Long Beach Ronald McDonald House Open

The Long Beach Ronald McDonald House opened its doors to patients last week, and celebrated its Grand Opening with the community and those who made it a possibility.

The Ronald McDonald House, located across the street from Miller Children’s Hospital, will provide temporary housing and other services to families with children being treated at Miller Children’s Hospital or other area hospitals.

Ronald J. Piazza, president of the Long Beach Ronald McDonald House Board of Trustees, and others involved in making this project a reality, were able to raise $6 million in one year’s time from private donations; then, construction took another year.

A spokesperson said that of the money raised, nearly $3.75 million went toward the purchase of the building, design and construction.

They added that the rest will go towards covering operating expenses for the next couple of years — operating expenses will be about $1 million annually.

Families staying at the 20,000 square-foot Ronald McDonald house will receive low or no-cost stays and service — typically paying between $15 and $25 per night.

The Ronald McDonald House was officially open to patients on Dec. 19, with the first family checking in on Dec. 20.

A ceremony was held on Dec. 15 where community members, city officials and those that made the project possible, gathered at the House for escorted tours. There was also a program followed by a ribbon cutting ceremony at the Grand Opening event.

Speakers at the event included LA County Fourth District supervisor Don Knabe, Rob Parker, CEO of Ronald McDonald House Charities of Southern California, and Piazza.

Just five days after the Grand Opening ceremony, the Long Beach Ronald McDonald House welcomed its first family from the Jonathan Jaques Children’s Cancer Center at Miller’s Children’s Hospital.

There are 23 private rooms, and the Guzman Family was the first to break one of them in. The Guzman’s have a daughter, Grace, who was diagnosed with cancer at the age of five, and has been at JJCCC at Miller Children’s Hospital since May.

“I cannot explain how nice it is to have a place to stay so close to my daughter,” Cynthia, Grace’s mother said in a press release. “I no longer have to worry about getting my son, Johnny, a ride to the hospital. This keeps the family together and is a true blessing.”

The Long Beach Ronald McDonald House gives families a place to stay and provides comfort to family members while their loved ones are in the hospital. Staff is available to serve the family at any time, day or night.

Many meals also are provided, prepared and cooked by Long Beach Ronald McDonald House volunteers.

“The Ronald McDonald House was built to be a home away from home to families,” said Cheri Bazley, executive director of the Long Beach Ronald McDonald House. “We like to know we are providing comfort and care to families in need. It was quite special to welcome our first family into the house this week. It provided tremendous relief or them which is exactly what we are meant to do here.”