Keeping families together and near the medical resources they need

Keeping families together and near the medical resources they need

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Howard Hanna Insurance Services works with Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) of Pittsburgh and Morgantown, Inc. to keep families together while children receive life-saving medical care. They reached their goal of 500 votes and doubled their donation to reach $10,000.

For families with a sick child, focusing on that child’s recovery is their number one priority. Expensive hotel stays, transportation logistics and planning daily meals can quickly become burdensome and stressful. That’s where the Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) of Pittsburgh and Morgantown comes in – providing comfortable housing for families while their seriously ill or injured children receive medical treatment at local facilities. Many of these children do not have access to the care they need within their own communities, and so RMHC allows families to stay together while traveling for the care they need.

Fall 2021 Make More Happen Awards 7
Howard Hanna Insurance Services employees gather outside the Pittsburgh house before a fun day of preparing hot meals for families in 2019.

A collective passion


Inspired by their own passion for helping children in the community, the team at Howard Hanna Insurance Services got involved with RMHC in 2018. Their involvement began with meal preparation for families staying at the Ronald McDonald House Pittsburgh, but their efforts soon became even more creative.

In 2019, Howard Hanna Insurance Services teamed up with The Body Bar to co-host a pamper party for the families, where children and parents could get complimentary chair and hand massages. Howard Hanna Insurance Services employees have continued donating toiletries, toys and monetary funds to the houses over the years.

 

“We love the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Pittsburgh and Morgantown because it provides hope, connection and friendship to families going through really hard times.”

– Danielle Shearer, vice president and general manager at Howard Hanna Insurance Services

 

Smiling together


Danielle Shearer, vice president and general manager at Howard Hanna Insurance Services, recounted a particularly special experience the team had with a family staying at the Pittsburgh house at the end of 2019. A young boy who’d been receiving care had picked out one of the toys donated by Howard Hanna Insurance Services – a little guitar.

“His mother showed us photos of him sleeping with his new guitar. He even played music for us as we ate with his family, and he made everyone smile even though we were there to do that for him,” said Shearer. “We love RMHC because it provides hope, connection and friendship to families going through really hard times.”

Keeping families together and near the medical resources they need 1
Danielle Shearer, of Howard Hanna Insurance Services, works with her children to prepare welcome bags for families in 2021.

Providing comfort throughout the pandemic

While the COVID-19 pandemic prevented the Howard Hanna Insurance Services employees from enjoying in-person visits with the RMHC families, they made sure to stay involved in the ways they could. The team donated hundreds of dollars to sponsor hot meals for the families and continued donating essential supplies and toys, too.

The agency even sponsored a whole apartment within the Pittsburgh house for one year, covering lodging for various families who needed a place to stay. As Tara McHenry, development associate at RMHC, told the team in late 2020, “There is currently a family staying in the apartment with a child who’s receiving neonatal care. Your endless support has helped us provide families with a comforting place to stay, hot meals, toys and so much more.”

“The endless support from Howard Hanna Insurance Services has helped us provide families with a comforting place to stay, hot meals, toys and so much more.”

– Tara McHenry, development associate at Ronald McDonald House Charities of Pittsburgh and Morgantown

Keeping families together and near the medical resources they need 2

The Howard Hanna Insurance Services apartment sponsorship plague is proudly displayed at the Ronald McDonald House Pittsburgh.

 

An impactful gift


Due to RMHC’s commitment to never turn a family away, the Jacob Johnson Family Lodging Fund is a vital part of the charity’s fundraising efforts. If awarded, a $10,000 donation from Safeco would sponsor around 500 nights of comfortable lodging for families in need. “Families with children who are hurting have enough to worry about,” said Shearer. “If we can help relieve them of the financial burden of an extended hotel stay and daily commute, that would mean so much to us.”

 

To vote, simply share this story using the blue icons to the left, comment below or both. Every vote or comment gets Ronald McDonald House Charities of Pittsburgh and Morgantown one step closer to a $10,000 donation, which will sponsor comfortable lodging for families in need.  Visit Howard Hanna Insurance Services and Ronald McDonald House Charities of Pittsburgh and Morgantown to learn more.

