America's STORYTELLER
Telling Untold Stories in Photographs, Prose and Public Speaking
TELL ME A STORY
http://tellmeastory-marcia.blogspot.com/
THE WELCOME MAT
Ronald McDonald House near Loyola University Medical Center became our "home away from home" for my daughter, Faith, and I, over the years when Faith had treatments and surgeries at the Shriners Hospital in Chicago.
Shriners at the Ararat Shrine Center in Kansas City, Missouri, sponsored our travel expenses (flights and ground transportation) from Kansas City to Chicago, and all Faith's medical expenses.
We have insurance, but never received a bill for a co-pay from the Shriners Hospitals. Shriners Hospitals treat children regardless of their ability to pay...whether they have insurance or not.
Shriners Hospitals for Children
CLICK on the link or COPY & PASTE the link in your browser:
http://www.shrinershospitalsforchildren.org/
Daughter Faith arrives at Shriners Hospital CHICAGO. Copyright 2010 Marcia Norwood |
Our Precious Friend and Nurse at Shriner's Hospital Chicago with Faith. Copyright 2009 Marcia Norwood |
Daughter Faith at Shriner's Hospital CHICAGO, ILLINOIS. Copyright 2007 Marcia Norwood |
Marissa examines Faith at Shriner's Hospital CHICAGO. Copyright 2010 Marcia Norwood |
Ronald McDonald House near LOYOLA. Christmas 2009/January 2010. Copyright 2010 Marcia Norwood |
RMH WELCOME MAT campaign. Copyright 2010 Marcia Norwood |
My previous blog, "RIVER BIRCH," contains beautiful photographs and information about Ronald McDonald House near Loyola University Medical Center. The house is decorated like an English manor: something out of the pages of Frances Hodgson Burnett's novel, The Secret Garden.
CLICK on the link or COPY & PASTE the link in your browser:
http://tellmeastory-marcia.blogspot.com/2013/10/river-birch.html
Book in our room at RMH near Loyola. Copyright 2007 Marcia Norwood |
Ronald McDonald House Near Loyola, Chicago
CLICK on the link or COPY & PASTE the link in your browser:
https://www.facebook.com/RMHLoyola
Faith and I saw first-hand The Welcome Mat, a breakthrough brand campaign and fundraiser that VALENTI Advertising Design Ideas created for Ronald McDonald House Charities (R), Chicagoland/Northwest Indiana, during one of our stays at RMH Loyola, in 2010.
RMH WELCOME MAT campaign. Copyright 2010 Marcia Norwood |
"The Welcome Mat campaign
has drawn interest from all over the country,
and significantly enhanced the understanding
and impact our charity has
on the community and families we serve."
Doug Porter,
RMHC(R)-CNI Chief Executive Officer:
RMH WELCOME MAT campaign. Copyright 2010 Marcia Norwood |
Welcome mats with messages of LOVE, HOPE, CARE and COMFORT reinforce Ronald McDonald House Charities of Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana's commitment to provide families a home away from home while their children are treated at nearby hospitals.
RMH WELCOME MAT campaign. Copyright 2010 Marcia Norwood |
"Our idea was to use a welcome mat as both a core brand icon
as well as a unique and meaningful fundraising tool.
Great branding ideas are simple.
What's important is what you do
to make it relevant, powerful and memorable."
"We offer our clients
a wide range of marketing needs
from identity to business materials,
from print to TV,
from websites to developing online social networks."
Mike Valenti
President and Creative Director
(Chicago-based) VALENTI Advertising Design Ideas
www.valentiadv.com
The mats are 100% natural coconut fiber, and sold for a $50 donation. They were offered for sale at supporting events and online.
Money raised helped build the world's largest Ronald McDonald House in Chicago, which opened in June 2012. It's known as "Skyline Oasis."
RMH WELCOME MAT campaign. Copyright 2010 Marcia Norwood |
RMH WELCOME MAT campaign. Copyright 2010 Marcia Norwood |
RMH WELCOME MAT campaign. Copyright 2010 Marcia Norwood |
RMH WELCOME MAT campaign. Copyright 2010 Marcia Norwood |
CLICK on the link or COPY & PASTE the link in your browser:
http://chicago.curbed.com/archives/2010/11/01/lets-take-a-look-at-streetervilles-new-ronald-mcdonald-house.php
Room model of RMH Skyline Oasis. Copyright 2010 Marcia Norwood |
Room model of RMH Skyline Oasis. Copyright 2010 Marcia Norwood |
Room model of RMH Skyline Oasis. Copyright 2010 Marcia Norwood |
RMH WELCOME MAT campaign. Copyright 2010 Marcia Norwood |
Skyline Oasis opened on June 26, 2012.
