Long Island Ronald McDonald House, Newsday Celebrate 25 Years of Helping Families In Need

Long Island newspaper presents long-time partner with annual charitable donation check of over $23,000

(Long Island, NY) For a quarter-century, Newsday and the Long Island Ronald McDonald House have supported each other through thick and thin; it’s this special relationship that has enabled the two organizations to reach such an impressive milestone of hope and charity for so many.

Members of Newsday and Long Island Ronald McDonald House pose with Newsday’s annual donation check to the New Hyde Park not-for-profit. Photo Credit: Chris Boyle.

The Long Island Ronald McDonald House is a not-for-profit that caters to the needs of families of seriously ill children who are being treated at Cohen Children’s Hospital next door to their New Hyde Park facility; for the families of children being treated at Cohen, The Ronald McDonald House provides the means of not only being close at-hand to their loved one, but also giving them a place to sleep, unwind, relax, and take an all-too-brief respite, allowing them to  focus on what’s most important- the needs and the well-being of their child, according to Matt Campo, Executive Director of the Long Island Ronald McDonald House.

“We’ve been doing this for 30 years, basically providing a home-away-from-home for families while their children are receiving treatment at Cohen’s Children’s Hospital next door,” he said. “During the day, the hospital seems somewhat quiet because the families get up in the morning and go over to the hospital and spend the day there with their children. But trust me, before 8 o’clock in the morning and from 6 o’clock p.m. to midnight, the entire place is full.”

The Long Island Ronald McDonald House is a not-for-profit that caters to the needs of families of seriously ill children who are being treated at Cohen Children’s Hospital next door to their New Hyde Park facility. Photo Credit: Chris Boyle.

For the past 25 years, Newsday has provided an annual donation to Long Island Ronald McDonald House in the form of fifty percent of the sales of their newspapers sold at participating McDonald’s restaurants on Long Island; on Wednesday, June 15, Newsday’s Vice President of Public Affairs Paul Fleishman presented Campo with a big, fat check encompassing the previous year of Newsday sales in the amount of $23,252.

“This is such an important and great program for us, and it’s really special because we see it as a very unique and creative partnership across a number of entities and organizations… Certainly not just for Newsday, but for all who are committed to this, and the Ronald McDonald House,” Fleishman said. “But it’s not really about us, it’s about the kids and their families that stay here, and the opportunity that we have to help raise money and to be an important part of this collaboration. The money all goes to a great cause and it’s really Matt and his team and the volunteers here…you do such wonderful work for families that are at a very critical period of their lives. Hats off to you, and we know you’re going to put the money to good use. We thank you for everything you do.”

(L to R): Matt Campo, Executive Director of the Long Island Ronald McDonald House, receives a check for $23,252 from Newsday’s Vice President of Public Affairs Paul Fleishman. Photo Credit: Chris Boyle.

The owner-operators of the following Long Island McDonalds’ restaurants participated in the Newsday sales drive to benefit the Ronald McDonald House this past year: Long Beach, Lindenhurst, North Babylon, Huntington, Syosset, Oakdale, West Islip, Hicksville, Mineola, West Hempstead, Jericho, Oceanside, Elmont, Franklin Square, Baldwin Lynbrook, Freeport, and Uniondale.

The Long Island Ronald McDonald House features numerous amenities available for guest families, including custom bedrooms donated by local designers, showers, kitchens with a free nightly dinner, a computer lounge, workout and medication areas, common areas with televisions, and more. Photo Credit: Chris Boyle.

Having such a steadfast supporter in Newsday, Campo noted, has enabled the Long Island Ronald McDonald House to not only survive, but to actually grow and thrive as well.

“25 years is just mind-blowing, and it’s just such an unbelievable partnership that brings people that care about the Ronald McDonald House together to do something for people in need,” he said. “25 years…it’s something that we rely on every year as part of what we do, and we truly thank you. It’s so meaningful for us to be able to do this every single year…we will do our best – or die trying – to show you and our owner-operators how grateful we are to your organization. Thank you.”

The Long Island Ronald McDonald House is a not-for-profit that caters to the needs of families of seriously ill children who are being treated at Cohen Children’s Hospital next door to their New Hyde Park facility. Photo Credit: Chris Boyle.

Josh Kaufman, a McDonald’s owner-operator and the President of the Long Island McDonald’s Operations Association, said that he was honored to be able to help support such a very worthy cause.

“We’re all next generation operators, so we’re proud to be part of the legacy, and we’re proud to continue it,” he said. “The partnership with Newsday and The Long Island Ronald McDonald House, it’s a heritage that we’re proud of…it means a lot to us, and we’re glad to keep the partnership alive and keep these great things that we’re doing going.”

Matt Campo, Executive Director of the Long Island Ronald McDonald House, gives a tour of the 42-room facility to members of Newsday. Photo Credit: Chris Boyle.

Campo spoke of the Long Island Ronald McDonald House’s humble beginnings, and how – though both pressing need, hard work, and the assistance of their supporters – it has grown into a true force for good that helps to ease the hardships of families going through some of the hardest trials and tribulations imaginable.

“When we first opened we only had 18 bedrooms, but then we expanded to 42 just to meet the demand of what Cohen Children’s Hospital needed,” he said. “Most of the time, all 42 bedrooms are full, especially this year…that’s a response to the hospital continuing to grow. We’re seeing more people coming from further away, people without access to transportation, which makes our services that much more important. It’s never really good news when we have to tell our Board of Directors that we’re full, but it’s meaningful news that were in such demand and are able to help so many people.”

Members of Newsday and Long Island Ronald McDonald House pose with Newsday’s annual donation check to the New Hyde Park not-for-profit. Photo Credit: Chris Boyle.

There are currently 322 Ronald McDonald’s Houses in 57 countries. A small donation – typically $25 or less – is requested of families staying at a given facility, but if this presents a hardship, the fee is often waved altogether; actual cost to operate a room varies between $50 and $100 a night. The Long Island Ronald McDonald House features numerous amenities available for guest families, including custom bedrooms donated by local designers, showers, kitchens with a free nightly dinner, a computer lounge, workout and medication areas, common areas with televisions, and more.

The Long Island Ronald McDonald House features numerous amenities available for guest families, including custom bedrooms donated by local designers, showers, kitchens with a free nightly dinner, a computer lounge, workout and medication areas, common areas with televisions, and more. Photo Credit: Chris Boyle.

But, more than all of that, the Long Island Ronald McDonald House provides a temporary getaway from the cold, clinical environment of the hospital next door and a place not only to rest, but to draw strength and comfort from people who are going through the same exact thing, Campo said.

“The dynamic of all of these people living here and all going through the same thing over at the hospital, it just really touches your soul,” he said. “They’re all talking about how their days were, and leaning on each other for support.”

For more information on other Long Island McDonald’s programs, visit www.LIMcDonalds.com.