This past Saturday, everyone’s favorite Lakers personality spent the evening giving back to the community. Children and families staying at the Los Angeles Ronald McDonald House (LARMH), a program of the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Southern California, received a visit from Los Angeles Laker Robert Sacre. He stopped by the home to prepare and join families for dinner alongside Vince Bryson, executive director and Steve Miano, board of trustees member for the House.
When I first entered the Los Angeles Ronald McDonald House off of Fountain Ave in Los Angeles, I was not entirely sure what to expect but was pleasantly surprised. Everything was clean, modern, and much resembled the newer housing complexes I have recently seen shoot up around Los Angeles.
Robert Sacre instantly stands out; at 7’0”, 260 lbs he is hard to miss. But it was his infectious smile, aimed towards the youngsters standing around him taking pictures, that lit up the room. You could tell he was so glad to be there. As I walked through the doors and looked around, my nerves vanished. A young girl flashed me a grin as if to say “welcome” and I instantly felt an overwhelming love in the room. It was as if I was walking into my mom’s house for Sunday dinner growing up and I am pretty sure the Ronald McDonald Foundation wants you to feel that way.
Executive Directer Vincent Bryson explained to me how the large group dinners worked, and why tonight was so special. About four times a week the Los Angeles Ronald McDonald House has a group that comes in to cook for the 75 families that stay in the house. Sometimes it is a church group, or the House employees put on the feast. He even has a Buddhist organization that shows up the first Wednesday of every month to serve everyone; they have been doing so for fifteen years. But dinners are especially wonderful when someone like Sacre joins. The meals get everyone socializing, and for families struggling with the health of a child, meeting like parents in the same situation is refreshing. No one is making fun of the bald child going through chemo. No one is wondering why an eight year old girl has a prosthetic arm. Instead, everyone is eating, everyone is snapping photos with Robert, and everyone is enjoying themselves.
Robert isn’t new to this type of charity work. While at Gonzaga, he and his teammates participated in Coaches vs Cancer, and became particularly attached to a boy named Brandon who unfortunately passed away Robert’s senior year. When asked about the influence Brandon played in Sacre’s life, the Lakers center responded:
“Brandon was a big part of Gonzaga being successful. Our team played for him. He came to all the games he could, knew all of our names, and just inspired all of us.”
Robert admitted he has a Star Wars obsession and spoke about how he and Brandon would sit on the couch and talk about Yoda. It was the way the two bonded. Sacre continued to speak of his time working with the Ronald McDonald House as part of Coaches vs. Cancer many years ago during his off-seasons at Gonzaga. It was important for him to always stay involved, especially with a charity that helped so many kids who were struggling. Robert made it a point to help these children as much as he could, noticing that sometimes he forgot how special he was to these families.
“You take for granted that you are part of a team, like the Lakers. I forget sometimes that I am a big deal and my influence can mean a lot for many people. If I can help lift one kid up, and make him/her feel special, that is all that matters.”
Being a father himself, Robert understands that unconditional love. Cancer is a struggle for many, but it seems especially sad when it involves a child. It is the ultimate parental want to take that pain away, when really, your loved one has to fight that battle on their own. I couldn’t imagine what that would feel like. When I asked him what it meant to him to participate in a cause like that at the Ronald McDonald House, he had this to say:
“I am fortunate that my son is healthy. As a parent, I am happy that he is well. But what a lot of these families at The House struggle with….well that could happen to any of us. I’ve lost family members to cancer and it is a tough battle to fight.”
Next Page: Robert Sacre Interview
LN: You told me briefly about your relationship with Brandon, and I understand your mother has also worked with special needs kids. But have you ever experienced someone in your family go through a sickness similar to these families? Does it help you relate?
RS: My grandmother passed away due to to cancer only about two years ago. My grandfather also died about ten years ago from the same disease. I can absolutely relate to these families; I know what many of them are going through. Cancer can be a long battle and what these parents go through isn’t easy. In fact, it’s tiring. So, if I can brighten their lives by any means just by being here, then why not?
LN: Vincent, I am sure Robert’s story resonates with you. What is your favorite part about working for the Ronald McDonald House?
