Ronald McDonald House Charities® of Eastern New England Donates to the Massachusetts Hospital School

Release Contributed By Ronald McDonald House Charities

Ronald McDonald House Charities® (RMHC®) of Eastern New England recently presented a $20,000 grant to (MHS) to help fund the expansion of their outdoor sports track to make it wheelchair accessible for races and summer camp programs.

“We are delighted to have the support of the RMHC of Eastern New England and look forward to the MHS children using the new track,” says Kathleen Kaleel, Foundation Director at the Massachusetts Hospital School Foundation.

The MHS provides medical, habilitative, rehabilitative, recreational, educational and vocational services to children and young adults with multiple disabilities, assisting them to achieve their maximum level of independence in all aspects of life.

“For over 20 years, RMHC of Eastern New England has created, identified and supported programs which directly improve the health and well being of thousands and thousands of local children and families every year,” says Karen McEachern, Executive Director of RMHC of Eastern New England.  “We’re proud to support The Massachusetts Hospital School to help ensure that all children and their families have a brighter tomorrow.”

About The Massachusetts Hospital School

In 1907 Dr. Edward H. Bradford, Professor and Dean of Orthopedics at Harvard Medical School, and Chief of Orthopedics at Boston Children’s Hospital, had a vision of a society where all children would receive an education. Upon discovering that there were many physically disabled children living in Massachusetts, who had grown into adolescence without a single day’s schooling, Dr. Bradford began to pioneer for a change. The Massachusetts Hospital School (MHS) was created through legislation enacted in 1904, largely through Dr. Bradford’s efforts. The Hospital School opened its doors in December of 1907becoming the first facility in the nation to provide treatment and education for physically impaired children of normal cognitive ability. Throughout the years MHS has responded to the changing medical needs of children and young adults and continues to be a model program nationally.

About Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) of Eastern New England

Since it was organized in 1986, RMHC of Eastern New England has given over $21 million to organizations and programs helping thousands of children and families throughout Eastern New England.  RMHC of Eastern New England provides on-going support to both the Boston and Providence Ronald McDonald Houses®, which provide a home away from home for the families of seriously ill children receiving treatment at nearby hospitals and two Ronald McDonald Care Mobiles™. The Care Mobile in Worcester, Massachusetts provides medical and dental care to children with unmet healthcare needs, and the Ronald McDonald Care Mobile in Rhode Island (a.k.a The Molar Express) provides dental care to children in 20 communities.  For more information, please visit www.rmhcene.org.