By Sheldon Spackman

Charity Funding

Ronald McDonald House Central Alberta to receive funding boost from RBC

Jun 27, 2019 | 7:00 PM

Ronald McDonald House of Central Alberta is one of 31 locations across the country in line to receive additional funding, thanks to a new partnership with RBC Insurance and Ronald McDonald House Charities Canada (RMHC).

On Wednesday, officials with RMHC revealed RBC Insurance will commit $250,000 in support of families with sick children, becoming a National Mission Partner and enabling 2,016 nights of family stays at Ronald McDonald House locations throughout Canada.

Suzanne Pescod, marketing and communications director for RMHC Alberta says they’re very fortunate to have this new partnership.

“In Alberta alone, there’s over 12 hundred families that need to stay at a Ronald McDonald House every year and that doesn’t even include the families in Red Deer who are also accessing the day-pass program through the House that’s located right by the Red Deer Regional Hospital,” explains Pecod. “The funds go towards all of those operations, those programs, those services from making sure that families have a warm meal and a roof above their head and somewhere where they can just create memories with their families.”

Pescod admits however, it’s not known exactly at this point just how much of that national funding is coming to Red Deer or when.

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“But it makes a huge impact, every day there are things that cost money,” says Pescod. “The House in Red Deer has 11 suites. It’s just making sure that these facilities are in their absolute peak functions so that they are safe, compassionate and that they are the perfect place for families to be able to be together when they need it most.”

Pescod says it’s important to note what a Ronald McDonald House can do for a family with a very sick or injured child.

“I just want to express huge gratitude to RBC Insurance for recognizing the value of RMHC Alberta and of RMHC Canada in helping families stay together,” exclaims Pescod.

According to RMHC Canada, a family-in-need arrives on an RMHC doorstep somewhere across the country every 20 minutes, adding 2,808 families were turned away last year due to lack of space.