Loma Linda Business Leaders Benefit Loma Linda Ronald McDonald House

LOMA LINDA >> The Loma Linda Ronald McDonald House, a facility located across the street from LLUMC dedicated to keeping families together in times of medical struggle by offering temporary housing, knows this all too well which is why, every year, they recognize local leaders who serve others on a daily basis. Giving back isn't just about serving the community, but also highlighting others who also live a life of philanthropy. On Thursday, Jan. 28, residents from throughout the county of San Bernardino joined at the DoubleTree Hotel in Ontario for the inaugural A Few Good Men Gala to honor seven distinguished business professionals for their philanthropic contributions and dedication to improving the community. The red carpet event benefited the Loma Linda Ronald McDonald House, providing funds that will help keep families with critically-ill children close as they receive the care they need so they can heal and cope better together. One family, the Shafers, show how their life has been impacted as a result of the work of Loma Linda Ronald McDonald House: In January of 2008 Scott and Jennifer Shafer of Hesperia stayed at Loma Linda Ronald McDonald House when their son, Soren, was born with hypoplastic right heart syndrome. Although Soren passed away at just 17 days old, the Shafer family remains grateful for the time they were able to spend with Soren. Soon after Soren's passing Scott and Jennifer learned they were expecting another baby boy, Easton. Soon after his birth Easton developed Respiratory Syncytial Virus (RSV) and his family would once again find themselves finding comfort at the Ronald McDonald House. During their time at the Ronald McDonald House Easton's condition became critical and they almost lost him. Over time, his condition improved and he was able to go home. To this day Jennifer believes that in addition to the great works by his doctors, Easton got better because his family was there throughout his recovery. More recently the Shafer family returned to the Ronald McDonald House in November of 2015 when their son Landon was born two months early. During her pregnancy Jennifer learned that Landon's kidneys were not functioning correctly and due to a blockage there was no amniotic fluid. The outlook was grim and the Shafer family was preparing for the worst. Jennifer shares that even though the Ronald McDonald House was full at her family's time of need, the organization paid for a hotel room to accommodate the family's needs. "I think that's kind of a testament to how important the expansion of the House is. So many people are turned away because there's just not enough room. The importance of being near your child is just unimaginable." Exactly 8 years after their first stay at the Ronald McDonald House, they founded themselves in the same situation and wondered if they would be planning a funeral for their son. Landon spent two months in the NICU and underwent several surgeries and treatments. Jennifer was able to be with Landon everyday and Scott and their other children were able to visit. During their two months stay the Shafer family celebrated birthdays, Christmas, and Scott and Jennifer's 18th wedding anniversary. On Jan. 13, 2016, Landon's original due date, he was released from the hospital and able to go home! Although he still has a long road ahead of him with many follow up visits and surgeries in the future, his family can rest assured knowing that they have a home away from home at the Loma Linda Ronald McDonald House. Through the annual A Few Good Men Gala, Loma Linda Ronald McDonald House strives to shine a light on local leaders living for others. The honorees for this year's event included: Jack Long, founder, Fontana Foundation of Hope Steve Eckerson, general manager, Citizens Business Bank Arena Mike Gallo, president and chief executive officer, Kelly Space & Technology Derek Hanson, general manager, Tom Bell Auto Group Michael Krouse, president and chief executive officer, Ontario Convention & Visitors Bureau Ontario Mayor Paul Leon Dan Tate, president, Majestic Land & Don Ferrarese Foundation. “The leadership and passion demonstrated by these individuals is a powerful example of the way we can affect change throughout the region,” said Mike Kovack, executive director, Loma Linda Ronald McDonald House. “We were honored to recognize them and appreciate everything they have done to support our work and the communities they serve.” Class of 2016 Honoree - Jack Long Founder, Fontana Foundation of Hope Born in Detroit, Michigan in 1938, Jack Long and his family moved to Riverside, California in 1943. Jack moved to Fontana in 1989 where he would raise his family and become an outstanding member of the community. Before his 30-year career in construction, Jack spent 6 years working in Orange County for an investment company. His work as an independent