McCarthy Heart Hat Volunteers Pave the Way for Accessibility at Camp Ronald McDonald for Good Times
New concrete paths around facility will improve mobility for children and their families
McCarthy Building Companies, Inc. (McCarthy) poured their hearts into their work at the Mountain Center location of Camp Ronald McDonald for Good Times, a cost-free, medically supervised, residential camp experience available to any child who has or has had cancer, on or off treatment, from infancy through high school graduation. Being a community builder McCarthy sent volunteers from the McCarthy Heart Hats program to pour approximately 4,200 square feet of concrete over a 4-day period, donating more than 256hours of time, labor, and subject matter expertise, to create 5 accessible pathways and ramps to easily navigate the camp, improving the experience of the more than 1,500 of campers who are served by the Mountain Center location each year.
Nestled in the San Jacinto Mountains, the campsite provides opportunities for campers and their families to enjoy the beauty of a tranquil and majestic wooded hideaway only minutes away from comprehensive medical facilities and services. Due to the wooded location, the camp is surrounded by grassy areas in need of concrete pathways to the cabins to ensure that they are easily accessible to everyone, including individuals in wheelchairs or who have other challenges with mobility.
"This is a deeply personal project for me," said Justino “Tino” Franco, Project Assistant Manager at McCarthy, who has been volunteering for Camp Good Times as a counselor and fundraiser since 2016. "When my little brother was diagnosed with leukemia 16 years ago, Camp Ronald McDonald for Good Times brought me and my family in as campers and made sure we had all the support we needed throughout my brother’s treatment. Their unwavering commitment and dedication to all the families whose children are battling cancer got us through some of the toughest days of our lives. It means so much to be able to give back."
McCarthy’s support marks a significant milestone in the ongoing journey of the camp. The new accessible walkways and ramps will provide all campers with a safer, more inclusive environment, allowing them to participate fully in everything the camp has to offer.
“McCarthy has paved the way for countless campers whose lives have been altered by cancer. The foundation of camp has been strengthened, for we are all delighted and genuinely grateful,” said lifelong camp volunteer Mark Maxwell-Smith. “With accessible pathways, everyone can have unlabored entry to their cabins and to enjoy the full camp experience which includes enhanced self-esteem, heightened independence, and a summer full of joy, laughter, friendship, and achievement.”
The concrete pour is part of McCarthy Heart Hats, their national community engagement program committed to making communities stronger. Since its inception in 2005, Heart Hats has donated more than $20 million and thousands of hours of volunteer time to organizations in need, including Habitat for Humanity, Boys & Girls Clubs all over Southern California, American Heart Association, Children’s Hospital of Orange County, March of Dimes, and Big Brothers Big Sister of Orange County & Inland Empire.
“Being able to give back to the communities where we live and work is one of our greatest joys at McCarthy,” said Jim Madrid, Executive Vice President at McCarthy. “In the case of Camp Good Times, it means even more knowing the organization has played such a pivotal role in the life of one of our partners and his family.”
About McCarthy
McCarthy is the oldest privately held national construction company in the country – with almost 160 years spent collaborating with partners to solve complex building challenges on behalf of its clients. With an unrelenting focus on safety and a comprehensive quality program that span all phases of every project, McCarthy utilizes industry-leading design phase and construction techniques combined with value-add technology to maximize outcomes. Repeatedly honored as a Best Place to Work and Healthiest Employer, McCarthy is ranked the 19th largest domestic builder (Engineering News-Record, May 2023). With approximately 6,300 salaried employees and craft professionals, the firm has offices in St. Louis, Atlanta; Collinsville, Ill.; Kansas City, Kan.; Omaha, Neb.; Phoenix; Las Vegas; Denver; Dallas, Houston; and San Diego, Los Angeles, Newport Beach, San Francisco, San Jose and Sacramento, Calif. McCarthy is 100 percent employee owned. More information about the company is available online at www.mccarthy.com or by following the company on Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, and Instagram.
About Camp Ronald McDonald for Good Times
Camp Ronald McDonald for Good Times, a fun-filled, medically supervised, cost-free, year-round 60-acre camp dedicated to children with cancer and their families, has been changing lives since 1982. Camp offers a unique experience where patients become campers and hospital beds become cabin bunk beds. Camp focuses on the entire family, giving them the opportunity to pause, connect with others who are facing similar challenges, and renew a sense of hope. Learn More: rmhcsc.org/camp or follow them on socials @CampRonaldMcDonald.