Ronald McDonald House
Grand Opening
June 26, 2012
CLICK on the link or COPY & PASTE the link in your browser:
http://myemail.constantcontact.com/Ronald-McDonald-House-near-Lurie-Children-s-Volunteer-Newsletter.html?soid=1102808931335&aid=jNm-cj7vVbg#LETTER.BLOCK10
After years of thoughtful space planning,
tireless fundraising, and good ol' fashioned hard work, Ronald McDonald
House near Lurie Children's opened on a bright and cheerful summer's
day this past June (2012) with a week of celebratory opening receptions and
Open Houses. Friends of the House gathered across the street for a
formal ceremony which including speeches from Governor Pat Quinn,
Chicago Bears Head Coach Lovie Smith and his wife MaryAnne, McDonald's
CEO Jim Skinner and many others topped off by an uplifting performance
from Soul Children of Chicago singing "The Future's Up to Me and You".
Tears of joy, gratefulness and hope were shed as our VP of Operations,
Mary Agnes Laguatan, thanked all who made this House possible and
reflected on what an amazing gift this House gives to families in
medical crisis. Finally, little Max Herrick concluded the ceremony by
cutting the ceremonial ribbon along with his good friend, Ronald.
The word "thank you" does not do justice to the humble gratitude RMHC-CNI would like to express to our volunteers, friends and donors who made this day possible. We hope that everyone associated with the building of this beautiful House feels a great sense of pride in knowing that we are able to House 75 families each and every night.
Congratulations to Doug Porter, RMHC(R)-CNI Chief Executive Officer, and the volunteers and leaders of Ronald McDonald House, Chicago, on opening Skyline Oasis, and thank you for each of the RMHouses in the Chicago and Northland Illinois area.
Folks at RMH serve others in a beautiful way - just as their welcome mats say: with love, hope, care, and comfort.
RMH (Loyola) was a sweet
refuge for my daughter and I, as we prepared our
hearts and minds for her multiple medical challenges.
Daughter Faith at RMH. Copyright 2010 Marcia Norwood |
Guests at RMH are invited to write their stories and comments in journals in each room. These stories encourage and inspire others who stay in their "home away from home" at RMH.
I wrote Faith's story in one of the journals.
I also suggested that RMH (with the guests permission) publish a book or series of books with stories from the RMH journals that are written by guests.
Marcia's Entry in RMH Bedside Journal. Copyright 2009 Marcia Norwood. CLICK on each image to ENLARGE. |
Marcia's Entry in RMH Bedside Journal. Copyright 2009 Marcia Norwood. CLICK on each image to ENLARGE. |
Marcia's Entry in RMH Bedside Journal. Copyright 2009 Marcia Norwood. CLICK on each image to ENLARGE. |
Marcia's Entry in RMH Bedside Journal. Copyright 2009 Marcia Norwood. CLICK on each image to ENLARGE. |
Marcia's Entry in RMH Bedside Journal. Copyright 2009 Marcia Norwood. CLICK on each image to ENLARGE. |
Marcia's Entry in RMH Bedside Journal. Copyright 2009 Marcia Norwood. CLICK on each image to ENLARGE. |
Marcia's Entry in RMH Bedside Journal. Copyright 2009 Marcia Norwood. CLICK on each image to ENLARGE. |
Marcia's Entry in RMH Bedside Journal. Copyright 2009 Marcia Norwood. CLICK on each image to ENLARGE. |
I would be blessed to help with a RHM Book Project: a STORYTELLER GIFT BOOK.....STORIES that ENCOURAGE and INSPIRE...with stories written by guests at Ronald McDonald House.
The world needs to know about the work Ronald McDonald House Charities do to serve families in medical crisis.
God bless you!
Faith at RMH Loyola. Copyright 2010 Marcia Norwood |
Faith at RMH Loyola. Copyright 2010 Marcia Norwood |
Faith at RMH Loyola. Copyright 2010 Marcia Norwood |
Spring Garden at RMH Loyola. Copyright 2010 Marcia Norwood |
Spring Garden at RMH Loyola. Copyright 2010 Marcia Norwood |
Spring Garden at RMH Loyola. Copyright 2010 Marcia Norwood |
Spring Garden at RMH Loyola. Copyright 2010 Marcia Norwood |
Copyright 2014 Marcia Norwood |
Thanks for stopping by!
Come back often, and invite a friend!
Marcia Norwood
America's STORYTELLER
Telling Untold Stories in Photographs, Prose and Public Speaking
hey! A very nice blog. the idea is also great. I like the way how it turned out. Thank you for sharing.Welcome mats
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