contractor would lead him to an 11-year tenure with the U.S. Government as well as more than 20 years working in the property management field. Jack has also had a successful career of volunteer coaching. From 1973-2004 he has coached 3rd graders all the way up to high school girls pitch softball. Jack has coached winter league in Fontana, Rialto, and Riverside and has coached national travel ball teams. In additional to softball, Jack coached the 1977-1978 state championship girls basketball team of Riverside Parks and recreation; featuring Title 9 player, Cheryl Miller. Jack served as an usher and deacon in his church for 15 years. In 2014 Jack founded the Fontana Foundation of hope, committed to supporting and growing community programs in the Inland Empire. Beyond his work in construction industry, years of coaching and playing sports, and his many charitable endeavors; Jack is most passionate about his family. Jack has 15 children, 21 grandchildren and 8 great grandchildren. He still resides in Fontana with his beautiful wife Adrianna, and their sons. Of his life, Jack shares, "God has picked me up out of the quick sand, sat me on the bank, slapped me upside the back of the head, and said 'Ok, get out there and do better'. You go throughout life wondering 'why, why why'; at 75 years old, I know now.. when you do something, give it your all, don't cut it short." Class of 2016 Honoree - Steve Eckerson, General Manager, Citizens Business Bank Arena Steve Eckerson is the General Manager of Citizens Business Bank Arena in Ontario, a position he has held since August 2007. The arena was built and owned by the City of Ontario and is manged by AEG Facilities. The arena seats up to 11,000, opened in October of 2008 and is home to the Ontario Reign Hockey Club, the Ontario Fury professional indoor soccer team as well as, many concerts, sporting events, motor sports and family shows. Before joining AEG Facilities to manage Citizens Business Bank Arena, Eckerson was Director of Event Sales & Operations for Qwest Field (Home of the Seattle Seahawks and Seattle Sounders), Qwest Field & Event Center and WaMu Theater in Seattle. He has also held executive level positions with the Oregon Museum of Science and Industry in Portland, OR; Florida Expo Park (Florida State Fair) in Tampa FL; Eastern States Exposition (New England's State Fair) in West Springfield, MA; Cumberland County Civic Center in Portland, ME; and Kentucky Center for the Arts in Louisville, KY. Eckerson currently serves as Past Chairmen of both the Ontario Chamber of Commerce and the Inland Empire Tourism Council. He is also on the board of the Children's Fund, California Sports Hall of Fame and the San Antonio Community Hospital Foundation Golf Committee. Eckerson graduated from the University of Vermont with a BS degree in Accounting in 1973 and is a member of the University of Vermont Athletic Hall of Fame and played three seasons of minor league Hockey. He has two sons, Brad, age 25, a graduate of Willamette University currently working for the Disney Theater Corporation in NYC, and Alex, age 23, a recent graduate of Oregon State University and a former member of the men's soccer team. "The Ronald McDonald House provides a shelter... a home away from home for people who have a child that is in the hospital for a length of time, and it gives them a place to stay in a comfortable location with other families that are in similar situations," he shares. Class of 2016 Honoree - Michael J. Gallo, President & CEO, Kelly Space & Technology Michael J. Gallo began his professional career as an Officer in the United States Air Force, managing Military Airlift Command facility design and operations at Norton Air Force Base in San Bernardino. He designed and managed a variety of base facility and airfield construction projects and directed mobility deployment forces to establish remote airfields and base operations worldwide. In 1993 Gallo co-founded Kelly Space & Technology, INC. (KST), a commercial Reusable Launch Vehicle (RLV), aerospace, energy and homeland security technology development company located at the former Norton Air Force Base, where he currently serves as President and Chief Executive Officer, overseeing the day-to-day operations of the company and providing leadership to the development and commercialization of the company's LLC, A KST subsidiary, formed to implement its energy-related lines of business. As an implementer, Gallo formed the Aerospace Research & Development Center (ARDC) at the San Bernardino International Airport to mature and deploy technologies that provide advancements in aviation, space, homeland security, clean energy generation and related technologies for both military and commercial system applications. Gallo provides leadership to the commercial, civil, and military community as a founding member, the past Chairman and Chief Financial Officer (CFO) of the California