ASCR & Ronald McDonald House Form Partnership

Millersville, MD, July 25--Members of the Association of Specialists in Cleaning and Restoration (ASCR) have launched a new program to donate their expertise in cleaning and restoring indoor environments to Ronald McDonald Houses. The program will be administered jointly by ASCR and Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC). The initial phase of the program will focus on Ronald McDonald Houses in Cleveland, Los Angeles, Portland, St. Louis, Washington, D.C., and Vancouver, British Columbia. The goal is to eventually link as many Ronald McDonald Houses as possible with nearby ASCR members, who will donate their services as needed. Currently, there are more than 230 Ronald McDonald Houses around the world. “There is a natural bond between Ronald McDonald Houses and ASCR members, because we’re all in the shelter business,” said Tim Horrigan, president of ASCR. “This is a tremendous opportunity for our members to make a difference in their local communities, as well as for deserving children and their families.” The response to the new program from ASCR members was extremely gratifying, according to Horrigan. More than 60 ASCR member companies agreed to participate within 48 hours of receiving the initial proposal. “Maintaining a clean environment in Ronald McDonald Houses is critical because of their connection to children who are ill,” said Marty Coyne, vice president for RMHC. “In addition, many of the Houses are older and need renovation. Who better to help us address these issues than ASCR members, who are the most highly-skilled professionals in their fields?” The relationship between ASCR and Ronald McDonald Houses in not limited to the new partnership. In the past two years, ASCR has donated the proceeds from its annual golf tournament--a total of $10,000--to Ronald McDonald Houses in Southern California and Savannah, Georgia. Ronald McDonald House, the cornerstone program of RMHC, provides a “home-away-from-home” for families of seriously ill children, who are receiving treatment at nearby hospitals. In return, families are asked to make a donation ranging from $5.00 to $20.00 per day. If that is not possible, their stay is free. More than 6,000 rooms are available every night at Ronald McDonald Houses worldwide. More information on RMHC and it’s many programs including the Ronald McDonald House program, is available on their website at (www.rmhc.org).

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