Bakersfield.com

larger view larger view

Not long ago the local McDonald’s owners asked me to inquire about building a Ronald McDonald family Room in Bakersfield. A facility such as this actually houses several families for short stays while their children are in intensive care in the hospital, often with life-threatening ailments. I jumped at the opportunity to be involved with project that would improve the quality of life in our community.

The generosity of our community is truly overwhelming! My first call was to Bruce Peters, Chief Financial Officer at Bakersfield Memorial Hospital.  He gave me an enthusiastic yes, along with a suitable building right on the hospital property, plus a big check to get started. Then Greg Gibbons with Gibbons and Wheelan Construction agreed to donate their time to completely remodel and upgrade the building. Shirley Vance with Ladybug Cottage offered to completely furnish the building! Dave Perkins at Urner’s said he would reach out to his venders for appliances and an entertainment system.  Dean Ross at All That Lettering donated the sign. The good folks at Govina Coffee Company offered a commercial coffee maker and all the coffee we will need. Barry Rosenfeld and the Bakersfield West Rotary Foundation offered to pay for up to 100 families that couldn’t afford the $15 a day to stay at the family Room. Mike Allan at the Spanish Radio Group hosted a radiothon. Damon Culbertson at Mercedes-Benz of Bakersfield, raised money through the Mercedes-Championship Golf Tournament, the list goes on and on.

Thanks to the continuing generosity of a great many people of Kern County, The Ronald McDonald Family Room at Bakersfield Memorial Hospital is truly a labor of love that will make a real difference for real people here in town.

I remember when Sarah Ferguson, the Duchess of York garnered attention to the new Ronald McDonald House in Long Beach and what a splash she made for the charity. I thought, who could I get to help publicize the Ronald McDonald Family Room at Bakersfield Memorial Hospital?

My overwhelming first choice was Bakersfield’s favorite son, Country Music Hall of Fame recipient, Merle Haggard. So I sent out some feelers and received a phone call from one of Merle’s managers, Ray McDonald. With a name like McDonald it had to be fate. Ray loved the idea and thought Merle would too. Within a couple of days, the legendary Merle Haggard was confirmed to do the sign unveiling at the site of the Bakersfield Ronald McDonald Family Room.

Not only did Merle make good on his promise, he donated at signed Fender guitar that will be auctioned in June on KUZZ Radio with all proceeds going to our local Ronald McDonald facility.

According to the builder, the building should be finished this summer. Then we can welcome families who are at the hospital under strained circumstances at best.
If we, as a community, create a refuge for family members of a sick child to take a break, a shower, or a nap without leaving the hospital premises, remaining just a short walk to their child’s intensive care room, then we have really accomplished something to be proud of.