My final day on the board at RMHC

This year, Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) is celebrating its 40th anniversary of supporting Canadians by keeping families close. I feel so fortunate to be able to share this message and have the chance to reflect on my journey with RMHC, and what it means to me today. This is especially meaningful as today marks my final day as a Board Member of RMHC Canada, after 6 very meaningful years serving on the Board. 

Today, one in four Canadian families have either stayed at a Ronald McDonald House or Family Room or know someone who has. For me, my journey with RMHC started seven years ago. McDonald’s had come to our Google offices and I presented the concept of 10x Thinking. That day, two executive members of the RMHC organization were in the audience and they were interacting throughout. I was so interested in their perspectives and RMHC, and months later, it paved the way for me to join the Board of Directors.

While joining RMHC’s Board of Directors solidified my love for the charity, my admiration for RMHC started years prior.  Our Google team participated in an RMHC Home for Dinner event, cooking for families staying at the Ronald McDonald House in Toronto. These events give a deeper appreciation for the work that RMHC does for the communities and families it supports. This experience was so impactful that our Board of Directors do annual Home for Dinners as a team (and a few of them included a guest star appearance from a Google chef!).

My connection to RMHC also makes me reflect on my own childhood. When I was 9, I stayed in the Alberta Children’s Hospital for a month and it was a difficult time for our family. A recent RBC Economic Impact Study found that RMHC saves families more than $48 Million in out-of-pocket expenses each year in Canada, underscoring how essential RMHC is for families with sick children in Canada. 

Over the last 6 years, my time on the Board has been incredible. By getting close to RMHC and visiting multiple houses, I’ve been able to develop a greater appreciation for the incredibly important role RMHC plays in our pediatric healthcare system, and how genuinely beautiful the mission is in supporting families in their time of need. I’m also forever grateful to have had the opportunity to serve on the Board supporting this mission, with special thanks to Cathy Loblaw and Richard Ellis for the opportunity. 

I strongly encourage everyone to watch RMHC’s Family is Medicine campaign video, which gives an amazing look at what the charity is doing right now. I’m so excited to see what RMHC can accomplish in the years to come. As we celebrate its 40th anniversary in Canada, I feel so honoured to have been able to say I was a small part of the journey. 

As I look ahead, my thoughts turn to what we can do at Google to continue helping those in need. As the Executive Sponsor for Google for Non-Profits in Canada, we are continuing to onboard non-profits into our program to support the organizations that are supporting the most vulnerable in our society. 

Natasha