First step taken to building “Jacob’s House” in Temecula
The North County Times (The Californian)
TEMECULA —- After the death of his son, Temecula City Manager Shawn Nelson shared with a handful of community members his desire to see a Ronald McDonald House built in the city.
But, it turns out, there will be no Ronald McDonald House for Temecula.
Instead, a coalition of Southwest County business and community leaders want to build an independently funded and operated facility that would keep with the spirit of the Ronald McDonald Houses —- to serve a wide variety of patients and their families who need a place to stay during a time of crisis.
The concept behind the Ronald McDonald House program is to offer a temporary residence near the medical facility where family members of ill children can sleep, eat and find support from others. Those who stay at the facility are asked to make nominal donations —- on average $5 to $20 —- per day, but those who can’t afford the cost stay for free.
Wednesday afternoon, about 30 community members gathered at South Coast Winery to determine how to move forward with the project, dubbed “Jacob’s House.”
Jacob Nelson died in an automobile accident in October 2006 at the age of 24.
“I think this project is anointed,” Nelson said. “This is an opportunity to do something that will carry on for years. ‘Jacob’s House’ could have been called anything else, and I would be here trying to bring this facility to Temecula.”
Nelson said he has learned through the past months that the best way to ease the pain of grief is to reach out and help others who are hurting.
“When I look out at this room, I know all of you are here because you care,” he said.
Nelson said he would not serve on the Jacob’s House executive committee so as not to create a conflict of interest if and when the project comes to the city of Temecula for approval. However, Nelson could not deny that the outpouring of community interest in the project named for his son was an honor.
Katherine Bailey, regional vice president for 1st Centennial Bank in Temecula, arrived at Wednesday’s meeting with a look of determination. And when the time came to form a steering committee, Bailey was the first to volunteer.
“When something touches me, I stand behind it,” Bailey said. “This house is something I am drawn to both as a mother and as a friend of Shawn’s. … I want to use my skills (in fundraising) as a way to give back.”
Bailey will head the finance and resource development subcommittee. Subcommittees for planning, marketing and design were also determined. The final executive working committee, which will be made of 12 to 18 members, has yet to be formed.
“We are starting at zero. Zero money, zero organization, zero property,” said Ralph Plumb of the Global Community Foundation. “But Temecula deserves an independent facility, not restricted by the rules of the Ronald McDonald House —- a place of refuge, a place that is inexpensive —- for families during difficult times.”
Plumb said his best estimate of what the project would cost —- depending on the cost of land —- would be in the range of $3 million to $4 million. The Global Community Foundation, which is a 501(c)3 charitable organization is expected to be the operator of the facility under the jurisdiction of its board of directors.
The preferred property for Jacob’s House would be a site on De Portola Road, next to the new hospital site. The plans for “Jacob’s House” are separate from the building of the proposed hospital on Highway 79 South. However, it is the intent the hospital and the house will merge to serve patients and their families when both are completed said Plumb.
In February, interested members of the community —- ranging from health care providers to city officials —- invited Ronald McDonald Foundation to establish a Ronald McDonald House in Temecula. But because of Ronald McDonald Foundation’s specific criteria and exclusive focus on children, the project was reassessed and became a grassroots effort.
It was an earlier accident involving Nelson’s daughter, Jennifer, which the importance of a residential facility near a hospital became apparent for the city manager. In 1997, Jennifer Nelson was involved in a severe crash, which broke her back and kept her in intensive care for a month. The Nelsons lived in the adjoining Ronald McDonald House while she recuperated.
Jennifer has since recovered and is expecting her first child to arrive in August. It is a boy, and he will be named Jacob, she said.
– Contact staff writer Nicole Sack at (951) 676-4315, Ext. 2616, or nsack@californian.com.