald McDonald House.

At this time, on behalf of Ronald McDonald House Charities of CNY, the thousands of families that have stayed with us over the past 30 years and the thousands that will stay with us in our new House, it is with gratitude that we say thank you. Thank you to those who have spent nights, weekends and holidays preparing meals for our guest families. Thank you to those who held bake sales and raised money for our organization. Thank you to those who volunteered to decorate the House at the holidays and cleaned up the grounds after a long winter. Thank you to those who reached into their pockets or made an in-kind donation toward our new House. And thank you to those who have supported us over the past 30 years and helped keep families exactly where they belong…Together.

It takes many hearts to make a home.

letter from the director

Remember Our Donation Boxes Whether you’re driving through or dining in, please remember our charitable donation boxes at your local McDonald’s. Your spare change directly supports the children and families of Ronald McDonald House Charities. Many thanks to all the individuals and groups who dedicate their time and talents to raising money for “The House That Love Built®.”

It takes many hearts to make a home.

Beth Trunfi oExecutive Director

Thank YouThank you to all the individuals and groups who continue to dedicate their time and talents to raising money for “The House That Love Built.”

Anchor QEA – Curling for a Cause $1,300.00

Aquatic World – Trip Raffl e $860.00

Bryant & Stratton College, North Campus – Business Club product sales $300.00

Canastota High School – Future Business Leaders of America $205.00

CenterState CEO – Staff fundraiser & matching gift $1,400.00

Chittenango High School – Future Business Leaders of America $100.00

Collamer United Church – Pocket Change collection $40.86

Mike Diehl, Auburn, N.Y. – Stampin’ Up Bingo Fundraiser $530.00

First Niagara – Jeans Day for Charity $348.00

Frankfort-Schuyler High School – An Evening of Sweets and Songs $1,000.00

Fust Charles Chambers LLP – Dress Down Day $255.00

G&C Foods – 50/50 raffl e $526.00

G. Ray Bodley High School – Future Business Leaders of America – Can Drive $218.70

Tina & Giorgia Hess – Cookie sale at garage sale $119.00

Heuvelton Central School District – Student Mini Walk-a-Thon $845.33

ITT Goulds Pumps – Jeans Day $66.85

Lincoln Middle School – Capital Project Fundraiser $152.00

Jenni McIntosh, First Presbyterian Church, Chittenango – Bake Sale $310.00

The Melting Pot, Syracuse – Preview Nights $3,652.00

Niagara Mohawk Pensioners Club – 50/50 Raffl es $260.00

NYS Amateur Trapshooting Association – N.Y. State Trap Shoot $3,710.00

OCM BOCES, Cortland, Medical Assistant Program – Bake Sale $450.00

Oswego Speedway – Racing for Ronald McDonald House $2,775.00

Dr. Mark Paciorek – Patient Appreciation Party $576.00

Pine City Elementary School, Elmira, N.Y. – Fundraiser in honor of Simeon Stearns $60.00

Pyramid Management Group – Dress Down Day $650.00

Courtney Randall, New Milford, Pa. – Bracelet sale $80.00

Roger Sterling Memorial Motorcycle Ride $1,533.00

Ron Bush Oil – Cans for Causes $308.35

Saving Face Barbershop – Third Annual Barber-Q $1,147.00

Sutherland Global Services – Dress Down Days $5,136.00

Syracuse Crunch/Denny’s – Score for Charities $175.00

Syracuse University Athletics – Casual Friday $37.35

Syracuse University, Hospitality Management Senior Class – Annual Gala $4,293.58

Syracuse University, Shadows of Health – Hoops for Health $444.00

Temple Society of Concord – Tzedakah collection $250.00

Kelsey Thomas, Excellus – Jacob’s Lemonade Stand/Bake Sale $883.00

Westmoreland Elementary After School Program Inc. – Penny collection $189.90

Woodland Elementary School, East Syracuse, N.Y. – Third-grade class fundraiser $39.12

(Donations made from Jan. 16, 2012, through Sept. 1, 2012)

Join Our Virtual Housewarming PartyRonald McDonald House Charities® of Central New York is hosting a virtual housewarming party to help make our new House feel like a “home away

from home” for guest families. The new House is in need of basic kitchen and dining items, in addition to home décor accessories. Ronald McDonald

House Charities of CNY is registered at Target, Macy’s and Sissy’s Boutique in Baldwinsville. The registries feature kitchen and dining needs, select

outdoor décor, home décor and gift cards. For more information about the virtual housewarming party, visit www.cnyronaldmcdonaldhouse.org.

Community VolunteersKristin Nesci stops in to volunteer weekly at the CNY Ronald McDonald House. Kristin enjoys helping the staff at the House, no matter what the task is. Some days you may fi nd her straightening up the toy room, but she spends most of her time in the kitchen. Kristin loves to bake for us; our House favorite is her Funfetti cake!

The fi rst D&S Disaster Kleenup Golf Tournament was held in July at The Pompey Club in Pompey, N.Y. It raised more than $6,400 for Ronald McDonald House Charities of CNY.

Volunteer SpotlightLongtime volunteer Phyllis Rice has been creating and donating picture books for our guest families every month since 1999. Rice estimates she has made more than 1,860 books for our guests. She was recently recognized for her dedication to Ronald McDonald House Charities of CNY with a presidential citation given by the Veterans of Foreign Wars’ Ladies Auxiliary. Thank you, Phyllis, for always keeping our guests close to your heart.

A Visit from NASCARWe welcomed NASCAR driver Jeff Burton and staff from Watkins Glen International this summer. Burton, along with the Watkins Glen pace car, visited the House before heading to his race. We appreciate his taking the time to visit with our guest families.

Volunteer Luke Tynan, a SUNY-ESF alum, takes a few minutes out of his day each week to visit with our guest families. Luke recently spent time with our guest Pelensky Joassin, from Haiti. During his visits, Luke makes sure our soda machine is full and our recycling is being done properly. We enjoy our visits from Luke, and Pelensky enjoyed beating him at thumb wrestling!

The McBride family joined us on a recent Sunday afternoon for a cookout. They had a wonderful time grilling in the backyard with our guest families. Aimee McBride and her family wore “Motorcycle McBride” aprons in memory of her son Michael, who loved motorcycles and passed away last year from cancer at the age of 6. We are grateful for the McBride family’s support of the CNY Ronald McDonald House.

Busy Volunteers

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