7 days ago
'Meaningful': Knights in shining armour for sick kids with $2m donation
The Wests Group will give $2 million to Ronald McDonald House for more crucial rooms at John Hunter Children's Hospital.
The pledge is from Wests' community arm "Knights Strong".
Wests Group president Geoff Coburn said supporting families in need was "central to the group's purpose".
"Knights Strong reflects our commitment to standing beside the people of our region when it matters most," Mr Coburn said.
Ronald McDonald House Charities Northern NSW CEO Ross Bingham said the pledge builds on a strong relationship between Wests, the Newcastle Knights and the charity house.
"Their visionary support will ensure we can continue to be there for more families when they need it most," Mr Bingham said.
He said Wests had made a "meaningful difference" for the charity over 20 years, while the Knights Strong partnership marked a "powerful new chapter".
He had witnessed "the joy a visit from a Knights player can bring to a sick child".
"It just lifts them at that exact moment when they need it," he said.
The money will go towards an $8 million development to add 11 self-contained family units to the charity house.
This will add to the 12 rooms and six self-contained units at the house, which is on the grounds of the hospital.
"Nearly every night, 18 families live in the house while their child is in hospital," Mr Bingham said.
"There's a huge unmet need. We turn away about five to six families every day."
The expansion is part of the charity's Build a Bigger Heart campaign.
"The extra 11 units will help support all families that need somewhere to stay, while their child is in hospital and has travelled a distance," Mr Bingham said.
"Whatever support that family needs - it could be their parents, grandparents, best friend - Ronald McDonald House allows that to happen."
Children with serious illnesses from the Central Coast to Northern NSW are treated at John Hunter Children's Hospital.
"Having somewhere to stay near the child is vital for families," Mr Bingham said.
"It means better outcomes for their child and better decisions for mum and dad.
"They get good rest and most importantly can keep the family together during those tough times."
He said it was an uplifting feeling when the kids were feeling good.
The charity raises about $4 million a year to run its houses in Newcastle and Tamworth.
It also has family rooms in John Hunter and Gosford hospitals.
"We have 230 local people that are volunteers. Without them, we wouldn't be able to provide the service we do," Mr Bingham said.
"They are there 24 hours a day supporting families."
The Newcastle Herald reported last month that the MacDougall Foundation will give $2 million for the expansion of Ronald McDonald House in Newcastle.
Former Knights star Adam MacDougall and his wife Belinda, known for creating the Man Shake and Lady Shake, own the foundation.
The Wests Group will give $2 million to Ronald McDonald House for more crucial rooms at John Hunter Children's Hospital.
The pledge is from Wests' community arm "Knights Strong".
Wests Group president Geoff Coburn said supporting families in need was "central to the group's purpose".
"Knights Strong reflects our commitment to standing beside the people of our region when it matters most," Mr Coburn said.
Ronald McDonald House Charities Northern NSW CEO Ross Bingham said the pledge builds on a strong relationship between Wests, the Newcastle Knights and the charity house.
"Their visionary support will ensure we can continue to be there for more families when they need it most," Mr Bingham said.
He said Wests had made a "meaningful difference" for the charity over 20 years, while the Knights Strong partnership marked a "powerful new chapter".
He had witnessed "the joy a visit from a Knights player can bring to a sick child".
"It just lifts them at that exact moment when they need it," he said.
The money will go towards an $8 million development to add 11 self-contained family units to the charity house.
This will add to the 12 rooms and six self-contained units at the house, which is on the grounds of the hospital.
"Nearly every night, 18 families live in the house while their child is in hospital," Mr Bingham said.
"There's a huge unmet need. We turn away about five to six families every day."
The expansion is part of the charity's Build a Bigger Heart campaign.
"The extra 11 units will help support all families that need somewhere to stay, while their child is in hospital and has travelled a distance," Mr Bingham said.
"Whatever support that family needs - it could be their parents, grandparents, best friend - Ronald McDonald House allows that to happen."
Children with serious illnesses from the Central Coast to Northern NSW are treated at John Hunter Children's Hospital.
"Having somewhere to stay near the child is vital for families," Mr Bingham said.
"It means better outcomes for their child and better decisions for mum and dad.
"They get good rest and most importantly can keep the family together during those tough times."
He said it was an uplifting feeling when the kids were feeling good.
The charity raises about $4 million a year to run its houses in Newcastle and Tamworth.
It also has family rooms in John Hunter and Gosford hospitals.
"We have 230 local people that are volunteers. Without them, we wouldn't be able to provide the service we do," Mr Bingham said.
"They are there 24 hours a day supporting families."
The Newcastle Herald reported last month that the MacDougall Foundation will give $2 million for the expansion of Ronald McDonald House in Newcastle.
Former Knights star Adam MacDougall and his wife Belinda, known for creating the Man Shake and Lady Shake, own the foundation.
