Ronald McDonald House Charities Grants

McDonald’s customers contribute thousands of dollars to RMHC locally by dropping change into donation canisters and supporting other fund-raisers throughout the year, including the sale of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch and USA Today at McDonald’s restaurants. With these funds and other gifts from the McDonald Owner/Operators, RMHC reaches out to meet the needs of the community by funding programs specifically benefiting children in the area. Beneficiaries of RMHC grants are nonprofit organizations that have demonstrated an ability to respond to the needs of children and their families in a definitive, hands-on manner that yields measurable results. Since 1990, RMHC has awarded more that $2 million locally for programs in the following three categories: health care and medical research; education and the arts; and civic and social services.

Ronald McDonald House Charities of Metro St. Louis, Inc. is pleased to announce that the following grants, totaling totaling $134,104 have been awarded for the Fourth Quarter 2007:

Grants Awarded FOURTH quarter 2007

Boys & Girls Club of Bethalto – $14,770 - Grant funds will be used to purchase computers, monitors, digital cameras, and movie making software. The primary objectives are to help Club members develop creative and critical thinking skills and learn advanced technology skills. Many low-income members do not have access to computers.

Covenant House Missouri -$9,998 - Grant funds will be used to purchase hygiene and welcome kits for the youth they serve. Covenant House is the only organization that targets services to runaway and homeless youth in the St Louis area. Covenant House is able to provide safe and supportive housing and work to reunite the youths with family or gain skills for independent living.

Delta Dental Health Theatre - $8,000 - Grant funds will replace aging marionettes and secure interactive displays, videos and educational materials. The Delta Dental Health Theatre offers children a unique combination of entertainment, and overall healthy life habits education, presented by a dental health educator.

Family Hospice of Belleville Area - $6,950 - Grant funds will benefit grieving preschoolers through the creation, printing and binding of grief activity and reading books. These books enable family and friends to share in the task of helping children grieve a family member. The Little Bears Reading initiative uses books to help young children express their feelings and cope with their tragedy.

Giant Steps - $6,546 - Grant funds will be used to purchase computers and the Edmark Reading Program, Levels I and II. Giant Steps mission is to empower children with Autism Spectrum Disorder to participate fully in all aspects of life. Two of the computers would upgrade Academic Instruction. The Edmark Reading software would be networked among all Academic Computers. Another computer would be used for Speech Therapy and the fourth in Music Therapy.

Lemay Child & Family Center - $7,500 - Grant Funds will be used to purchase Infant/Toddler furniture, equipment and supplies. In February 2008 they will open a new infant-toddler program with 16 licensed spaces for children ages 6 weeks to 2 years. This will meet a critical community need, by enabling parents to work and placing babies in a developmentally appropriate, stimulating, nurturing environment.

The Little Bit Foundation - $15,025 - Grant funds will be used to purchase coats for low-income children in the city of St. Louis. School Administrators call with coat and clothes requests giving the specific sizes for their neediest children. The Little Bit Foundation fills the orders, deliver and directly distribute the proper fitting clothes to the children.

Pony Bird - $1,570 – Grant funds will be used to purchase therapy equipment including items such as wedges, mats and bolster rolls. Children with severe to profound disabilities require special care and delicate attention. This equipment helps to improve range of motion and improve skin integrity, as well as preventing scoliosis, muscular atrophy, and respiratory disease.

RAVEN - $4,001 - Grant funds will be used to purchase electronics, printing material, and art supplies to promote the dynamic environment in which teenagers thrive. These additions to the program will help facilitators connect with the youth and provide them with materials to successfully complete the program. The curriculum consists of interactive discussion and education with a focus on violence prevention in youth relationships.

Reading is Fundamental (RIF) - $5,000 - Grant funds will be used to sponsor Reading is Fundamental at a specific elementary school. The format has successfully turned-on children to reading for over thirty-nine years. Volunteers carry out motivational reading/storytelling activities in the classroom, after which students choose from a large display of attractive paperback books.

St. Francois County Health Center - $20,000 - Grant funds will be used to purchase dental equipment and necessary supplies for their clinic that provides preventative services: cleanings, fluoride treatments, dental sealants and oral health education to parents and children. They currently have a three page waiting list of children needing dental care, with 50% of them falling in the moderate to urgent care status.

SSDN (South Side Day Nursery) - $16,934 - Grant funds will be used to purchase playground equipment. Play is the work of children, their method for exploring and learning about the world. All children need access to quality education and care, including daily opportunities for physical activity/development.

St. Louis Crisis Nursery - $17,810 - Grant Funds will be used to purchase needed equipment and supplies that will be used directly with the children at Crisis Nursery Wentzville. Specifically, funds will be used to purchase twin beds/mattresses and toddler beds/mattresses to ensure a safe, comfortable night’s sleep for each child. Funds will also be used to purchase dressers, changing tables and basic supplies.

The dollars that are given out to these organizations consist mostly of monies raised through your local McDonald’s Restaurants. Funds are generated through the canisters on the counters and at the drive-thru windows, by McDonald’s special promotions, by St. Louis Post-Dispatch and USA Today purchases at the McDonald’s Restaurants. The RMHC Scramble for Charity golf tournament held in September and other national promotions generate additional funds. If you would like more information on RMHC or the granting process, please contact Michelle Burmann, Grant/Finance Coordinator of Ronald McDonald House Charities, at 314-531-6601, Ext. 211.

Total awarded Fourth Quarter 2007: $134,104

Total awarded in 2006: $273,721

Click here for information on how your organization can apply for an RMHC grant or e-mail mburmann@rmhcstl.com.