Each year, the Ronald McDonald House of Cleveland presents its most distinguished award to companies, groups, and individuals who have given quietly, generously, consistently and thoughtfully to the House on a long-term basis. This award recognizes the commitment and constant support provided by these community partners, allowing us to sustain our mission.

At our annual meeting on April 26, we honored the following with the 2017 Pillar of the House Award: Mr. Edward Crawford, Fairfax Kiwanis, St. Mary’s Preschool, and ViewPoint Wealth Partners.

Mr. Edward F. Crawford is quite possibly one of our longest donors. He began donating in 1979 to start the Pro-Am event, sponsoring the first tee for 38 years! He has given more than $750,000 to the organization. After all these years, Mr. Crawford still gets emotional when he reads notes from families.

The Fairfax Kiwanis provides programs and opportunities to enhance children’s lives. Since 2004, Howard Kleckley, his son, and others have visited the House the first Tuesday of every month. They cook and serve breakfast for our families. Nothing keeps them from helping our families, not bad weather or illness. Howard is always here, and he has recruited even more members to help. They are a kind and generous group, and we love seeing them every month.

St. Mary’s Preschool, a part of the St. Mary’s Catholic School of Berea, has 69 students ranging from three to five years old. For 15 years, the school has been supporting the House in a variety of ways, including collecting pull tabs for the House, conducting a wish list item drive every Christmas with the families of the students, and holding their annual Winter Concert and Art Show where the children create artwork that is sold to family and friends. The proceeds from the show are donated to the Ronald McDonald House of Cleveland and the House in Minnesota.

In 2001, Paul and Don joined their individual financial advisory practices, and since then have grown our team to a “family” of nine. They help clients plan their financial future. ViewPoint Wealth Partners started volunteering with the Ronald McDonald House in 2010. Their team and clients feel that giving back to the community is essential, and they felt the Ronald McDonald House was a perfect fit. Throughout the years, they have cleaned the house, hosted bingo and ice cream socials, emptied rooms of furniture to prepare for the expansion, set up new rooms, took down Christmas decorations, moved mounds of mulch, weeded, added a stone path off the kitchen, and power washed and stained the tree house. In addition to their volunteer efforts, they provide lunch for the House each time they visit. This year their clients will join them for their 3rd annual spring clean-up at the House. They also collect pull tabs and donate more than 50 pounds each year.

Thank you for all you do for the Ronald McDonald House!