The House That Love Built

Baby Eleanor in her carseat

Weighing only 1 pound 15 ounces at birth, Eleanor's parents spent the first few months of her life cribside with their new daughter while she was cared for at MUSC.

In 2002, at age 17, I was diagnosed with osteosarcoma. My family and I found ourselves in a new world of medical treatments far away from home as I was treated by Comer Children's Hospital in Chicago. My parents were incredibly grateful for the Ronald McDonald house as it provided them a Home-away-from-home while they cared for me during my treatments. They still speak often of the friends they met there and the impact that House had on their lives.

Baby Eleanor in her carseat ready to go home

After 108 days in the hospital, Eleanor was finally able to go home with her family.

I never truly understood how impactful and life-changing the Ronald McDonald House was for my parents until I, too, became a parent of a critically ill child. At 25 weeks pregnant, my water broke and I was rushed to MUSC via ambulance from our home in Beaufort, South Carolina. Six days later, I delivered our daughter, Eleanor Vivian, at 26 weeks. She weighed 1 pound, 15 ounces, measuring 12.5 inches long. The next 108 days my husband and I spent cribside as we cared for our daughter and watched her grow.

Ronald McDonald House Charities of Charleston became our home, the staff there became our friends. Each morning as I walked through the house on my way back to the hospital, someone would ask about Eleanor with genuine care and a gentle compassion. It was so helpful in our journey to be surrounded by others who cared about us and understood that our whole world was across the street being cared for by the amazing professionals at MUSC.

Eleanor with her parents in the hospital

Eleanor's family is grateful for the compassion and care they received while staying at RMHCC.

When the day finally came, and we were preparing to leave the House to take our daughter home, it hit me. This is the house that love built. This is the house that supports you in your weakest, scariest, most vulnerable times. This is the house that also cheers you on and offers you so many small pieces of normalcy in a time that is anything but normal. As we left the house, with tears of joy in our eyes, we knew we were no longer leaving "the house" we were leaving "our house" and we are forever grateful for everything.

Want to Learn More?

The Ronald McDonald House in Charleston offers families, like Eleanor's, a place to call home when they need it most. To learn more about how you can support these familes in need, contact Alix Tew at 843-723-7957 Ext. 303 or alix@rmhcharleston.org.

A charitable bequest is one or two sentences in your will or living trust that leave to Ronald McDonald House Charities of Charleston a specific item, an amount of money, a gift contingent upon certain events or a percentage of your estate.

an individual or organization designated to receive benefits or funds under a will or other contract, such as an insurance policy, trust or retirement plan

"I, [name], of [city, state, ZIP], give, devise and bequeath to Ronald McDonald House Charities of Charleston [written amount or percentage of the estate or description of property] for its unrestricted use and purpose."

able to be changed or cancelled

A revocable living trust is set up during your lifetime and can be revoked at any time before death. They allow assets held in the trust to pass directly to beneficiaries without probate court proceedings and can also reduce federal estate taxes.

cannot be changed or cancelled

tax on gifts generally paid by the person making the gift rather than the recipient

the original value of an asset, such as stock, before its appreciation or depreciation

the growth in value of an asset like stock or real estate since the original purchase

the price a willing buyer and willing seller can agree on

The person receiving the gift annuity payments.

the part of an estate left after debts, taxes and specific bequests have been paid

a written and properly witnessed legal change to a will

the person named in a will to manage the estate, collect the property, pay any debt, and distribute property according to the will

A donor advised fund is an account that you set up but which is managed by a nonprofit organization. You contribute to the account, which grows tax-free. You can recommend how much (and how often) you want to distribute money from that fund to RMHC Charleston or other charities. You cannot direct the gifts.

An endowed gift can create a new endowment or add to an existing endowment. The principal of the endowment is invested and a portion of the principal’s earnings are used each year to support our mission.

Tax on the growth in value of an asset—such as real estate or stock—since its original purchase.

Securities, real estate or any other property having a fair market value greater than its original purchase price.

Real estate can be a personal residence, vacation home, timeshare property, farm, commercial property or undeveloped land.

A charitable remainder trust provides you or other named individuals income each year for life or a period not exceeding 20 years from assets you give to the trust you create.

You give assets to a trust that pays our organization set payments for a number of years, which you choose. The longer the length of time, the better the potential tax savings to you. When the term is up, the remaining trust assets go to you, your family or other beneficiaries you select. This is an excellent way to transfer property to family members at a minimal cost.

You fund this type of trust with cash or appreciated assets—and may qualify for a federal income tax charitable deduction when you itemize. You can also make additional gifts; each one also qualifies for a tax deduction. The trust pays you, each year, a variable amount based on a fixed percentage of the fair market value of the trust assets. When the trust terminates, the remaining principal goes to RMHC Charleston as a lump sum.

You fund this trust with cash or appreciated assets—and may qualify for a federal income tax charitable deduction when you itemize. Each year the trust pays you or another named individual the same dollar amount you choose at the start. When the trust terminates, the remaining principal goes to RMHC Charleston as a lump sum.

A beneficiary designation clearly identifies how specific assets will be distributed after your death.

A charitable gift annuity involves a simple contract between you and RMHC Charleston where you agree to make a gift to RMHC Charleston and we, in return, agree to pay you (and someone else, if you choose) a fixed amount each year for the rest of your life.
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