At a time when Ferris Bueller’s Day Off was the most popular movie, and The Oprah Winfrey Show debuted, there was another project taking hold. Perhaps less known, but a true labor of love: a new Ronald McDonald House was to be built on Long Island to promote family-centered care. Local business leader, Lyn Jurick took charge of the Ronald McDonald House project after serving on the Board of Trustees at Long Island Jewish Medical Center. As a Trustee of the hospital, Lyn felt strongly that families with seriously ill children needed a home away from home for their medical stays. A call with Ronald McDonald House founder and pediatric oncologist at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia (CHOP) Dr. Audrey Evans confirmed that this was the right project for Lyn and she got to work.
Building the Dream Team
Lyn Jurick, along with Stuart Krueger, set out to build their Dream Team. The Dream Team would comprise the Board of Directors, as well as crucial community and hospital partners. The first Board of Directors included Lyn Jurick, Stuart Krueger, Marvin Kaufman, Phyllis Barrell, Jack Groh, Peter Hunt, Irving Klein, Marcia Goodman, Bill Mohrmann, Gayle Morrow, Dale Frost, and Helen Schneider. Beyond the dedication of the Board of Directors, their families, friends, and local vendors stepped up to make the Ronald McDonald House a reality.
Critical to the project’s viability was the hospital’s partnership. Lyn recalls her meeting with Dr. Philip Lanzkowski, Chief of Pediatrics at Long Island Jewish Medical Center. Lyn met with Dr. Lanzkowski who literally took off his hat and threw it “into the ring” to express his support of the project.
About the project, Dr. Lanzkowski said: “Dr. Audrey Evans is the founder of the first Ronald McDonald House in Philadelphia. If you can get a House here at LIJ, it would be a miracle–no, it would be because you have the right team and determination to do it. Go get one for us!”
The House that McDonald’s Built
With a trusted team of passionate and mission-driven leaders behind the project, the team started to mobilize. Lyn, Stuart, and others visited different Ronald McDonald Houses, met with hospital partners, and established the site of the future Ronald McDonald House. Tennis courts, adjacent to the hospital, would be repurposed to fit the new construction.
With the site determined, the team looked to secure funding from our forever and founding mission partner: McDonald’s. McDonald’s Owner/Operators: Irving Klein, Peter Hunt, Bill Mohrmann, and Jack Groh helped to spearhead the project from the local McDonald’s Co-Op. Once their support was confirmed, Stuart secured the architecture firm, finalized the design, and plans were in place to break ground on the 100th Ronald McDonald House in the world.
As construction progressed, plans for a beautiful ribbon cutting ceremony was underway. Peter Hunt and Irv Klein donated the landscaping services and flowers which brought everything together for the opening.
Welcoming Families with Open Arms
On September 29, 1986, the incredible “Dream Team” opened the 100th Ronald McDonald House in the world. Local dignitaries and officials came from Albany to see the House and remark on its purpose, mission, and vision. Governor Mario Cuomo was asked to speak at the opening and when he arrived, he ripped up his prepared remarks to speak from the heart.
“This day teaches us that we are all part of one family–interconnected–touching one another and reaffirming the dignity of human life.” – Governor Mario Cuomo
Founding Board Member, Theresa Brucculeri, who hosted an annual Friends & Family Holiday Party, decided to make Ronald McDonald House the charity of choice for her event in 1986. Today, Theresa is the longest-serving Board Member for Ronald McDonald House and still hosts her annual Friends & Family Holiday Party. Her heart holds the mission of Ronald McDonald House–her efforts have helped countless families and children.
Family-Centered Care Outside of the Hospital
Once the doors were open, families filled the rooms. The hospital referred patient families to Ronald McDonald House from all over the New York Metro and Long Island regions as well as overseas. Some of the first families to receive support from Ronald McDonald House Long Island were from Europe, Asia and the Caribbean. One of the first volunteers, Edna, recalled:
“Every family has a story, whether they had traveled from another county, state or neighborhood. They come to us in fear of what’s happening to their children. And so often that fear loosens its grip and starts turning into hope that their children will be okay. I think it had a lot to do with the common bond–whether we spoke the same language or not–we could communicate our feelings with each other.”
To learn more about the 40th Anniversary of Ronald McDonald House, please visit rmhcnym.org/40.