News and events
Our new addition
For the past three years the number of families through our doors has grown steadily, so it’s no surprise an additional permanent home was needed.
7,133 family members stayed with us during 2007 and by the end of 2009 that number had swollen to 10,472!
To ensure we can continue to meet this growing demand, our Trust has just purchased a new building on Grafton Road, located a short walk from Starship. Work is soon to begin on converting one of the building’s two standalone towers into another 18 family rooms for families when our existing House and Family Room are full. This will bring the total number of families able to be sheltered and supported in our own facilities to 79 every night! A very BIG family indeed. Once completed, Grafton Road will provide another two self contained units for transplant families with immune compromised children, along with 16 family rooms, shared leisure spaces, kitchen, laundries, car parking and a unit for our live-in Custodians who care for our families when day staff go home each evening.
The building’s second tower is currently occupied by tenants so will provide a much needed income stream to help offset the increased overheads of running a third facility. This also provides further potential for expansion at a later stage when needed.
We hope to begin placing families in Grafton Road by March 2011, and look forward to making it into a haven for the many more families we need to care for.
Simply Classics supports our House with a unique fundraiser
Simply Classics are dedicated to everything about classic cars. They recently decided to turn their passion into a fundraiser that will benefit all three Ronald McDonald Houses in New Zealand along with CanTeen.
To complete this unique fundraiser they need to locate two classic cars — one in the North Island and another in the South Island — that are ripe for restoration. Once they have been returned to their former glory they will be offered for sale on their Simply Classics website.
For more information about this fundraiser, including how you can help them locate the right cars, download the brochure or visit the Simply Classics website.
Mucking in with our new garden
Families staying at the House can now take a breather outdoors in our new family garden. Just outside the main entrance to the House, what was once a tired and overgrown space has been transformed into a lush native feature garden, with a walkway, seating areas, stepping stones for kids, and a must-have shade zone for those hot Auckland summer days.
The seed for this project was planted as far back as August ’08 by a group of Year 10 students from Diocesan School for Girls. Their initial idea was to create something positive for sick children and their families who must stay at the House. From here the idea grew into something far bigger than we could have hoped for.
We are thrilled that after nearly two years of mufti days, selling raffle tickets, a Family Fun Day, sausage sizzles and more, the target of $42,000 was raised thanks to the generosity and hard work of so many people and businesses who donated their time, products and services. See our supporters for a full list of everyone who helped make it happen.
It just goes to show what a community can do when they come together. Special thanks to Diocesan School for Girls and Palmers Gardenworld in Remuera for getting this project off the ground.
A ‘Garden Tea’ was held in early May to officially open the new garden where local Kaumatua were invited along to bless our new outdoor space.
Look who’s been cooking at our House
Family Dinner nights are an occasion looked forward to by our families every week. It’s a night where families don’t have to worry about cooking and can enjoy a shared meal with others staying in the House. These nights are cherished by our families and are a great relief during such a stressful time. As one family recently told us:
“The nights that the volunteers cook to be honest are the only nights we eat properly. The meals are also where you get to meet other families and make real friendships” — Mouat Family.
Without the support of so many amazing people we wouldn’t be able to offer these dinner nights to our families. Thank you to the following incredible groups who have provided shared family dinners the first 3 months of this year!
- Deb Thompson and her group
- Kiwanis of Mt Roskill and Mt Roskill Grammar School students led by David Lett
- Lesley Cuttle and her group
- McDonald’s Systems Ltd led by Katrina Gray
- Henry Schein Shalfoon
- Aidan Vince and the ASB team
- Cleancorp
- Hubbards
- Salt
- Deloittes
- Carol Healey and her group
- Kristin Middle School
- Rotary Club of Ellerslie
- Sheryn Cressey and friends
- Debi & Mark Rush from McDonalds Quay Street
- NZ Tertiary College
- Sue Le Grange and friends!
As always our special thanks to Tegel and the Mad Butcher Pt Chevalier for their continued support.
What a catch
As a way of saying thanks for the love and support they received while staying at the House in 2008-09, the Speed family from Papamoa organised a Fishing Tournament fundraiser. A great turn out meant that 121 keen anglers — young and old, amateur and pro — took to the waters to see who could hook the biggest catch! The tournament was followed by a prize giving, raffle and auction, adding up to a whopping $7,000 for the House. A fun day on the water for everyone and it’s looking like this will become an annual event!
Stratford family fundraiser
On a recent trip to Auckland, the Anderson family from Stratford presented a cheque for $11,000 to be shared between Starship Foundation and the House. This generous gift was the fruit of much planning and preparation that went into the family’s Ambrose Golf Competition held late last year.
The golf day fundraiser was a way of saying thanks for the care they received while at the House in 2008 during their son Jamie’s life threatening illness. “Everybody was really welcoming and it was nice to be in a calm place, away from all the stress.” We’re pleased to say Jamie is home again and is back to full health
Celebrity pit stops
Long time House supporter and Team Manger of the NZ Breakers Chris Millbank recently brought along three players to the House — CJ Bruton and his son, the very tall Alex Pledger (he’s over 7 feet!) and new team member Awvee Storey joined families staying at the House for a spot of dinner. CJ even spoke to one child’s friend on his mobile who wouldn’t believe he had just met the basketball star! V8 driving sensation Shane Van Gisbergen also dropped by on his way to the ITM400 in Hamilton. One passionate fan waited nearly an hour in our reception for him to arrive!
And last, but not least, Jerome Ropati from the Warriors dropped in for a very special visit. House guest Karanema Hawkins had the honour of accepting 10 tickets to every Warriors home game this season from the league star. Not only was he smiling from ear to ear, but so have the families who have already enjoyed this wonderful opportunity.
Troops rally for round the bays
We received some fantastic news earlier this year, the Ports of Auckland Round the Bays fun run chose our House as one of just three charities to benefit from this iconic Auckland event! To show our gratitude, we rallied up over 50 of our troops to take part, with an even bigger group of ‘red cap’ supporters who also participated in the race.
A generous $60,000 was pledged to the House — that’s enough to fund an entire family room in our new building!