Space Authority (CSA), an organization that serves as the space policy advisor to the State of California and represents California's diverse space enterprise community. He is also the Past Chairman of the Board for the San Bernardino Area Chamber of Commerce, founding member and School Board Chairman of the Norton Space and Aeronautics Academy (NSAA), a hands-on K-12 San Bernardino County Charter School. Gallo founded Technical Employment Training, INC, a 501(c)3 non-profit corporation, a partnership betwen education and industry, to prepare a skilled and highly qualified work force manufacturing sector. He speaks to the impact he knows the Ronald McDonald House is making saying, "If you are looking for an investment.. this is the place. This is the place it will matter in the lives of young people, young children, and their families, and what better investment." Class of 2016 Honoree - Derek Hanson, General Manager, Tom Bell Chevrolet Derek has been the General Manger of Tom Bell Chevrolet in Redlands since 2011. In 2012 Derek coordinated a donation of two vehicles to the Loma Linda Ronald McDonald House and soon joined the Board Of Trustees, serving as Board Chairman for two years. Derek currently serves on the Loma Linda Ronald McDonald House Board of Trustees at the Immediate Past Chairman. Prior to joining Tom Bell Chevrolet, Derek enjoyed a 17 year career in advertising. He began his career with Comcast Cable as a sales associate, leaving 7 years later as General Sale Manager for the Los Angeles Market. Derek was recruited to lead the Western Region for Charter Communications as the Vice President of Ad Sales for 7 years. Derek then joined a start-up in Silicon Valley, Zvents, as VP of Sales. During his 4 year tenure he developed a revenue strategy, built a sales team, and was a member of the executive team that successfully manged an exit by selling Zvents to eBay in 2011. Hanson graduated from California State University-Northridge with a BS in Business Administration. When Derek isn't off-roading in his Jeep or collecting wine he can be found spending time with his wife Tracie, his two teenage daughters and their dog, Flea, at their home in Huntington Beach. Of his involvement with Ronald McDonald House, he shares, "I take great joy in seeing other people pull themselves up with just that little bit of assistance and I think that is what philanthropy, to me, is all about.. giving that little bit of a boost that allows someone to make happen for them what they can make happen for them. I think the proudest thing I've been able to do is be a part of the Loma Linda Ronald McDonald House, particularly as we are growing, and particularly as we are growing and expanding." Class of 2016 Honoree - Michael Krouse President and CEO, Ontario Convention Center & Visitor's Bureau Michael K. Krouse, CHME, CMP, CASE, is Regional Vice President, Convention Centers West for SMG Worldwide Entertainment & Convention Venue Management. He is responsible for oversight of 10 convention centers and convention visitor bureaus located in the Western United States. SMG is a world leader in venue management, marketing, and development of convention centers, exhibition halls and trade centers, arenas, stadiums, performing arts centers, theaters, and specific-use venues such as equestrian centers. Earlier in his career, Krouse spent more than 25 years in a variety of senior hotel sales management positions, where he frequently was charged with overseeing more than 22 hotels and multiple brands simultaneously. His customer service ratings at the time soared consistently above the 95 percentile. Key positions that he held during this time included Interstate Hotels and Resorts Vice President of Sales and Marketing, and Hilton Hotels Corporation Regional Director of Sales and Marketing (West), for more than 13 years. He has served as a Board Member of UCLA Extension Executive Hotel Program and Creativity Advisory Council, and the Los Angles Hotel/Motel Association. He is also member of the Professional Convention Management Association (PCMA), American Society of Association Executives (ASAE), Meeting Professional International (MPI) and the Convention Industry Council (CIC). Krouse serves as a Board Member for Ontario Airport Travelers Aid. Krause shared, "I think we have a great opportunity here, through any way we can help, to give back to our community through these services and efforts of organizations like Ronald McDonald House." Krouse resides in Orange County with his partner of more than twenty years and three children. His hobbies include travel, gardening, classic cars, music and pets. Class of 2016 Honoree - Paul Leon Mayor, City of Ontario Mayor Paul Leon was first appointed to the Ontario City Council in 1999. He was later elected to the City Council in 2000 and re-elected in 2004. He served as Mayor pro Tem from December 2002 until January 2005. Paul was elected