Founders With a Legacy

LOMA LINDA>> Fred Hill was drafted by the Philadelphia Eagles as their starting tight end and during the fourth year of his professional career, he made it through training camp for the first time without an injury. He was leading the team in pass receiving. He must have felt on top of the world. But during the last preseason game another player from the opposing team “leg whipped” him and totally ripped his knee out. “That was the end of the good times,” said Hill. “Here 3,000 miles from home, I couldn’t play. Then all of a sudden we got the worst news of our life.” No, he wasn’t fired. It was worse much worse and they were shattered. Their 3-year-old daughter was diagnosed with leukemia. Leonard Tose is the owner of the Philadelphia Eagles. When he found out that his daughter, Kim, was sick, he called Fred into his office and said “just tell me what you need.” “Then he told us, we want to have a fundraiser, you know, with the Eagle ball players. I want you to do this at my club at the stadium except Mr. Tose used profanity, he always did,” Hill said. The Ronald McDonald House is a home away from home for families with critically ill children staying at nearby children’s hospitals or other pediatric facilities. The philosophy is keeping families close. The number one stress that we see outside of the severity of their child being sick would be the other children at home. And if your child has siblings, you are not in a sterile hospital situation. The siblings are playing video games, they have toys outside and you’re in a home. It’s so wonderful to see these families being helped because there’s so many of these kids that do so much better just because their parents are with them at the hospital. A lot of times, there is not a major treatment hospital close to their home so they have to go far away like Loma Linda Children’s Hospital. While the hospital staff is taking care of the child, so many times the family is forgotten about. Where is the family going to have dinner? Where are they going to have a hot shower? Where are they going to get a good night’s rest? If the family is not rested, they may not be the advocate for their child. So the social worker steps in and they say “you know we have this lovely facility across the street for you; it’s called the Ronald McDonald House and they’re going to be able to help you.” They have a place to sleep; they have a place to pray; they have food. You’re walking distance to the hospital. They have other people going through the same thing. Ronald McDonald House provides such a benefit and that is why they are needed and that is why they are going all over the world. “We formed Eagles fly for Leukemia,” Hill said. “It was great, the whole team showed up and as the money came in it was put up on the scoreboard. We raised about $125,000. But that was just the start because then the word was getting out. Ed Ramsey, who was the regional manager of McDonalds, saw what we were doing and said “you know what? This is such a great thing, we want to help. They had a big green shake promotion for St. Patrick’s Day and he said we’ll give you 25 cents on every green shake we sell. We will pay for the house if you let us call it the Ronald McDonald House. We said you can call it hamburger heaven just give us the money and they did. And they actually paid for that first house. And that is what started everything off; in 1974 - one house, in 1977 - two houses, in 1979 – ten, and then from there it just took off. Kim was the inspiration but I totally know God touched the hearts of all these people that jumped in and wanted to help.” Fred and Fran are definitely salt of the earth and they always wanted to help and to give back. Ronald McDonald House is a global charity and it all started with Fred and Fran. Each community owns its own Ronald McDonald house and approximately 15 percent of its annual budget is supported by Ronald McDonald. If you would like to help or get involved, call 909-747-1275.