- By Vivek Panchal AUT Journalism Student
Ronald McDonald House Charities New Zealand (RMHCNZ) has hosted its 30th anniversary celebrations of its Auckland Domain House last week acknowledging the efforts of staff, families, and supporters.
The event was held to celebrate RMHC’s 50-year global anniversary and 35 years of its New Zealand chapter.
Children and their families staying at the Domain House joined various activities like face-painting, and a miniature pony with corporate volunteers, and enjoyed lunch provided by Morgan Furniture.
The RMHC Domain House has served the community by helping families with children undergoing difficult situations for 30 years through hospital care and other forms of support.
The RMHC has supported approximately 3800 families nationwide, and 1100 families in the Auckland Domain House this year.
Last year it helped families save up to $10 million worth of food, accommodation and parking.
Chief executive Wayne Howett understands the importance of the organisation and the challenges faced by RMHC families as his daughter had to undergo critical treatment overseas.
“RMHC isn’t a nice-to-have. It’s an essential service, a safety net, a promise to Kiwis that we live in a country where we look after each other when things get tough,” Howett says.
“Every person who’s given to RMHC over the years has invested in ensuring this service, and the Kiwi promise underpinning it, remains intact no matter how much society or population changes.
“For that, I’d like to extend an enormous show of gratitude.”
“We’re incredibly proud to celebrate 30 years of the Auckland Domain House, a place that has become a second home for so many families in need of support.”
