Ronald McDonald House Teen Board

The Ronald McDonald Teen Board is comprised of a highly select group of high school students from the Springfield area. These teens are chosen from their peers based on academics, activities, and commitment to volunteering. There is generally only one representative chosen from any high school.   Teens must complete an application, provide recommendations, and attend a personal interview before they are chosen for this Board. Once chosen, they must sign a contract stating that they have read the by-laws and will abide by the rules of the Board.  Their term is expected to be the remainder of their high school years ( about half join as sophomores and half as juniors).  The commitment is significant, with each teen expected to volunteer a minimum of 40 hours per year. We also require the teens to rotate positions of leadership, with a different teen responsible for planning and running the Board meeting each month.  Each teen must also present a report to the Adult Board of Directors for the Ronald McDonald House, as well as function as secretary for the group on a rotating basis. As a result, after a tenure on this Teen Board, each member will have full knowledge of how to organize and run a Board of Directors.

     The current Teen Board consists of 24 students from 15 different high schools.  Board members, are responsible for planning and executing activities for the Ronald McDonald House of Springfield. These include fund raising, holiday decorating, facility maintenance, and planning and providing entertainment for the children who are staying at the House. This often consist of holiday themed parties, cooking, crafts, and an indoor carnival.  We have also taken the children on field trips to the Basketball Hall of Fame, and Falcon's hockey games. The Springfield, Massachusetts Ronald McDonald House is unique, in that many of the children who are patients of the local hospitals are actually staying in the Ronald McDonald House, along with their families,. Many of these children have long term recovery programs which require them to have daily access to the hospital here for several months at a time. The Teen Board is a very vital and important part of the health and happiness of these children, providing much needed entertainment and cheer during their convalescence. On the reverse side, it takes a special type of teenage volunteer to be able to deal with the handicaps and severe deformities that afflict many of these children. Currently 6 advisors oversee this board (this fluctuates yearly with a minimum of 3).  The Teen Board has existed for over 12 years

Click here for an application