Pierce Mattie Public Relations New York

Has the rough economy left you feeling like Scrooge?  I felt the same way until this past week when I visited the Ronald McDonald House of New York for their “Share a Night” event.  This is a night when they ask members of the community to come forward and help share the cost of housing for their residents.  The space was decked out with what looked to be a million strands of lights, as a pianist played some of my favorite holiday melodies. For our part, we were on hand giving out presents to the young residents – many of which are far away from home – who reside at the house with their families while undergoing treatments for pediatric cancer. 

We gave out hundreds of colorful towels and bath mitts featuring playful characters, in addition to soft and cozy fleece blankets to help keep the children warm. We had a chance to speak with Bill Sullivan, president and CEO of Ronald McDonald House, regarding our donation, and he stated that “Many patients undergoing cancer treatment experience flu-like symptoms including fever, muscle and joint aches, and chills, so it is important that we provide every patient staying with us the same secure and warm environment that they would have at home.”