The Ronald McDonald House of Long Island (RMH-LI) debuted the renovation of a state of the art playground facility for families with children who are receiving treatment at neighboring hospitals. The outdoor playground space has generously been underwritten by the Walter Kaner Foundation. Their $100,000 gift will bring joy to the thousands of families who benefit from the House each year. The ribbon cutting ceremony took place on Sept. 12 for the Walter Kaner Children’s Foundation playground at the Ronald McDonald House of Long Island.
Many families travel near and far from home and spend several weeks or months to get treatment for their seriously ill or injured children—a long time to be away or to divide a family. For children facing a serious medical crisis, nothing seems scarier than not having mom and dad close by for love and support. The Ronald McDonald House provides a place for families to call home so they can stay close by their hospitalized child at little to no cost.
“Our partnership with the Walter Kaner Foundation started in 2008 and to date, the foundation has generously donated $188,000 to the House,” said Matt Campo, president of the Ronald McDonald House of Long Island. “With the Walter Kaner Foundation sponsoring family stays at the Ronald McDonald House of Long Island for over a decade, we have been able to continue to carry out our mission of keeping families close when they need each other most,” he continued. “We are so grateful for the foundation’s steadfast support and look forward to seeing the happiness the new playground brings to our resident families.”
The Ronald McDonald House of Long Island was built on the simple idea that nothing else should matter when a family is focused on the health of their child—not where they can afford to stay, where they will get their next meal or where they will lay their head at night to rest. We believe that when a child is hospitalized the love and support of family is as powerful as the strongest medicine prescribed.
Since 1986, the Ronald McDonald House of Long Island has created programs that strengthen families during difficult times. RMH-LI provides vital resources and compassionate care to children and their families being served by leading hospitals. The organization’s programs provide access to health care and enable family-centered care.
—Submitted by Ronald
McDonald House of Long Island