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Aleta Denise Johnson
1 year ago

Happy to Serve

Cory Hilliard
1 year ago

This is awesome work!

George Real Bourdeau
1 year ago

Howard Hanna!!

Megan
1 year ago

Love this!

Amanda Hilliard
1 year ago

Go Howard Hanna!!

Emily Hytla
1 year ago

Yay!!!

Amanda Hilliard
1 year ago

Way to go Howard Hanna!

Alisa Geitgey
1 year ago

What a great cause! Love this.

Lisa Fazio
1 year ago

Fantastic!

Susan
1 year ago

I always donate to the RMHC, I had a personal experience with them and know how valuable it is for lodging when a child is in the hospital.

Jenine
1 year ago

Keep up the great work! I currently have a friend receiving their services in Cincinnati for her little boy who just had a brain tumor removed and is undergoing six weeks of radiation.

Janice Parris
1 year ago

Love this!

Tim N
1 year ago

This is a great cause!

Sharon Yeager
1 year ago

Howard Hanna does so much for the kids – thank you and good luck with a win!!

Linda
1 year ago

Thank you!

Michael Leyes
1 year ago

Fully supporting Mark Steele and the HH Team. Well done!

Morgan Thompson
1 year ago

This is wonderful!

Becky Harper
1 year ago

Such a wonderful way to give to the community!!

Michelle Kravetsky
1 year ago

Another example of how this worldwide organization makes access to healthcare a priority for families with children.

Maranda Moore
1 year ago

RMHC Pittsburg was such an amazing experience, made the situation so much better at such rough and uncertain time!

Robert P Sharps
1 year ago

They were there for my family and I’m already a supporter. Keep up the important work.

Nancy Trejo
1 year ago

I love Ronald McDonald House, and also support ours locally. Best wishes!!

Gary Shafer
1 year ago

This is wonderful…Thanks to Howard Hanna

Iris Alonzo
1 year ago

RHMC welcomed us with open arms – all the way from the Philippines! They deserve this!

Danielle
1 year ago

Love to support RMHC!

Debbie Kaplan
1 year ago

Way to go RMHC!

Camie Stephens
1 year ago

This is awesome! Love see companies come together to help those who need it 🙂

Anita
1 year ago

Wonderful work!

Meghan Sweeney
1 year ago

Thank you for supporting the House!

Kayleigh Dignan
1 year ago

Thank you Howard Hanna and RMC!! As a parent that stayed in Pittsburgh RMC for about 2 months. It’s truly a blessing to have a place to stay connected to the hospital!

Rachel Fuller
1 year ago

What a blessing for ppl
going through hard times— RMHC!

Sharon Brooks
1 year ago

This is a wonderful concept for an amazing charity that helps families each and every day!

Teresa Thompson
1 year ago

Thank you for all you do for others!

Jessica Entwistle
1 year ago

Amazing work! Thank you for all you continue to do to support this incredible charity!

Christine Dively
1 year ago

We are so thankful for RMH!

Jill Blabey
1 year ago

Yay, this is great Howard Hanna & RMHC

Stephanie
1 year ago

What a great cause!

Pat
1 year ago

A very worthwhile cause

Margo
1 year ago

Great work….love it.

Tina
1 year ago

Awesome!

Crystal Ulmicher
1 year ago

Way to go Howard Hannah and Ronald McDonald Charity!!!

Lya Stroupe
1 year ago

Love this support!!

Nichole Fink
1 year ago

Love this

Joseph Fink
1 year ago

Awesome!

Joseph Fink
1 year ago

Great job! God Bless!

Amy
1 year ago

Let’s do this!

Jessica Greene
1 year ago

Awesome work!

Jay Jay
1 year ago

Go rhmc!

Teffany Armel
1 year ago

Thank you for helping the Ronald McDonald House in Morgantown! My husband and I had to stay there when our preemie daughter needed emergency surgery at birth. The staff was wonderful; their caring work allowed us to focus on our daughter and getting her home. 🙂

Ryan Stewart
1 year ago

So Great!

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