Butterfly Garden at the Ronald McDonald House
Gainesville Sunrise Rotary has a longstanding relationship with the Ronald McDonald House Charities of North Central Florida. Years ago, Sunrise Rotary, in partnership with Sunrise member, Ron Farb and the Climb for Cancer Foundation, built and has maintained a Butterfly Garden at the Ronald McDonald House (RMH), allowing a place of calm refuge for residents of the house. Last week, the RMH moved to a new location, increasing its room capacity from 30 to 50+.
This expands the capacity to serve families and children receiving treatment at UFHealth. Sunrise Rotary was a donor to help renovate the new RMH. Leading the ribbon-cutting to open the new RMH were three Sunrise Rotarians: Mike Walsh, President, Parrish McCall Constructors, Inc., who led the renovation project; Sherry Houston, Current Sunrise President and Executive Director, RMH; Bobbie Robinson, Vice-President, RMH Board of Directors. Sunrise member, Bryan Nazworth, owner, Quality Plumbing, also contributed plumbing services to the renovation project. Sunrise member, Dave Ferro is also a member of the RMH Board of directors and member Mike Spranger represented Sunrise Rotary at the Donor Appreciation Event, along with members Darleen Morgan and Bobbi Robinson.
The Butterfly Garden has been moved to the new location along with the Rotary International Seal that was installed at the former location. It will take some time for the new plants to reach their butterfly attraction potential, but residents and their children will have a new place to relax from their treatment stresses. To top that off, a few days before, many Sunrise members attended the Red Shoe Affair, the annual fundraiser for the RMHCNCF.