Ronald McDonald House New York Raises $1.93M to Support Families Battling Pediatric Cancer & Other Serious Illnesses During 31st Annual Gala

Event featured exciting live auction led by former MLB outfielder and New York Mets Hall of Famer Mookie Wilson; special recognition of RMH-NY family battling pediatric cancer; and more

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Hundreds of New Yorkers gathered for Ronald McDonald House New York’s (RMH-NY) 31st Annual Gala on Wednesday, October 25 at Pier Sixty, which raised $1.93 million to further the organization’s mission to advance health equity and provide care, support and services to families battling pediatric cancer and other serious illnesses.

“Helping families stay together and focus on beating their child’s illness is at the heart of our mission at Ronald McDonald House New York,” said Dr. Ruth C. Browne, president and CEO of Ronald McDonald House New York. “By providing vital care, support and services that address the social determinants of health, our programs ensure that there is an integrated approach to treatment that advances health equity among vulnerable and at-risk populations. This year’s Gala raised significant funds that will not only enable us to continue to support families as they fight the most difficult battles of their lives, but ensure they win. We are deeply grateful to our honorees, sponsors, and to all who contributed to the success of this year’s special celebration.”

To begin the festivities, Dr. Browne and Bobby Grubert, managing director for Royal Bank of Canada and long-time supporter of RMH-NY, welcomed guests and recognized this year’s honorees for their unwavering dedication to advancing RMH-NY’s mission: Steven J. Besinger, senior advisor at Howden Tiger and RMH-NY chairman emeritus; Timothy C. Gokey, chief executive officer at Broadridge Financial Solutions; Tariq Hassan, chief marketing & customer experience officer at McDonald’s USA; Carla Zakhem-Hassan, chief marketing officer at JPMorgan Chase; and Rob Manfred, commissioner of baseball.

During the program, RMH-NY also honored the Cueto family, who is staying at the organization’s House in Manhattan as their eight-year-old son Oliver receives treatment for cancer. To celebrate their continued strength and resilience, RMH-NY presented the family with honorary New York Yankees jerseys, just weeks after organizing their attendance at a Yankees game in partnership with Mastercard and 2023 Gala honoree Rob Manfred.

As part of the special event, guests also enjoyed a live auction led by former MLB outfielder and New York Mets Hall of Famer Mookie Wilson, exciting activations, and a silent auction complete with a variety of stunning art pieces, collectibles, luxurious tropical getaways, and more.

RMH-NY supports families from New York City, across the U.S. and around the world in the fight against pediatric cancer and other serious illnesses through its House on East 73rd Street in Manhattan as well as in partnering New York City hospitals.

The 31st Annual Gala was made possible through major event sponsors including co-sponsors Howden Tiger, AIG, and JPMorgan Chase, as well as leadership sponsors Ariel Re, Broadridge Financial Solutions, The Hartford, Mastercard, and PwC.

To learn more about RMH-NY’s 31st Annual Gala or make a contribution, please visit: gala.rmh-newyork.org.

About Ronald McDonald House New York
Located on East 73rd Street in New York, Ronald McDonald House New York (RMH-NY) is New York City’s House. The organization provides critical care, support and services to families battling pediatric cancer and other serious illnesses through its House and in partnering hospitals across New York City. RMH-NY has served more than 59,000 families throughout all five boroughs of New York City, across the U.S. and around the world, and approximately 40% of families are international. Its 11-story, 79,000 square-foot House features 95 guestrooms – including six post-transplant suites – four full guest kitchens, laundry facilities, two outdoor terraces, private libraries, a dining room, living room and more. At the House, families are welcomed with love and comfort, and lifelong friendships are formed among people who understand what it’s like to cope with devastating diagnoses. By providing programs that offer economic and financial assistance, temporary housing, food and nutrition, early childhood development, music and arts, transportation to and from treatment, peer-to-peer support, education, language access, wellness services, and various enriching activities for families to enjoy together, RMH-NY’s programs help to address the social determinants of health and provide a sense of normalcy for families as they battle the most difficult fight of their lives. The organization’s presence extends well beyond the confines of the House, as RMH-NY is also committed to positively impacting communities across the five boroughs. Through partnerships with eight leading healthcare systems, RMH-NY collaborates with New York City hospitals to ensure there is an integrated approach to treatment that advances health equity, particularly among vulnerable and at-risk populations. For more information, or to learn how to volunteer or donate, please visit rmh-newyork.org.