Members of the board of directors of the Corpus Christi Ronald McDonald House attending a press conference and phone interview with keynote speaker Melissa Rivers were (from left) Priscilla Olivarez, Kimberly Wilmoth, Amy Griffin and Anabella Garza. The group posed with a picture of Rivers and her late mother Joan Rivers. Photo by Suzanne Freeman
Ronald McDonald House “hits me where I live,” said Melissa Rivers, which is why the author, TV producer and daughter of Joan Rivers, will be guest speaker at a major fundraiser for the organization in Corpus Christi September 17. Rivers spoke by phone to the press and organizers of the annual Casa De Amor dinner, emphasizing her passion for the charity’s cause.
“Ronald McDonald House is so phenomenal — it really is awe inspiring,” Rivers said. “Any way I can give back and work toward helping that and helping the families and kids, I’m all in.”
Ronald McDonald House Charities in Corpus Christi is celebrating 25 years of providing a comfortable and nurturing home environment to families with children in local hospitals. The facility at 3402 Ft. Worth St., just behind Driscoll’s Children’s Hospital, can house up to 25 families, providing more than just room and board.
“Our mission is to take care of our families in any way that we can to support them during one of the most difficult times of their lives,” said Audrey Berry, communications directory for RMHC Corpus Christi. “We have families here with children in the neonatal unit, oncology, we help families with any diagnosis and of all income levels. You never know when you are going to need a Ronald McDonald House in any city.”
Last year, 1,006 families stayed at the Corpus Christi house, coming from counties as far away as Webb, Starr, Hidalgo, Victoria and Cameron.
Funds from this year’s Casa de Amor dinner will be used to upgrade guest rooms and help enlarge two of the rooms into suites to accommodate larger families. While much of what is provided to a Ronald McDonald House comes from corporate sponsors, such as the La-Z-Boy furniture and Coca-Cola beverages (including water and juice) each community raises the majority of the operational and maintenance funds locally.
“McDonald’s helps raise money for us, but they don’t fund us 100 percent,” said Georgia Grainger, development manager for the local house.
Other help comes from community groups and individuals who want to give back. The indoor playroom was painted and decorated by a Girl Scout working on her Gold Star Award. An Eagle Scout turned a storage room into a workout room for families. Barnes & Nobel hosted a book drive to stock an in-house library. Local groups get together in the huge, well stocked kitchen to cook family meals for residents.
Donations are also needed for food and paper and laundry products, all aimed at providing a home-away-from-home for families who have had to leave their own homes to take care of hospitalized children.
As a devoted single-mother, Rivers explained her connection to the charity in terms of family connections.
“I want my legacy to be that I raised a son into a man who makes a contribution in how he finds his own way in this world by being a good person, a good parent and a good husband,” she said. “And that he is raised with a sense of gratitude and that he never forgets to give back to his community.”
Anyone wanting to give to the Ronald McDonald House Charities in Corpus Christi — and hear Melissa Rivers shares stories from her recently released memoir, — “The Book of Joan: Lessons From My Mother” — should call (361)-854-4073 or email ggrainger@corpuschristirmhc.com