to Mayor in November 2006. In addition to his mayoral duties, Mayor Leon also serves as Senior Pastor of Hope Chapel Foursquare Church. Over the years Mayor Leon has represented Ontario on regional boards with Southern California Association of Governments (SANBAG), and Omnitrans, and has served as the City Council liaison to the Los Angeles World Airport Board of Airport Commissioners. A native of Southern California, Paul is a graduate of Nordhoff High School in Ojai, the U.S. Army Security Agency Training Center & School at Ft. Devens, Massachusetts, and attended the Cleveland Institute of Electronics. Since completing military service in 1977, Paul has been a resident of Ontario. His professional life included: 3 1/2 years in the U.S. Army, five years on the staff of Bilingual Family Counseling Service INC.; Outreach Coordinator for the Focus West county wide collaboration; Accounts Manager for Direct Trucking, Direct Home Delivery, Competitive Home Delivery; Owner of PSL Delivery Service. Dedicated to the betterment of youth in his home region, Paul has contributed thousands of volunteer hours to area organizations including the Ontario Salvation Army, San Bernardino Communities Against Drugs, San Bernadino County Gangs and Drugs Task Force, Chaffey Joint Unified High School District C.A.T Council, Family Solutions Collaborative, Vernon Middle School, and the West Valley Family Violence Council. He speaks to the impact that he has seen the Ronald McDonald House have, "I've had the opportunity to speak to one of the family members here at the Ronald McDonald House and just personally absorb the impact that has occurred in her life with the problems she has gone through with her premature born child and the loss of the other one and to hear her testimony about how great it is to have this facility here and to walk around and see what's being provided here, not only to just have a place to lay your head, but also to maintain your family unit.. this please really feels like a home away from home." Class of 2016 Honoree - Dan Tate President, Don Ferrarese Foundation Dan, the oldest of 4 was raised by a single mother at 23 years old. Attending thirteen different schools, Dan had trouble assimilating to school life and was suspended or expelled from school over twenty times. Being the oldest, Dan was given a great deal of responsibility growing up, having a paper route since the age of ten, waking every morning at 4 a.m. to deliver newspapers before school. The adversities of growing up were ironically the foundation upon which Dan developed a work ethic and drive to lead a life different from the one experienced as a child. Football and the United States Marine Corps were instrumental in Dan developing his ultimate character that has led to a life of success and personal prosperity. Homeless one day, pushing his belongings in a shopping cart, Dan met his wife, Patti the next day he registered for college. Dan and Patti have been married for thirty years and have raised three children, who all have graduated college, one with a masters, one with a doctorate and the other a recent graduate of the University of San Diego. He shares that one of his most profound role models in life, his high school football coach, instilled the principle in him that, "Life is not about how good you are, it's about the effort you put forward." Dan coached sixty-two athletic teams and dedicated a large part of his life to charitable and community efforts. Dan and Patti started their first charity, Sara's Hope in 2013, which has contributed over $250,000 to local communities. In 2005, Dan and Patti started the Don Ferrarese Charitable Foundation to honor Don Ferrarese for his lifetime of community service. Since then, the Ferrarese Foundation has awarded $400,000 in scholarships, sponsored ten veteran tributes, serving over 10,000 and sponsored Santa's Sleigh Christmas, fulfilling the wish lists of over 2,000 local children in need. Dan is now trying to lead an effort to develop after-school activity and development centers to engage local children with meaningful relationships and enjoys speaking to various groups on topics from personal responsibility to overcoming adversity. Dan and Patti have lived in the High Desert for over thirty years. The Loma Linda Ronald McDonald House is a program of Ronald McDonald House Charities of Southern California. Since opening on Sept. 11, 1996, the House has served more than 19,000 families and is in the middle of a $12 million expansion which will double its size from 13,000 square feet to 42,000 square feet and 21 guest rooms, to 54. Once complete, there will also be a "day salon" that can serve as a relaxation station for families as well as a community room. The Loma Linda Ronald McDonald House is one of six Houses operated by Ronald McDonald House Charities of Southern California. For more information, visit www.rmhcsc.org/lomalinda