By Daniel Rose
Hi! My name is Daniel Rose, and I am a senior at The Ohio State University studying Finance and PPE (Philosophy, Politics, Economics). After three years of experience scheduling classes, I managed to have a few free days a week this semester. I knew I wanted to give back to the community that raised me before graduating, and the Ronald McDonald House seemed like the perfect place to do that.
Before starting, I understood little about the House besides its partnerships with local McDonald’s franchises. However, with more research, I appreciated the House’s purpose of serving families with hospitalized children, providing them with a room and meals throughout the day to relieve some stress. After reaching out, I was placed on the Marketing & Communications team and hit the ground running.
I quickly realized that working at a nonprofit involves putting your hands in many buckets: one of my initial projects was to help remodel the House’s artwork before its grand reopening concluded. My high school never taught woodshop (let’s bring it back!), so my first few attempts at hanging paintings were subpar. Far from subpar, though, was the impact these works, and other careful details around the House, would make on families for years to come.
Along the way, I ventured into social media and created content for the Team Cuisine program (thanks Chef Blair!), Breakfast with Santa, a Blue Jackets suite raffle, and the holiday Bake Sale. I also wrote a special rap for our Fill-Up the House campaign as my first video. These were all new skills to me – I had to download TikTok for the internship because I don’t use it in my own time (crazy for someone my age, I know).
The timing to enter the marketing team was impeccable as the House worked toward and opened its building expansion. I engaged with NBC4’s telethon that highlighted new guest rooms and playrooms, and I helped attach our donor heart wall with super volunteer Scott next to the cafeteria space. Executive Assistant and Administrative Coordinator Lulani and I drove to pick up a fantastical horse piece (which was too big for our truck) and evaluated our gaming consoles for the reopening as well.
Interning with the House has been an eye-opening and rewarding experience. If you are interested in learning new things, working in adaptable environments, and making a real impact on people under difficult circumstances, consider interning or volunteering at the House.
A special thanks to the Marketing and communications team: Ryan, Rick, Maddie, Max, and Clair. You all made this semester a great one!
