When I think of Ronald McDonald, I don’t necessarily think of high fashion or health and well-being. What does come to mind is an awful color combination of red and yellow and high cholesterol (despite the new healthy menu items).However, that wasn’t the case at last week’s Girls Night Out event for the Charlotte Ronald McDonald House (RMH) in Charlotte, NC. 
RMHs provide housing for more than 10,000 families each day at minimal costs while their children are being treated at nearby hospitals and medical facilities.
So, my girlfriends and I threw on our heels and cocktail dresses and enjoyed an evening of networking, drinks, food and fashion to benefit the Charlotte RMH. The best part of the evening was hearing the personal stories of moms whose families stayed at a RMH while their children were sick. The main message that each woman shared was that the RMH was a home away from home— a place where their children could play and forget about their worries and they could connect with other parents who were in similar situations.
To some, the arrival of the Charlotte RMH couldn’t have come soon enough. With two hospital systems (Levine Children’s Hospital at Carolinas Medical Center and the Hemby Children’s Hospital at Presbyterian Hospital) dedicated to pediatric care, Charlotte was the only major U.S. city to not have a RMH.
The roughly 35,000-square-foot house, scheduled to open in early 2011, will provide about 30 suites for families of seriously ill children seeking medical care at the hospitals, as well as a family room, a great room, a learning center, a playground and a porch.
When my girlfriends and I stepped through the doors at Girls Night Out, we weren’t expecting to take home much except maybe a silent auction prize. However, we left feeling a great sense of pride for our community and a desire to dedicate our time to making families feel welcome while they’re staying at the Charlotte RMH.
If you’d like to donate or get involved with your local house, please visit www.rmhc.org.
