2019MembershipHandbook

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WelcometotheRedShoeSocietyKansasCity

Missionstatement:TheRedShoeSociety(RSS)KansasCitysupportsthechildren,families,staff,volunteers,anddonorsoftheRonaldMcDonaldHouseCharitiesofKansasCity(RMHC-KC).Ourmissionistoengage,empower,andinspireprofessionalstoparticipateinphilanthropicandleadershipendeavors,growthenextgenerationofphilanthropists,andbuildawarenessofRMHC-KC.

Weaccomplishthisby:♥ Supportingthechildren,families,staff,volunteers,anddonorsofRMHC-KC.♥ Hostingmonthlyeventsinthecommunity.♥ Creatingmeaningfulanduniquevolunteeropportunities.♥ LeveragingcommunitypartnershipswithaffiliatedprogramsthatsupportRSSandRMHC-KC.♥ UndertakingresourceandfunddevelopmentactivitiesthatsupportRSSandRMHC-KC.♥ Creatingnetworkingopportunitieswithotheryoungprofessionalsandphilanthropists.♥ SupportingthemissionofRMH-KC:reducetheburdenofchildhoodillnessonchildrenandtheirfamilies.

Whoweare:RSSisagroupofphilanthropicprofessionalswithacollectivegoaltoattractmemberstoraiseresources,broadenthevolunteerbase,andenhanceawarenessofRMHC-KCwithintheKansasCitycommunity.Redshoesarenottheonlythingsthatmakeourmembersstandout.RSSmembersareleaders.RSSmembersarepeoplewhowanttolendtheirtalentsandgivetheirtimetohelpothers.

Whatwedo:GivingiswhatRSSisallabout!Givingtime,inspiration,andcreativity,whilealsoraisingfundstohelpRMHC-KCkeepfamiliesclosewhiletheirsickkidsreceivetreatment.RSSmembersprovidemealsforthefamiliesstayingattheRMHC-KCfacilities,andhostfundraisingevents,supplydrives,seasonalactivities,andmoretoinvolvetheKansasCitycommunityandliftthespiritsofRMHC-KCguestsduringtheirstay.

Howyoucanhelp:Whiletherewillbeplentyofeventsandvolunteeropportunitiestoattendthroughouttheyear,wearealsolookingforvolunteerstoserveonourtwocommittees:

FamilyEnrichmentCommittee:CommitteememberswilldevelopandplanengagingeventsforRSSmemberstovolunteertheirtimewithintheRMHC-KCfacilities.TheywillworkwithRMHC-KCstaff,volunteers,andKansasCitycompanies/businessestofacilitateexcitinginitiativesforfamiliesstayingattheHouses.

EventsCommittee:CommitteememberswilldesignandimplementdynamiceventsforRSSmembersoutsideoftheRMHC-KCfacilitiestoraisefunds,collectsupplies,andincreaseoverallawarenessofRSSandRMHC-KC.TheyarealsoourdirectliaisonstoengagementandparticipationinRMHC-KClargerevents.

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RedShoeSocietyMemberEssentials:♥ AttendtheannualNewYearKickoffMeetinginJanuary.♥ Volunteerforeventsandopportunitiesthroughouttheyear.♥ AttendRSSandRMHC-KCfundraisingandsocialeventsthroughouttheyear.♥ Prepareameal,snack,orplananactivityforRMHC-KCfamilies.♥ Keepyourmembershipduescurrent.♥ Joinacommittee!Ifacommitteesoundsinterestingtoyou,contactustogetinvolved.♥ ShareyourRSSexperienceswithfamily,friends,andsocialmedia.

History&Overview

ThefirstRonaldMcDonaldHousewasfoundedinPhiladelphiain1974bythePhiladelphiaEaglesfootballteamandEdRensi,theMcDonald’sRegionalManager.TheMcDonald’sowner/operatorshelpedtomakethevisionarealitybydonatingproceedsfromthesaleofshamrockshakes.In1984RonaldMcDonaldHouseCharitieswasofficiallyestablishedinmemoryofMcDonald’sCorporationfounderRayKroc.

Todaythereareover300localchaptersin63countriesaroundtheworld.RonaldMcDonaldHousecanbefoundin90%oftheworld’sbestchildren’shospitals.Specificallythereare:

♥ 367RonaldMcDonaldHouses(in43countries)♥ 250RonaldMcDonaldFamilyRooms(in25countries)♥ 50RonaldMcDonaldCareMobiles(in10countries)

RonaldMcDonaldHouseCharitiesofKansasCity(RMHC-KC)wasestablishedbyagroupofcommittedvolunteersin1980withtheopeningofthe27th RonaldMcDonaldHouseneartheUniversityofKansasMedicalCenterwithcapacityfor11families.

Todayweserve87familieseachnightatourthreehouseslocatednearHospitalHill,andintheFamilyRoominsideChildren’sMercy.Ourhomesofferawarmandwelcomingplacetosleep,aswellasofferfullkitchenfacilities,laundryfacilities,livingrooms,andrecreationareastoprovideahomeyenvironmentwherefamiliesmayrelaxawayfromthestressesofthehospitalandmeetotherfamiliesexperiencingsimilarcrises.

♥ BernsteinHouse(2501Cherry),openedin1988:19bedrooms♥ TheFamilyRoom(insideChildren’sMercy),openedin1997:7bedrooms♥ LongfellowHouse(2502Cherry),openedin2006:41bedrooms♥ WylieHouse(2525Cherry),openedin2015:20bedrooms

TheconceptofaRonaldMcDonaldFamilyRoomwaspioneeredinKansasCity.TheFamilyRoomofferssleeping/nappingroomstofamilieswithpatientsintheIntensiveCareUnits,alongwithshowers,kitchen,quietroom,familyconversationareawithtelevision,andsmallreferencelibrary.Eachday,Children’sMercynursingstafffromthePediatricIntensiveCareUnit,theNeonatalIntensiveCareUnit,theBoneMarrowTransplant,andtheBurnUnitworkcloselywithustotriagewhichsevenfamiliesareinthemostcriticalsituationforthatevening,andneedtospendthenightattheFamilyRoom.

FamiliesServed:In2018,ourcharityservedover7,685families- anewrecord!Thisnumberincludedover60,000visitorswhoreceivedrestandrespiteintheFamilyRoom.Theaveragelengthofstayis6nights.

WearetheonlyorganizationinKansasCityprovidingtemporarylodgingsolelyforfamilieswithsickchildren.WithoutRMHC-KC,hundredsoffamilieswouldhavetofindlodgingelsewhere,leadingtomoreexpensiveaccommodations.Whileitisourpolicynevertoturnafamilyawayduetotheirinabilitytopay,RMHC-KCasksfamiliestoconsidercontributingjust$10pernightattheendoftheirstay.

Volunteers:RMHC-KCwouldnotbeabletocarryoutitsmissionwithoutthesupportofvolunteers.Lastyear17,000individualvolunteerscontributedabout60,000hoursofservice.

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www.redshoekc.org

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