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Ronald McDonald House Charities of Tampa Bay to Open New House at St. Joseph's Children's Hospital
August 21, 2024
Ronald McDonald House Charities of Tampa Bay (RMHCTB) today announced it is strengthening its partnership with St. Joseph's Children's Hospital, a part of BayCare Health System, by building a house to serve the growing needs of pediatric families.
This initiative marks a significant milestone as it will be the fifth house established by RMHCTB, reinforcing its mission to provide more support for pediatric families with children facing medical crises. With the expansion into St. Joseph's Children's Hospital, RMHCTB aims to eliminate waitlists for families needing services and meet the growing need to provide a supportive environment where families can stay together and focus on what matters most – their child's well-being.
“As a St. Joseph's Children’s Hospital family, it would be amazing to have a Ronald McDonald House at St. Joseph's!" expressed the Richardson family, who stayed for 82 nights. "So many families would benefit from a house within walking distance to the hospital’s Neonatal ICU, Pediatric ICU and Pediatric Cardiac ICU.”
This is part of the "Bring Hope Home" campaign, which aims to expand RMHCTB services to meet current and future needs. The new 10,100-square-foot house will be conveniently located above the neonatal floor inside St. Joseph's Women's Hospital, less than 100 steps away from the NICU doors. The new house will allow RMHCTB to serve 25% more families and will feature additional daytime respite services, community spaces, including a full kitchen and dining area, study for remote work; parent’s room, laundry center, playroom, fitness and well-being center, and 11 bedrooms with private baths.
The news comes only 10 months after St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital announced plans to build a new, specially-designed facility in Tampa by 2030 as part of a strategic effort to increase the region’s access to high-quality, state-of-the-art pediatric health care. The new hospital will be across the street from St. Joseph’s Women’s Hospital, which is home to the NICU.
“As we expand our mission with this new location inside the hospital, we are grateful to partner with St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital to support and comfort families during their most challenging times. A pediatric medical event affects the entire family. This new house represents our unwavering commitment to providing family-centered care, ensuring families can stay close to their children while receiving the best care. We are grateful for the collaboration and support that has made this vision a reality and look forward to the positive impact it will have on pediatric families and our community,” said Lisa Suprenand, chief executive officer at RMHCTB.
“As Tampa Bay's largest provider of children's health services, serving families is at the heart of what we do,” said St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital President Sarah Naumowich. “We are thrilled to partner with Ronald McDonald House Charities in this opportunity to help reduce the emotional and financial burden on families who are far from home while their child is hospitalized. Together, we are committed to providing a supportive and caring environment for our families when they need it most.”
St. Joseph’s Hospitals Foundation is supporting the new Ronald McDonald House with a $750,000 contribution to the project.
“Providing a comfortable, cost-free place to stay for the families of St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital – just steps away from the hospital’s NICU – directly aligns with our mission to enhance the compassionate care the hospital provides to our community’s children,” said St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital Foundation President Kate Sawa. “We are honored to work alongside Ronald McDonald House Charities of Tampa Bay as it expands its resources and support for the countless families that depend on St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital for hope and healing.”
RMHCTB envisions a world where all children have access to critical medical care, and their families receive the support they need to navigate these challenging times.Treatment for sick children can be an enduring journey, lasting from days, weeks, to even years. Regardless of income, families are offered a place to stay, eat and access support services, saving them over $1,000 a week in expenses. The goal is to serve more families better by providing access to health care to meet the growing demand, supporting longer family stays, and by removing barriers to post-hospital follow-up care.
The campaign has reached a remarkable milestone, raising $7 million to date. This success is a testament to the early investment and commitment from our key partners, including those contributing $500,000 and above which are Blake Casper, the Clark Family Foundation, the Lynch Family, Wendy O’Neill and Dave Rayner, Tampa Bay McDonalds Owner Operators, St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital Foundation, and other anonymous donors.
For more information about Ronald McDonald House Charities of Tampa Bay and how you can support this project and its mission, click here.
The campaign has reached a remarkable milestone, raising $7 million to date. This success is a testament to the early investment and commitment from our key partners, including those contributing $500,000 and above which are Blake Casper, the Clark Family Foundation, the Lynch Family, Wendy O’Neill and Dave Rayner, Tampa Bay McDonalds Owner Operators, St. Joseph’s Children’s Hospital Foundation, and other anonymous donors.
For more information about Ronald McDonald House Charities of Tampa Bay and how you can support this project and its mission, click here.