by Joe Wilhelm Jr.
Staff Writer
The executive director of the Ronald McDonald House Jacksonville is grateful for having such a unique position.
“How many executives get the chance to teach a 3 year-old from Saudi Arabia thumb wars on their way to get coffee?” asked Joy Hardaker.
Her office is located on the first floor of Jacksonville’s Ronald McDonald House, which is in San Marco. It is from this office that Hardaker oversees the day-to-day operation of the House. Part of this responsibility includes planning and development with the House’s board of directors, organizing special events, writing “Thank You” letters to supporters, running staff meetings and coordinating a staff of volunteers that “puts in over 21,000 hours in a year.”
Ronald McDonald House provides temporary lodging for critically ill, chronically ill and seriously injured children and their families while the child is receiving treatment. The facilities offer all the amenities one would find at home including, kitchen, laundry room, family room and bedrooms. In order to be admitted, a doctor, nurse, or social service worker at the hospital must refer the family to the Ronald McDonald House.
Families are asked to pay $10 for each night they stay, but no one is ever turned away because they can’t afford to pay. The average cost to stay at the House for one night is $100 and the average length of stay is five nights.
“My favorite part of the job is the children,” said Hardaker, “and the fact that even though a family is going through an extremely stressful time they can step out of their grief and crisis for a moment and say thank you. They may be thanking me or another member of the staff, but it’s the whole Ronald McDonald House that makes it happen for them and it makes me feel good to hear that. It energizes me to go out and tell the Ronald McDonald House story to the community.”
Hardaker has been involved with the Ronald McDonald House for about 14 years, which includes being named executive director in 1999. Her first experience with the House was as a member of Alpha Delta Pi sorority at the University of Florida.
“It was our national philanthropy,” said Hardaker. “I brought dessert over to the Ronald McDonald house through my UF connection.”
She has built a career working with children with jobs at the Museum of Science and History, and Discovery Place Children’s Museum in Charlotte, N.C.
“Once I became a museum person, I thought I’d always be a museum person,” said Hardaker. “But I love the Ronald McDonald House.”
The Ronald McDonald House first opened in Jacksonville in November of 1988 with a 10-bedroom facility on Jefferson Street near Shands Jacksonville. The program grew and moved to a 20-bedroom facility on Children’s Way in San Marco and 10 more bedrooms were added in 2004.
Since opening its doors in 1988 it has served 25,000 families with 70 percent of those families residing in Florida.
The independent 501(c)(3) organization raises a third of its annual budget through four special events: McGala, Joe-Z Celebrity Bowling Classic, Children’s Way 5k and Family Day and Pig Pickin’.
356-2466