VB: I spent my whole life giving back to others and I take that message with me during my time here at The House. Even if a family is staying with us for one night, it is important for me to get to know these families. You know, sometimes I will be having a long day and I take a ride in the elevator and talk to a mother who’s riding with me. She instantly makes my day better because I look at her and think that compared to what she must be going through, I have no right to a bad day. I think these families give to me as much as I give to them. To be able to support these deserving people is such wonderful privilege and makes me keep coming back.
LN: Robert, do you have plans to come back to the Ronald McDonald House?
RS: I am definitely coming back. I have had such a great time here tonight. The people who work here are wonderful and the families are inspirational.
LN: Will you be bringing any other players with you?
RS: *Laughs* I will absolutely try. Metta is one of the most generous people I know so I could probably get him to come along.
LN: As a parent first, and Lakers player second, what piece of encouragement or advice can you give to families struggling with any sort of illness or difficulty in their lives?
RS: Life is full of problems, whether they be small or big. But you can’t stop living life. Solving these problems may seem tough, but you have to fight through the struggle.
LN: Vincent, I have the same question for you. I want to know what you hope others leave with when they visit the House and what advice you can give to families struggling like those that live here.
VB: I hope that people get a sense that as humans, we are all in this together. An illness or an accident can happen to anyone. Most of the people we serve do have little money but there is the occasional Porsche in the driveway. Families want to be here; they want to be close to their children in the hospital as well as be surrounded by people they can relate to. The Ronald McDonald House is a safe environment for everyone. This place really creates a family of strangers. Overall, I hope people learn to keep their faith. There is always a bright side to everything, and even though doctors do a great job, they don’t always have all the answers. Which is why these parents and parents like them need to keep fighting and persevere. Faith heals all.
I think the best part about getting to know Robert’s philanthropic side is feeling like I can relate to this Lakers rookie. You think about these people that you revere, like the number of athletes we all look up to, and often times wonder how unalike you both are. Not the case. This night was about demonstrating how as humans we all have the same needs and desires, the same instincts, and the ability to bond with one another. It was apparent in the faces of the employees how much each and everyone of them adored being there. Executive Director Vincent Bryson was recruited to the Los Angeles Ronald McDonald House almost fifteen years ago, unsure of what he was about to walk into. But Vince describes his experience the first time he stepped through the doors of the home:
“My heart opened. And it is like that with most people who walk through the door. My work here is highly relateable and we do something here that most people don’t think about till they need it. I came to the Ronald McDonald House without knowing what to expect other than I was needed, and the House was needed. The need for something like this is very present.”
Vince really is right; your heart does open at The House. He also explained how Los Angeles is really a Lakers town, which makes Robert’s generosity all the more appealing and amazing. What he said was really evident in the room; a number of kids had on Lakers jerseys or t-shirts. You could see the sparkle in the parents’ eyes to have someone from the Purple and Gold sitting and eating with their families. It was cool to distance myself to the corner of the room and really look at how Sacre made all these kids forget about their pain for a moment and just enjoy themselves. That is the measure of a true hero.
Next Page: Robert Sacre Discusses Ronald McDonald House Charities
I wanted to gain some perspective from a family that had previously stayed in the House. I was introduced to the McGees who now spend their time volunteering to help raise funds for Walk for Kids, an annual pledge event that benefits the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Southern California. Their son Malake was born with a number of complications, and after visiting the Children’s Hospital of Los Angeles, Michael and his wife Umeka were sent to spend some time at the House a couple years ago.
LN: How did you first react when you found out about the Ronald McDonald House?
McGee: We didn’t know we could stay until someone told us about it. A lot of people don’t really know about the House and I think sometimes people don’t believe it exists. This is a REAL house. A real place for people to stay. It is a real home. Plus you are close to the hospital where your child is staying. But I think the best part about being here is to hear everyone’s story. Sharing your experience with other people just helped so much.
LN: So can you tell me a little bit more about what we are experiencing tonight, with these large group meals?
