Board Spotlight: Larry Schaffer

by Adam Simpson | Dec 28, 2022 | Board Spotlight, News

Larry Schaffer Bio

Larry has served as a local funeral director for over 30 years and is currently the manager of our Oregon Chapel. He is graduate of Defiance College and Cincinnati College of Mortuary Science (1981). He and his family regularly attend Christ United Methodist and St. Ignatius Catholic Churches. Larry has served as past president of the Maumee Bay Chamber of Commerce, the Oregon Community Family Coalition, Eastern YMCA Board, Treasurer of the James Hancock Senior Center, past Vice President of the Board of Directors of Luther Home of Mercy, Williston, past Chair of the Promedica Bay Park Foundation Board.

Larry is currently on the Board of Trustees for ProMedica Bay Park Hospital and is on the hospital’s Business Council, President of Good Grief Northwest Ohio, President Elect of the Little Sisters of the Poor Board and a current board member of Eastern Maumee Bay CC. Larry is responsible for our memorial design team and his unique ability to custom design family memorials can be seen in many local cemeteries. He and his wife, Jane, are Oregon residents and have three children, Rachael, Lauren, and Jacob.

Larry Schaffer Reflection

How I feel about Ronald McDonald House Charities of Northwest Ohio is beyond words…

To be part of an organization that keeps families close to their children, that is very much in need of having their loved ones close by or even allowing the loved ones to take a quick break for themselves but always knowing they still are very close in proximity of their loved one is indescribable. Never having to use RMHC personally, I can not even imagine the stress the family goes through, wanting to stay very close to the patient and worry about leaving the bedside, let alone the worry caused by the situation itself. The House allows the family to take a break even if it is only for an hour or so, just to let the family regroup and refresh.

So many positive and good stories come from the families about the House. It makes you feel good that in some small way, being a board member makes you feel that you personally had a hand in helping them. I was raised with the attitude you always help others, even if you do something small, you have left that person in a better place than before you helped them. That is why I became involved with Ronald McDonald House Charities of Northwest Ohio. To give back to others.

Ronald McDonald House Charities of Northwest Ohio truly makes a difference. Thank you to everyone who supports the House.

Board Spotlight: Mark Fox

by Adam Simpson | Dec 19, 2022 | Board Spotlight, News

Mark Fox Bio

Mark Fox is the Director of the Office of Technology Transfer and Services (OTTS) at Bowling Green State University.

BGSU is a public university dedicated to creating public good and strives to advance its impact through engagement by participating in private and public partnerships that support research and creative activities and enhance the vitality of the BGSU community. The mission of OTTS is to promote commercialization of technologies arising from BGSU research and services.

OTTS is a single point of entry for licensing BGSU technologies and to engage with BGSU for research and technical services, collaborative partnerships, and other engagement opportunities.

Mark Fox Q & A 

What does Ronald McDonald House Charities mean to you?
Ronald McDonald House Charities means a home-away-from-home for families while their child receives treatment at a local hospital.

Why did you get involved with RMHC?
I got involved at RMHC when I was invited by a friend to help prepare Diner on the House, and that was all it took. It is such a great feeling to help families feel at home, even when they can’t be.

What are you most proud of as a board member of RMHC?
I’m proud of serving in a variety of as leadership roles over the years, including Chair of the Red Shoe Society, Chair of the Annual Giving Committee, and Secretary of the Board of Directors.

Are there any certain projects or campaigns you participated in that stand out to you? And why?
My involvement with the initial phases of bringing the Care Mobile to Northwest Ohio and Southeast Michigan stands out to me the most, because it will bring us one step closer to our vision of a world where all children have access to medical care.

Any final thoughts on RMHC?
RMHC is more than just a home-away-from-home, it is also support programs that improve the health and well-being of children and their families.

Board Spotlight: Matt Simpson

by Adam Simpson | Dec 14, 2022 | Board Spotlight, News

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.