A few weeks ago, I had the opportunity to visit Ronald McDonald House in New Hyde Park along with business people from across Long Island. Adjacent to Long Island Jewish Hospital, Ronald McDonald House provides a place for families to stay while their children are receiving serious medical treatment. By the way, the facility is available to families whose children are being treated at other Long Island hospitals as well. Ronald McDonald House even provides a van to drive family members to and from the various facilities.

Being totally unprepared for what I saw at Ronald McDonald House, caused me to focus on writing this piece. The clean, bright and modern facility had a wonderful feeling of hospitality and warmth. Guest rooms look like home, and a kitchen is provided to prepare personal meals. The dedicated staff present that evening only reinforced the atmosphere.

Since opening in 1986, the House has been home for more than 3,000 families from 43 states and 40 foreign countries. And the Ronald McDonald House of Long Island was the 100th such facility in the world.

It is staffed by six full-time employees, five part-timers and an additional 100 volunteers who help with various functions from the speakers bureau and driving the van to helping in the office. The chairman of the speakers bureau, John F. Hennings, can arrange for a visit to your organization. He can be reached at 775-5683 and will be glad to provide an excellent speaker to detail the fine work of Ronald McDonald House.

Funded by community support, Ronald McDonald House of Long Island charges families only $15 per night. If a family cannot pay that amount, arrangements are made to even lower the nightly charge. The emphasis is on family -- not just the sick child. Other children in a family are also made to feel comfortable and at home in the facility.

McDonald's Corporation and the Ronald McDonald Houses do have a relationship. Each House is supported by $25,000 in seed money and a network of legal and other services. For example, Coca-Cola supplies "free" soda to each of the Houses. In addition the Tri-State Co-op of local McDonald restaurant owners has financially supported the Long Island House in significant ways.

Another source of financial support comes from the annual sports festival. Featuring softball, volleyball and a walk-a-thon, Long Island businesses and others will gather on Aug. 22 at Cantiague Park in Hicksville to support Ronald McDonald House of Long Island. With a bagel breakfast followed by entertainment starting at 10 a.m., a full day of fun can be had by all. The Outback Steakhouse will be catering the event with a sports memorabilia auction also planned.

If you would like to have more information about entering your team in one of the events or participating as an individual in the activities, call Silvana Gullo at 775-5683. You will certainly be supporting a worthwhile organization with fun for the entire family.