The Wests Group will give $2 million to Ronald McDonald House for more crucial rooms at John Hunter Children's Hospital.
The pledge is from Wests' community arm "Knights Strong".
Wests Group president Geoff Coburn said supporting families in need was "central to the group's purpose".
"Knights Strong reflects our commitment to standing beside the people of our region when it matters most," Mr Coburn said.
Ronald McDonald House Charities Northern NSW CEO Ross Bingham said the pledge builds on a strong relationship between Wests, the Newcastle Knights and the charity house.
"Their visionary support will ensure we can continue to be there for more families when they need it most," Mr Bingham said.
He said Wests had made a "meaningful difference" for the charity over 20 years, while the Knights Strong partnership marked a "powerful new chapter".
He had witnessed "the joy a visit from a Knights player can bring to a sick child".
"It just lifts them at that exact moment when they need it," he said.
The money will go towards an $8 million development to add 11 self-contained family units to the charity house.
This will add to the 12 rooms and six self-contained units at the house, which is on the grounds of the hospital.
"Nearly every night, 18 families live in the house while their child is in hospital," Mr Bingham said.
"There's a huge unmet need. We turn away about five to six families every day."
The expansion is part of the charity's Build a Bigger Heart campaign.
"The extra 11 units will help support all families that need somewhere to stay, while their child is in hospital and has travelled a distance," Mr Bingham said.
"Whatever support that family needs - it could be their parents, grandparents, best friend - Ronald McDonald House allows that to happen."
Children with serious illnesses from the Central Coast to Northern NSW are treated at John Hunter Children's Hospital.
"Having somewhere to stay near the child is vital for families," Mr Bingham said.
"It means better outcomes for their child and better decisions for mum and dad.
"They get good rest and most importantly can keep the family together during those tough times."
He said it was an uplifting feeling when the kids were feeling good.
The charity raises about $4 million a year to run its houses in Newcastle and Tamworth.
It also has family rooms in John Hunter and Gosford hospitals.
"We have 230 local people that are volunteers. Without them, we wouldn't be able to provide the service we do," Mr Bingham said.
"They are there 24 hours a day supporting families."
The Newcastle Herald reported last month that the MacDougall Foundation will give $2 million for the expansion of Ronald McDonald House in Newcastle.
Former Knights star Adam MacDougall and his wife Belinda, known for creating the Man Shake and Lady Shake, own the foundation.
The Wests Group will give $2 million to Ronald McDonald House for more crucial rooms at John Hunter Children's Hospital.
The pledge is from Wests' community arm "Knights Strong".
Wests Group president Geoff Coburn said supporting families in need was "central to the group's purpose".
"Knights Strong reflects our commitment to standing beside the people of our region when it matters most," Mr Coburn said.
Ronald McDonald House Charities Northern NSW CEO Ross Bingham said the pledge builds on a strong relationship between Wests, the Newcastle Knights and the charity house.
"Their visionary support will ensure we can continue to be there for more families when they need it most," Mr Bingham said.
He said Wests had made a "meaningful difference" for the charity over 20 years, while the Knights Strong partnership marked a "powerful new chapter".
He had witnessed "the joy a visit from a Knights player can bring to a sick child".
"It just lifts them at that exact moment when they need it," he said.
The money will go towards an $8 million development to add 11 self-contained family units to the charity house.
This will add to the 12 rooms and six self-contained units at the house, which is on the grounds of the hospital.
"Nearly every night, 18 families live in the house while their child is in hospital," Mr Bingham said.
"There's a huge unmet need. We turn away about five to six families every day."
The expansion is part of the charity's Build a Bigger Heart campaign.
"The extra 11 units will help support all families that need somewhere to stay, while their child is in hospital and has travelled a distance," Mr Bingham said.
"Whatever support that family needs - it could be their parents, grandparents, best friend - Ronald McDonald House allows that to happen."
Children with serious illnesses from the Central Coast to Northern NSW are treated at John Hunter Children's Hospital.
"Having somewhere to stay near the child is vital for families," Mr Bingham said.
"It means better outcomes for their child and better decisions for mum and dad.
"They get good rest and most importantly can keep the family together during those tough times."
He said it was an uplifting feeling when the kids were feeling good.
The charity raises about $4 million a year to run its houses in Newcastle and Tamworth.
It also has family rooms in John Hunter and Gosford hospitals.
"We have 230 local people that are volunteers. Without them, we wouldn't be able to provide the service we do," Mr Bingham said.
"They are there 24 hours a day supporting families."
The Newcastle Herald reported last month that the MacDougall Foundation will give $2 million for the expansion of Ronald McDonald House in Newcastle.
Former Knights star Adam MacDougall and his wife Belinda, known for creating the Man Shake and Lady Shake, own the foundation.
