John Morin Tree Dedication

On Friday, Feb. 12, the Ronald McDonald House Charities in Temple had a tree dedication ceremony in honor of John Morin. Morin was a very special member of the RMHC Board of Directors. John started working for McDonald’s in Killeen in the 1960s and at the time of his passing, he owned all the McDonald’s in Waco.

“John touched a lot of people with his kindness. He was a good boss and family man. Today was his birthday so we are here to celebrate his life,” said Ceremony Coordinator Susan Bolton.

Morin was an important part of the planning of the RMHC in Temple.

“John was a tremendous asset to both the Ronald McDonald Franchises and The Ronald McDonald House Charities. He had served on the board and was our mentor. He had been serving the community for over 20 years. He inspired me, taught me a lot of things about personnel and fundraising. Our goal is to fundraise, that’s what we do. This house provides a need to children at the McLane Children’s Hospital; the families can come here and stay for free while their children are getting treatment. It cost $100 per room per day and we currently have 23 rooms,” said Board of Directors President Randy Sepulvado.

According to rmhc.org, RMHC has helped lessen the burden for nearly 5.7 million families in 2014. Since 1974, the network of local Chapters has been making children happier and healthier by keeping families together; giving them a place to rest and refresh. A place that feels like home. These programs, tailored to meet the urgent needs of each community, can now be found in more than 60 countries and regions across the globe. The mission of Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) is to create, find and support programs that directly improve the health and well-being of children. RMHC believes when you change a child’s life, you change a family’s, which can change a community and, ultimately, the world. In 2014, RMHC launched the three-year “RMHC Impact Strategy,” with a goal to serve one million more children and their families per year. This strategy not only builds on their success over the last 40 years, but also gives them the foundation to be stronger and more efficient than ever. The Houses are built on the simple idea that nothing else should matter when a family is focused on the health of their child; not where they can afford to stay, where they will get their next meal or where they will lay their head at night to rest. They believe that when a child is hospitalized the love and support of family is as powerful as the strongest medicine prescribed. The House also allows families to face the weight of illness together and allows children to get the best care possible.

“John lived life to the fullest, if there was a party he was all in. We were very blessed to have him in our lives as long as we did,” said Morin’s wife Carol Morin.