At the annual Gala, over 300 guests came to recognize and celebrate four decades of service to families. The 40th Anniversary Gala took place on Thursday, October 15, at Larkfield in East Northport. The evening celebrated the past, present and future of the organization. This year’s honorees included the 2026 Board of Directors. All proceeds benefit the children and families served by Ronald McDonald House Long Island programs.
A Room Full of Stars at the Gala
This year’s gala honored the organization’s 2026 Board of Directors, led by Board Chair: Katie Hunt Rotolo. The event was chaired by board member Philip Sammut of Pedestals. Standout guests included Lyn Jurick, the 96-year-old founder of Ronald McDonald House Long Island as well as families who stayed at Ronald McDonald House over the years. The cocktail hour featured a live jazz band courtesy of Setauket-based Jazz Loft, followed by That 70s Band for the main program.
“For 40 years, Ronald McDonald House Long Island has been steadfast in its commitment to ensuring that no parent’s ability to stay at their child’s hospital bedside is compromised. Last night was a celebration of the countless families who have found respite at Ronald McDonald House Long Island programs, and the community that has supported the organization every step of the way.” said Ronald McDonald House Long Island CEO, Matt Campo.
A Legacy of Support
The Ronald McDonald House in New Hyde Park opened on September 29, 1986, as the 100th Ronald McDonald House in the world. It was founded by Lyn Jurick, a trustee at LIJ (now Northwell Health); Irving Klein, a McDonald’s owner/operator; and Dr. Philip Lanzkowsky, then chief of staff of Schneider Children’s Hospital (now Cohen Children’s Medical Center). What began with 18 guest rooms has grown to 42 bedrooms and eight kitchens, including two kosher kitchens, and has provided tens of thousands of families with the comforts of home so they can be close to their sick child.
Today the organization supports families around the clock, most often those with children in neonatal or pediatric intensive care or undergoing cancer treatment. Families stay an average of 21 nights. In 2025, Ronald McDonald House Long Island served nearly 20,000 families across its programs, which also include two Ronald McDonald Family Rooms at Stony Brook Children’s Hospital.
What’s Coming: The Next 40 Years
A new Ronald McDonald House at Stony Brook is currently under construction, set to open in late 2027. This new House will be a 30-bedroom home away from home for the families of critically ill and injured children. This will be the second House on Long Island and the first in Suffolk County. There are many ways for folks to get involved in supporting the Ronald McDonald House at Stony Brook.
About Ronald McDonald House Long Island
Ronald McDonald House Long Island provides a home away from home for families of children receiving medical care, keeping families close to their children and to the care they need. Opened in 1986 as the 100th Ronald McDonald House, the organization operates its 42-bedroom House in New Hyde Park and two Ronald McDonald Family Rooms at Stony Brook Children’s Hospital, and is building a new House in Suffolk County. Ronald McDonald House Long Island is a 501(c)(3) public charity.