LEGISLATIVE RESOLUTION commemorating the 30th Anniversary of The Ronald
McDonald House of Long Island

WHEREAS, It is the custom of this Legislative Body to recognize the
achievement of those facilities and organizations which substantially
contribute to the health, comfort and well-being of the people of the
Empire State; and
WHEREAS, Furthermore, this Legislative Body wishes to commend the
efforts of organizations and facilities which provide much needed and
essential support services for the families of critically ill children,
and serve to enhance the quality of life for those children and their
families; and
WHEREAS, Attendant to such concern, and in full accord with its long-
standing traditions, this Legislative Body is justly proud to commem-
orate the 30th Anniversary of The Ronald McDonald House of Long Island
to be feted at its Anniversary Gala on Thursday, September 29, 2016; and
WHEREAS, Throughout the year, this vital nonprofit organization will
celebrate its 30th Anniversary by sharing heartwarming stories of the
families it has served since its inception through exciting events and
unique social and traditional media campaigns; and
WHEREAS, For 30 years, The Ronald McDonald House of Long Island has
given comfort and shelter to families with a sick child in a local
hospital; a home-away-from-home, the House provides the parents and
siblings of these children with a temporary haven in a secure and
comfortable environment among other families sharing a similar burden;
and
WHEREAS, The first Ronald McDonald House opened in October of 1974 as
the result of the perseverance and dedication of Fred Hill, a former
Philadelphia Eagles football player, whose daughter, Kim, was treated
for leukemia; and
WHEREAS, Over three decades ago, the dream and determination of The
Ronald McDonald House of Long Island's founders Lyn Jurick, a trustee at
Northwell Health (formerly North Shore-LIJ Health System) and Irving
Klein, a prominent McDonald's Owner/Operator led to the inception of the
100th Ronald McDonald House in the world, The Ronald McDonald House of
Long Island; and
WHEREAS, Located in New Hyde Park, Queens, on the campus of the Steven
and Alexandra Cohen Children's Medical Center of New York, the 42
bedroom home opened its doors for the first time on September 29, 1986,
providing comfort and hope to families experiencing the pain of having a
child undergoing medical treatment in area hospitals; and
WHEREAS, Through a series of programs and services, families staying
at The Ronald McDonald House of Long Island are able to focus on their
child's recovery; each day, numerous dedicated volunteers prepare home-
cooked meals, transport children and their families to and from medical
appointments, and provide a comfortable place for families to stay just
steps from their child's bedside; and
WHEREAS, Families are also given the opportunity to give and receive
support from other families going through a similar experience, allowing
parents to recharge for the challenges of the next day; and
WHEREAS, Since its opening, The Ronald McDonald House of Long Island
has graciously served over 20,000 families in the United States and more
than 80 countries across the globe; and
WHEREAS, Years ago, an initiative called Project Design was added to
The Ronald McDonald House of Long Island's rich history; with the help
of generous leaders in the interior design industry, all of the spaces

in The Ronald McDonald House of Long Island have been completely re-de-
signed to better comfort the 1,000+ families it serves each year; and
WHEREAS, In August of 2013, the House completed an extension of its
services through a program called the Ronald McDonald Family Room, a
partnership with Stony Brook Children's Hospital; the Family Room
provides support for families of more than 7,000 children who are hospi-
talized each year at Stony Brook Children's Hospital, helping to allevi-
ate their anxiety of having a child in the hospital by keeping them
close to their child's bedside; and
WHEREAS, The success of The Ronald McDonald House of Long Island is in
direct correlation to the efforts of its staff and volunteers, whose
involvement is, and always has been, characterized by an impressive
commitment, an unbridled enthusiasm and an uncompromising standard of
excellence in all endeavors on behalf of the institution and the commu-
nity it serves; and
WHEREAS, As The Ronald McDonald House of Long Island embarks on its
30th anniversary of keeping families close, the nonprofit hopes to
generate awareness and a sense of pride throughout the community; as the
House continues to expand its programming over the next year, it will
also actively pursue plans to expand the number of families it can
serve; and
WHEREAS, It is the sense of this Legislative Body that those organiza-
tions which enhance the well-being and vitality of their community and
have shown a long and sustained commitment to excellence certainly have
earned the recognition and applause of all the citizens of this great
Empire State; now, therefore, be it
RESOLVED, That this Legislative Body pause in its deliberations to
commemorate the 30th Anniversary of The Ronald McDonald House of Long
Island; and be it further
RESOLVED, That a copy of this Resolution, suitably engrossed, be tran-
smitted to The Ronald McDonald House of Long Island.