Groundbreaking Ceremony Officially Kicks Off 
RMH of Charlotte’s Construction: House Expected to Open at End of Year

CHARLOTTE, N.C.—January 27, 2010—Since it was announced back in October 2006 that the Queen City would get its own Ronald McDonald House (RMH), a lot of things had to be accomplished before the dream became a reality. Finally, after a little more than three years, the dream has come true, and the House is on the way.

RMH of Charlotte officials, including Ronald McDonald himself, and nine of the charity’s largest donors put shovels into the ground this morning during a ceremony kicking off the House’s construction on the 1600 block of East Morehead Street.

Those donors include representatives from ACN Inc, Carolinas Medical Center, J.F. Schultze Construction, the Kasey Kahne Foundation, the Leon Levine Foundation, Little Diversified Architectural Consultant, Ray Evernham, the Schabel Family and the Wachovia Wells Fargo Foundation.

Approximately 300 people were on hand to watch the ceremony, including Mayor Anthony Foxx. The mayor stated that the House’s construction is important to the city because it’s one of the first new construction projects of 2010. Another special guest was Dave Wagner, WCNC-TV’s evening anchor, who acted as the master of ceremonies.

“We’ve been anticipating this date for a long time,” said Johnson-Gibson. “Today is the start of something very special for us. Since 2006, our board has worked extremely hard with the city, our neighbors in the Myers Park area, the community, the hospitals, local business and volunteers all to make this day possible. I can’t wait for the day when we cut the ribbon, open the doors and welcome our first family into our House.”

Johnson-Gibson added just because construction is starting, that doesn’t mean that the House is finished with its fund-raising. The capital campaign continues because an additional $3 million is needed to help furnish and maintain the House for more than a year. Close to $6 million has been raised so far.

 “ACN has been a huge supporter of the RMH around the country and it’s only appropriate that we support the House right in our back yard,” said Greg Provenzano, ACN President and Co-Founder. “We are looking forward to when the House finally opens its doors and our employees begin to volunteer.”

The RMH of Charlotte will hopefully open later this year and serve the families of children being treated at both Levine Children’s Hospital and Hemby Children’s Hospital. The House will feature approximately 35,000 square feet of living space complete with 28 bedrooms (one family per bedroom/suite). It will have a community kitchen, great room, learning center, playground and sitting porch. The House will be mostly run by volunteers, and so far, more than 1,500 people have signed up to be volunteers.

“Having the House so close to both hospitals allows families who do not have the means to travel, the ability to get to either hospital quickly,” said Tim Verhagen, RMH of Charlotte’s Board President. “The whole purpose of a House is to put a family’s mind at ease, and that’s accomplished when a hospital is so close to where they are staying.”

About the Ronald McDonald House of Charlotte
Currently, Charlotte is the only major U.S. city that does not have a RMH. The RMH of Charlotte is scheduled to open in late 2010 and will serve the families of children being treated at Levine Children’s Hospital and Hemby Children’s Hospital. Located on the 1600 block of East Morehead Street on land donated by Carolinas Medical Center, the House will feature approximately 35,000 square feet of living space complete with 28 bedrooms (one family per bedroom/suite), providing more than 10,000 nights for the families. It is also scheduled to have a community kitchen, great room, learning center, playground and sitting porch. Construction will begin in early 2010. The RMH of Charlotte is an independent 501(c)(3) charity managed by a local board of directors which will oversee construction and operation of the home. The cost of building and operating the RMH of Charlotte will come primarily from individual and corporate donations. The RMH of Charlotte will be funded, constructed and operated by the Charlotte community. The mission of the RMH of Charlotte is to provide the families of children being treated in area medical facilities with a safe, affordable and caring “home away from home.” For more information on RMH of Charlotte, visit www.rmhofcharlotte.org.



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