Family art
The Family Art Programme is a creative arts class for all ages — patients, siblings and parents — staying at the House. It’s proven to be a fun, educational programme and a regular and popular addition to the House calendar.
The programme involves two art sessions per week. The Friday art session fits into the afternoon format of our onsite school and caters to primary and intermediate aged siblings and outpatients. A family art session takes place each Wednesday evening (after our weekly volunteer cooked family dinner) and is open to the whole family.
Participating in our Family Art Programme gives all members of the family a chance to temporarily put aside their illness — or that of their child, grandchild, brother or sister — and concentrate on having some fun. The over-riding emphasis of the programme is on creating an environment of shared enjoyment. It’s also a great way to encourage interaction between families.
The RMH Auckland Trust funds and governs Ronald McDonald House Auckland (48 rooms), the Ronald McDonald House Family Room (13 short stay critical care rooms) in Starship Hospital and RMHA St Martins (16 offsite apartments). It is a registered community charitable trust comprised of the following partners: Auckland District Health Board, Child Cancer Foundation, Heart Children, The Rotary Club of Downtown Auckland, Ronald McDonald House Charities and 2 community representatives. The House, Family Room and St Martins provide a ‘home away from home’ for over 3,000 families of children with life-threatening illnesses each year. The Trust through its staff and partnerships actively fundraises throughout New Zealand to achieve the $3,000,000 p.a. it needs to run the facilities and support its families. Charity Registration number: CC23591