Matt Simpson Bio
Matt Simpson currently serves as Past President of the Board of Directors for Ronald McDonald House Charities of Northwest Ohio. Matt began his journey with RMHC as a House volunteer in 2010, at the “old” House. He joined the Board of Directors in 2012 and continued to serve in his volunteer role, with a devotion to the families that stay at the House.
Matt has served several roles over the years including Chair of the Marketing Committee, serving on the New House Construction Committee, Vice President and as of January 2020, Board Chair.
Matt has worked for Durocher’s/La-Z-Boy Furniture Galleries since 1986 and is the company’s Sales and Marketing Director.
In 2010, La-Z-Boy Incorporated became the official furniture provider of Ronald McDonald House Charities. Over the past eleven years, La-Z-Boy has donated over 10,000 pieces of furniture to RMHC homes. Matt worked with La-Z-Boy to fill the new House with beautiful La-Z-Boy Furniture.
Matt and his wife Rhonda live in Sylvania Township where they raised three boys. Volunteering at the Ronald McDonald House has become a mission of Simpsonation and as a family, they have regularly served meals and have even started to teach their grandchildren the joys of serving others. Matt and Rhonda created one of the RMHC of Northwest Ohio’s most entertaining events of the year “Cork and Pork”.
Matt Simpson Q & A
What does Ronald McDonald House Charities mean to you?
Family! My family has always volunteered together as a family, for the families that are staying at the House.
Why did you get involved with RMHC?
I’ve worked for La-Z-Boy since 1986. In 2008, La-Z-Boy became the official furniture provider for Ronald McDonald House Charities. I’ve always felt at La-Z-Boy we provide families comfort in their home and at RMHC we provide comfort in their home-away-from-home. This made an easy decision for me to start volunteering at the House. I started by volunteering one night a week, then joined several committees, then the Board of Directors.
What are you most proud of as a board member of RMHC?
In 2019, La-Z-Boy of Toledo was recognized by La-Z-Boy’s corporate as their Ronald McDonald House Charities Partner of the Year. This award is given to the company’s organization that most represents La-Z-Boy’s commitment to RMHC Charities. I’m also proud of my time as Board Chairman. My tenure as Board Chair was during the COVID-19 pandemic. We had to cancel ALL our fundraising events and make several tough decisions to keep the families at the House safe.
Are there any certain projects or campaigns you participated in that stand out to you? And why?
During my time on the Board of Directors, we built and moved into the new House. This process was a lot of work, but the outcome was amazing. So many people put their blood, sweat and tears into this project and it shows.
I’m also extremely proud of the work my wife Rhonda and I did with the Cork and Pork fundraising event. This event started with less than 50 people and grew to over 250. This event wouldn’t be possible without the help from the late Nick Mancy. What a GREAT friend of the House.
Any final thoughts on RMHC?
RMHC of Northwest Ohio is heading in a GREAT direction. An awesome and committed Board of Directors, a caring Executive Director with a vision for the future of the organization, a staff and volunteers molded with the same thoughtfulness and compassion towards the families we all serve.