Scottsdale Charros steadfast in support of the children of the Valley of the Sun
By Terrance Thornton | Digital Free Press
There was a Scottsdale Charros sighting in central Phoenix yesterday.
The Scottsdale Charros — and members of its philanthropic arm, The Charro Foundation — Wednesday, May 29, descended on the Ronald McDonald House Charities, 501 E. Roanoke Ave., to host dinner for families and deliver a $7,500 shot in the arm to operations at the vital nonprofit endeavor in Phoenix.
For more than 60 years, the Scottsdale Charros have been steadfast in the pursuit of supporting public education through being the “boots on the ground” through positive community impact.
Ronald McDonald House Charities facility on Roanoke Avenue is the original location in the Valley, opening in 1985, and has 25 standard rooms, 6 suites, and 7 apartments.
The Cambridge House at Phoenix Children’s Hospital has 12 rooms and 6 apartments and The Dobson House (16 rooms) is at Banner Children’s at Desert in Mesa.
Ronald McDonald House Charities officials tell the Digital Free Press the Roanoke House serves all who arrive oftentimes traveling hundreds of miles to receive state-of-the-art medical care at Phoenix Children’s, Banner University Medical Center and St. Joseph’s Hospital.
“This wasn’t my idea, but when we all took a tour a few months back one of us came up with the idea of cooking dinner for the residents,” said Scottsdale Charro Alan Rodbell while along with Scottsdale Charro Jim Ford was grilling hot dogs and hamburgers for dinner. “I just said to myself, why don’t we try and do this for these families? The Charros thought it was a great idea and I thought it was an easy way to get volunteers in here to help — this has been a great experience.”
It was a family affair yesterday at the Roanoke House with Charro spouses on hand including Lisa Robbins and Debbie Rodbell.
“Why? Because it is a great organization,” Mrs. Rodbell said after being asked why she opted to give her time and effort yesterday to the Roanoke House of Ronald McDonald House Charities. “I love giving my time — I have been fortunate and I like to give back when I can.”
Funding for Ronald McDonald House Charities — a 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization — comes primarily from private donors, meanwhile for every Happy Meal sold at McDonald’s a penny is provided to the organization.
Kerry Schulman, CEO at the Ronald McDonald House, explains the Dinnertime Heroes program is a key piece of support families experience when they stay at the Roanoke House.
“These families travel from all over the country, sometimes the world, our residents travel an average of 287 miles,” she said of the reality of healthcare options here in the Valley of the Sun for children. “They come here with no support system, so a home-cooked meal with all the essentials and to have the community around them it takes some of the worry away. This is something we could not do without the support of the community.”
Scottsdale Charros are for the children
Thanks to Scottsdale Charro Garrett Smith, horses were on hand yesterday afternoon to greet the children staying at the Roanoke House and to the surprise of one resident — it was exactly what she was hoping for that day.
“You know? When I was out there, I heard one of the parents say her daughter woke up after a dream about riding a horse,” said Charro Foundation member Michelle Pabis. “When she saw the horse and afterward I heard her tell her mom that was the greatest 15 minutes of her life.”
Ms. Pabis serves as vice president of government and community affairs at HonorHealth.
“As part of the Charro Foundation it is amazing to see where the grants dollars go,” she said as she was stocking the buffet line for dinner service yesterday at the Roanoke House. “It is great to be a part of an organization that does so much for Scottsdale but also the greater Phoenix community.”
Mr. Ford and Peter Rusin, both Scottsdale Charros, were volunteering their time during the dinnertime event and echoed a similar sentiment.
“Well, being a fire guy, this is what we do, we show up and help,” Mr. Ford saying while teaching a young man to work the grill as hamburgers and hot dogs sizzled. “There is a lot I can’t do, but when I can give my time and support the community and continue to do good, that has been my mantra — I help where I can.”
For Mr. Rusin, he speaks of volunteerism as a privilege to serve others.
“The Charros love supporting the community especially for the kids,” he said. “This is such an important organization that helps kids and to see such a well run organization to help children it is inspiring. The truth is the volunteers get more out of this then we give back and it’s really a great experience.”
The Scottsdale Charros ended the evening with a ‘big check’ presentation for a grant amount of $7,500 that will aid day-to-day operations at the Roanoke House in central Phoenix.
