Officials celebrated an expansion to Ronald McDonald House Friday that will allow the facility to serve more families.
Thanks to a $2 million gift from CONSOL Cares Foundation, as well as donations from other advocates, the work will allow the organization to house nine more families — increasing the number of family bedrooms from 16 to 27.
In addition, there will be state-of-the-art enhancements, including an elevator, redesigned entrance and lobby, and specialty program spaces for accessibility convenience.
Attending Friday’s ground-breaking ceremony at 841 Country Club Drive were Michael Garcia, regional representative for U.S. Sen. Joe Manchin; Kim Haws, Morgantown city manager; Christopher Rabbitt, chairman of the CONSOL Cares Foundation and land manager at CONSOL Energy; Joe Statler and Danielle Walker, both West Virginia state delegates from House District 51.
Speakers included Eleanor Reigel, chief executive officer, RMHC Pittsburgh and Morgantown; Jimmy Brock, president and chief executive officer, CONSOL Energy; Mark Giaquinto, president, RMHC Pittsburgh and Morgantown board of directors; and Todd Moore, vice president of safety, CONSOL Energy.
Ronald McDonald House opened in Morgantown in 1990. The organization merged with the one in Pittsburgh in January 2018.
Ronald McDonald House Charities of Pittsburgh and Morgantown provides families with a “home-away-from-home” for seriously ill children receiving medical treatment, and is committed to helping children and their families lead happier, healthier and more productive lives, according to rmhcpgh-mgtn.org.
