On Saturday, October 16, 2021, supporters of Ronald McDonald House Pasadena were thrilled to safely gather for the annual SHINE Gala, back in person and more fun than ever. The festive evening was hosted under the stars at a premier golf club in Pasadena, a true “Moonlight Oasis.” While honoring long-time Ronald McDonald House advocate Carl Everett, guests enjoyed a gourmet meal, bid on live and silent auction items, and showed their support for children and families.
Nearly 250 in-person guests, with many more tuning in virtually, raised over $280,000 to provide a home-away-from-home for families with critically ill children. As Board Chair Peter Giulioni shared in his speech, “This year, it has been more important than ever to show up as a friend to the house. The global pandemic has been tough on families and our medical partners, but Ronald McDonald House Pasadena has remained open as a refuge—an oasis—for families in need.”
The gala was hosted by Anthony Everett, an Emmy Award-winning news anchor based out of Boston, and included remarks from long-time Ronald McDonald House supporter Martin Holford, Executive Director Mara Leong-Maguinez, and Board Chair Peter Giulioni. The highlight of the evening was hearing from Brittney and Ryan Anderson, who stayed at Ronald McDonald House Pasadena when their twin daughters were in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit after being born nearly four months premature.
Funds raised through the SHINE Gala—co-chaired by Wendy Dougherty and Meredith Petersen—will support the Ronald McDonald House Pasadena mission of providing comfort, care, and support to families with critically ill children, keeping them close to one another, their doctors, and needed medical care. As Brittney Anderson shared with the audience, “Thank you for keeping the Ronald McDonald House open for families like ours. The House was everything we didn’t know we needed.”
To see photos from the evening Click Here
To learn more about Ronald McDonald House Pasadena, please visit www.rmhcsc.org/shinegala.
About Pasadena Ronald McDonald House
Ronald McDonald House Pasadena is a home-away-from-home for families with critically-ill children, keeping them close to one another, their doctors and needed medical care. The House is built on the simple idea that nothing else should matter when a family is focused on the health of their child—not where they can afford to stay, where they will get their next meal, or where they will lay their head at night to rest. Since opening on Valentine’s Day in 2004, the House has served more than 24,000 children and their families. Ronald McDonald House Pasadena occupies three historic homes in Pasadena, just steps away from Huntington Memorial Hospital and Shriners for Children Medical Center, and offers 17 guest bedrooms. Families staying at the House have access to a fully stocked pantry, meals prepared by volunteer groups, a large yard with outdoor seating, and therapeutic family support services. Ronald McDonald House Pasadena is a program of the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Southern California. For more information, please visit our website at www.rmhcsc.org/Pasadena.