McGee: What is going on tonight is something called a Meals of Love. This is the part of the charity that really helps families because you get to interact with other people. For the parents especially, nights like tonight put your mind at ease. It allows them to take a minute to be social with other people, instead of worrying. The other thing is not having to worry about cooking or when you are going to have time to eat. We are able to buy our own groceries and cook, but the Ronald McDonald House fed us so much when we were here, I don’t think our family had to do that! Plus, during the holidays like Christmas, the organization goes out of the way to make the kids feel special. This year they brought in Santa Clause and sometimes Ronald McDonald himself will come by to say hello to the kids. This place is really a home away from home.
LN: I understand there is an event coming up called Walk For Kids to raise money for Ronald McDonald House Charities of Southern California. Can you tell me a little more about that?
McGee: Families that stay in the house can be local, or travel from far away, including overseas. Families need this place to come home to. What Walk for Kids does is help generate money for things the house needs. Essentially, stuff you would buy for your home. The event is here to help raise money for the Ronald McDonald House and the families that reside in it.
LN: As a parent, what kind of piece of encouragement or advice can you give to families struggling with a story similar to yours?
McGee: You have got to keep your head up and pray. You need to stay focused on your child getting well; this means helping them to get better by offering them love and support.
A home away from home. That is what the Los Angeles Ronald McDonald House is about.
As I stare at the large silver tables, Sacre chowing down on some chicken while kids finger paint at the end of the table, I just can’t stop smiling. You end the kind of evening I had with an overwhelming feeling of love. It reminds you that the superficial things in life really don’t matter. These families and children are just like yours. Pasta night is the most popular night at the House, where the kids love the classic spaghetti with red sauce. The Los Angeles Ronald McDonald House also has a full set of grills, so during the summer everyone can have their own version of a backyard BBQ. When you look past the fact that some of those in the room with you may have a disease or disability, there isn’t anything differentiating the families from your own.
Needless to say, I left the Ronald McDonald House reminding myself to take nothing for granted.
If you can, do me a favor; tell someone today that you love them. Give a big smile to the next stranger you pass on the street. Hug an enemy. Because you never know what could happen next. Life is all about perspective.
Next Page: Finishing Up With Sacre, RMD House
About Ronald McDonald House Charities of Southern California (RMHCSC) and Walk for Kids
So what exactly does Ronald McDonald House provide? Ronald McDonald Houses are a part of RMHCSC and include six Houses across Southern California. They serve as a “home-away-from-home” for families of children undergoing treatment for cancer and other life-threatening illnesses at nearby hospitals and medical facilities. The Houses provides inexpensive, and often free, lodging for families (no family is ever turned away due to an inability to pay) who travel long distances while their children undergo treatment.
For more than 35 years, RMHCSC has been committed to providing comfort, care and support to children and families through a variety of wellness and educational programs across Inyo, Kern, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara and Ventura counties. With the help of volunteers, RMHCSC operates six Ronald McDonald Houses in Bakersfield, Loma Linda, Long Beach, Los Angeles, Orange and Pasadena and two Ronald McDonald Family Rooms, which help seriously-ill children and their families stay together during difficult times. The organization is also the only Ronald McDonald House Charities chapter that operates the cost-free, medically supervised, year-round Camp Ronald McDonald For Good Times®, designed to help children rediscover their self-esteem, self-reliance and independence after experiencing cancer. Within Southern California, RMHCSC has provided nearly $17 million in funding through its Community Grants Board to deserving non-profits and funds four college scholarship programs that have awarded more than $4.2 million to exemplary high school students. More information about RMHCSC and its programs can be found at www.rmhcsc.org or on Facebook and Twitter.
The Los Angeles Ronald McDonald House was opened in 1980 and rests two blocks from Children’s Hospital Los Angeles. It has welcomed more than 20,000 families from more than 40 countries and serves up to 75 families per night.
Walk for Kids is a non-competitive 5k pledge event raises awareness and funds for RMHCSC, including the Los Angeles Ronald McDonald House, which provides comfort, care and support to families with critically-ill children. The walk takes place at four locations simultaneously – Los Angeles, Anaheim, Ontario and Long Beach – on Sunday, April 7 at 8 a.m. you would like to participate by walking or simply donating you can visit www.walkforkids.org.