Right to left: Bonnie Keller, Ronald McDonald House Charities president and CEO; Susanne Miller, St. John's Women's Services VP; and Mike Peters, St. John's Foundation president and other St. John's staff before the  groundbreaking ceremony.

St. John’s Foundation for Community Health and Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Ozarks hosted a “groundbreaking” ceremony 1 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 24, 2009 for the new 10-bedroom Ronald McDonald House to be built inside St. John’s Children’s Hospital.

Located next to what will become a new pediatric intensive care unit, the Ronald McDonald House will help families of sick and injured children and high-risk maternity patients with both overnight stays and daytime visits, providing a “home away from home,” meals through the Family Dinner Program, laundry facilities, napping areas, e-mail access, quiet rooms for breast feeding and many more homelike services hosted by staff and volunteers who truly care.

The most needed and appreciated benefit of all will be shared between the families, giving each other encouragement, hope and comfort and sharing their true understanding of having an ill or injured child.

David Agee, chairman of Ronald McDonald House Charity Board and Bill Woody of Marshall-Waters-Woody, Architects and Planners, participate in the groundbreaking ceremony.

 “This project has been a labor of love for all involved. We are grateful for our partnership with St. John’s, particularly the support and kindness of Vice President of Women’s & Children’s Services Susanne Miller; and President of St. John’s Foundation for Community Health, Mike Peters,” said Bonnie Keller, Ronald McDonald House Charities President and CEO.

In recognition of their 50th year in business and longstanding relationship with St. John’s, DeWitt & Associates is donating the majority of the cost to demo the area where the Ronald McDonald House will be built. Other organizations donating to the project are the Laborer’s Local 663, and Jerry Bumgarner Trucking. Additionally, DeWitt is working with the Missouri Career Center to allow some disadvantaged young people the opportunity to work thru the holidays to improve their work experience and outlook for the future.

“We are excited to be part of such a worthy cause, DeWitt owes a great deal of our success to the years we have been associated with St. John’s,” said Randall Ganz, DeWitt & Associates President / CEO. “It has been a tough year for most, but through the efforts of all of the employees of DeWitt & Associates, we were pleased to extend our generosity to such a community project.”

Bill Woody and Marshall-Waters-Woody, Architects & Planners have committed to a significant donation towards architectural services.  In addition, a room sponsorship program has been developed to assist with the capital needs of the project and two major gifts have already been received.  The Living Room Sponsor is McDonald’s of the Ozarks, with a lead gift of $50,000 and Ronald McDonald House Charities of Arkoma has sponsored the Playroom with a $20,000 donation.  For information on participating in the Room Sponsorship Program or other support of the new Ronald McDonald House, contact Bonnie Keller at 417-875-3503 or bonnie.keller@ronaldmcdonaldhouse.org.