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Community Corner

Ronald McDonald House Charities Awards Grant for Home Away Boston Apartment for Families with Critically ill Children

Home Away Boston announced today the opening of a third apartment in Charlestown for families with cancer and other critical illnesses through a key grant provided by Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC®) of Eastern New England®.

Home Away Boston is a new nonprofit dedicated to providing comfortable housing, a caring community and support services close to the hospital and free of charge to families with critically ill children.  The organization helps to remove the stress of living in an unknown city far from home and alleviates the many out-of-pocket costs families experience so they can focus on their child’s health and medical care.

Home Away Boston will officially dedicate the apartment with RMHC of Eastern New England and local families receiving care for their children during an event later this spring.

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“Each year thousands of families manage incredible financial and emotional stress as they seek life-saving treatment for their children, and it’s vitally important they have a supportive and comfortable place to live during this time,” said Shaun McConnon, founder and president of Home Away Boston. “We’re incredibly grateful to Ronald McDonald House Charities of Eastern New England for their generous support and investment, which has enabled us to open a third apartment to serve families visiting Boston for their child’s critical medical care.” 

Recent studies have illustrated the growing need for temporary housing and services for families who come to Boston for their children’s medical care. Already Home Away Boston has experienced high demand and a waiting list of families interested in staying with the organization. With the $40,000 grant from Ronald McDonald House Charities of New England, Home Away Boston has been able to open a third apartment at the Harborview in the Charlestown Navy Yard – just 2.2 mile free shuttle bus ride from the MassGeneral Hospital for Children.

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“The mission of Ronald McDonald House Charities is to create and support programs that improve the health and well being of children and Home Away Boston helps to meet the needs of children at their most critical time – as they are battling life threatening illnesses,” said Al Bennett, grant committee chairman of Ronald McDonald House Charities of Eastern New England.  “Parents with sick children face tremendous costs associated with treatment, travel, lodging and logistics, and we’re pleased to provide the funding for this apartment to help alleviate some of these financial burdens.”

 Home Away Boston opened its first apartment in 2012 through a founding grant by BitSight Technologies CEO Shaun McConnon and a grant from MassGeneral Hospital for Children. The organization hopes to add new residential units to help meet the unmet housing and support needs of families coming to Boston for pediatric medical care. 

“We’re fortunate in Boston to have access to some of the best healthcare in the world, but we can’t forget about the significant need for affordable, centrally-located housing options for families traveling to this city,” said Dr. Howard Weinstein, MD, chief of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, MassGeneral Hospital for Children Cancer Center and a founding board member of Home Away Boston.  “Home Away Boston provides the close proximity to the hospital and vital support services that are so critical during treatment.” 

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