More than 100 friends of the Ronald McDonald House of Long Island joined staff, volunteers and Board of Directors at the House's annual "Lights of Love" holiday celebration, an evening of festivities and camaraderie held in the spirit of the holidays. Prior to the start of the activities, the 2008 Board of Directors were sworn into their positions by Assemblyman Mark Weprin.

At this year's event, not only did the jovial Santa Claus hand out gifts and bring a smile to the faces of many children of the house, guests had the opportunity to honor Ronald McDonald House Managers, Karen and Charlie Calma, who are retiring from their positions on December 31 after serving the house for the past 14 years.

Before Karen and Charlie joined the house staff on July 1, 1993, they were unaware of this hidden gem located so close to Schneider Children's Hospital. After they began their tenure at the house, their lives changed dramatically. The devoted couple soon became an integral part of Ronald McDonald House, fondly being known as the "Mom and Pop" to children staying at the house.

The couple was the inspiration behind the successful Volunteer Dinner Program, which took hold in 1995, two years after they began working at the house. In a short time, the house soon became their second home and they made themselves available to families in need 24 hours a day.

When asked about some of her favorite experiences at the house, Karen said she could sit for hours and tell hundreds of touching stories. She recalls a time when three children from different parts of the world met each other at the house and became fast friends because they realized they had the same hand deformity. The children, 6 years old at the time, were from Russia, Germany and the Southern part of the United States. Each needed the same medical treatment to correct the condition.

"The children became best friends and still stay in touch to this day -- they're 18 years old now," said Karen. "This story was so moving that I still like to tell it."

Karen explained that it is truly gratifying to know that the families she has come to know over the years have taken comfort in the Ronald McDonald House. She is introspective when she thinks about the future.

"Now it's time to move on and begin a new journey. We've given our love to these families and we are proud of the work we have done," explained Karen. "To know we were able to immediately help a family is so rewarding. When families come to us in the middle of the night and can stay at a place that is safe and warm and near their children is priceless."

"The biggest joy for me was to grow with the families and see them leave here in a good frame of mind, regardless of where they came from," added Charlie.

The Ronald McDonald House of Long Island is a 'home-away-from home' for families of children who are undergoing medical treatment in area hospitals. Located on the campus of Schneider Children's Hospital, the House accommodates families in a warm and supportive environment. Since 1986, the House has served more than 21,000 residents caring for over 10,000 seriously ill children. Many of the families that stay with us come from Queens, Brooklyn, Staten Island, Nassau and Suffolk Counties; as well as the surrounding metropolitan New York area, the nation and more than 80 countries around the world.