BE A BALLER -"Building a lifelong legacy"
Welcome to Be A Baller, where we're building a lifelong legacy for our families, communities, and the world! I'm your host, Coach Tim Brown, and I'm excited to for you join me on this journey.
On this show, we'll be talking about how to be intentional about building a lasting legacy. We'll be exploring what it means to leave a mark that goes beyond just our own lives, but has a positive impact on those around us and even generations to come.
Our guests will be individuals who have built a legacy in various fields – ministry, business, sports, and community service. And what's unique about our guests is that they're committed to the Wisdom Pledge. That means they're not just sharing their own stories and experiences with us, but they're also paying forward and sharing wisdom to empower the next generation.
So if you're looking for inspiration, guidance, and practical tips on how to build a lasting legacy that makes a difference, then you're in the right place!
So grab your earbuds, get comfortable, and let's dive in!
BE A BALLER -"Building a lifelong legacy"
The Heart of Service Dee Anders, RMHC Central Ohio Impactful Leadership Story
Send us a comment about the Be a Baller Podcast Episode. Thanks for support.
Join us for an inspiring conversation with Dee Anders the remarkable CEO and Executive Director of Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Ohio. Discover how her upbringing in Columbus, Ohio, and pivotal experiences at Brookhaven High School, such as engaging in gymnastics and cheerleading, were instrumental in shaping her commitment to community service. Dee Anders early involvement in the Kids Speak program sparked a lifelong passion for connecting children with city government, setting her on a path of impactful leadership. Her story is a testament to the power of mentorship and the profound influence a supportive community can have in nurturing future leaders.
This episode also takes you inside the world of the Ronald McDonald House in Central Ohio, where Dee Anders shares heartwarming stories of families who have found solace and support during challenging times. Experience the joy and camaraderie that blossom through volunteering and community engagement, from gardening to administrative roles. Learn from Dee's insights on leadership and resilience, especially in the context of fundraising, and hear about the incredible generational impact of compassion and service. Whether you're interested in making a difference or seeking inspiration from a community of like-minded individuals, this conversation is sure to leave you motivated to contribute to a legacy of positive change.
You know what? Just like your kitchen at home. When you have people over at your house, where do they all gather?
Speaker 2:In the kitchen.
Speaker 1:Yeah, it's just the place, and so we knew when we were adding on to the building and we were adding the 86 additional guest rooms, we were going to really need to do something special in that kitchen, because that's where everybody spends their time. It's just a very open, bright, happy place. It typically happens in the kitchen because that's where everybody gathers, just like your house.
Speaker 2:This is Coach Tim Brown, host of Be A Baller podcast. I'm so excited today to have in studio with me a good friend and just a true servant leader in Columbus, ohio, and that's DeAndrea. She serves as CEO and Executive Director of Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Ohio. She led the effort to grow the local house, which is now the largest Ronald McDonald House in the world. As a CEO, she was responsible for the charity's visibility in the community and increasing the programs and services offered. Prior to joining Ronald McDonald House Charities, deandrea served with Goodwill Columbus and the YMCA of Central Ohio. She began her career with the City of Columbus coordinating the mayor's Kids Speak program. In addition, she was a part of her own consulting firm focusing on capital gains campaigns and special events for nonprofit organizations.
Speaker 2:That's a mouthful, but the real D is here, the real D from Columbus, ohio, from Brookhaven High School. That's right. I'm a bear cat yeah, bear cat. And you've seen this city grow. That's right. You've really seen this city grow. Can you talk about growing up in Columbus, ohio during the time when it was considered a small cow town, so to speak? Can you talk about that experience?
Speaker 1:Yeah, you know, to me it was a big town back then it was big. Yeah, I'm one of the few people in Columbus that actually grew up in Columbus and I was fortunate enough to go to Brookhaven High School and, you know, learn in the Columbus public school systems and Brookhaven High School was my family when I grew up. There were teachers there that cared so much about the students and shaped your character and your personality and I was fortunate enough to just. You know, high school was probably one of my favorite times in my life period and I just learned so much there from people you know, not necessarily reading and writing and all that, although I did learn all that as well but just how to be a good person and to care about others and all that happened right there at Brookhaven High School about others and all that happened right there at Brookhaven High School. I still have a lot of my friends that I was friends with at Brookhaven you know grew up with. They're still my best friends. Wow, wow.
Speaker 2:You talk about some of those activities you're involved in at Brookhaven.
Speaker 1:I was on the gymnastics team and that was pretty important to me and I was a cheerleader and I actually loved the art program there. The art teacher at the school was Marvin Whiting and he was probably one of the kindest people I've ever met in my life. Do you know him?
Speaker 2:I know Mark well. Mark's a football and track coach.
Speaker 1:Yes, absolutely he's wonderful. And I spent hours and hours in his art room. Wow, wow.
Speaker 2:Yeah, you know, I was doing a little research and I read that you have a love for animals. Yes, and gymnastics.
Speaker 1:Yeah, I'm not sure where you found that out, but yes, you were good, you nailed it Were you a gymnast I was, I was. Yes, I grew up as a gymnast and competed in high school and yeah, wow, cheerleader, oh wow.
Speaker 2:So you had a blast watching the Olympics this year.
Speaker 1:Oh my gosh, I had so much fun with that. Yeah yeah, I had a great time doing that, and I actually taught gymnastics for the city of Columbus for 12 years, wow. So that's where I really started my career with the city of Columbus and then went into the Kidspeak program.
Speaker 2:Tell us about Kidspeak.
Speaker 1:Kidspeak was the best program. Mayor Dana Reinhart had a program that he wanted to get kids involved in city government and so we did lots of things. We worked with the city cabinet. We worked with city council, worked with the mayor. He involved. Each different cabinet member had a corresponding child that got to spend lots of time in that department and learn about the city and take it back to kids in their school systems and you know help educate. And you know help educate. And pick Wiki Park, which is right downtown. The kids named International Gateway. I don't know if you know the road going into the airport. Kids Speak named that road. Yeah, did lots of things. Used to be Kids Speak, kids Fest and lots of fun things.
Speaker 2:Wow, you know, I know you have a heart to serve and you also spent a lot of time at the, at the recreation center. Can you talk about that experience and how that led you to what you kind of do today?
Speaker 1:Yeah, when, when I was young, I would walk by at the time it was Cook Recreation Center just to go to elementary school, and so my parents would work second shift. So many times I'd walk right by Cook Recreation Center and go in the door after school and spent hours and hours there. You know, I learned again from some of the most caring people. Deborah Burney, I remember her just. You know she taught me how to sew, but she taught me how to be a good person as well. You know I would spend time with her in the room there and well, you know, I would spend time with her in in the room there. And, um, you know, I learned gymnastics there. That's where I started my gymnastics and um, it was just again, they were my family, they, they pretty much raised me up.
Speaker 1:You know, after I'd get home from school, I would just I'd be at the rec center and stay there as long as I could until I'd go home. And, um, again, that's where I think I really learned about giving back, because all of the all the recreation leaders that work there, that's what they were there for. They were there to give back and to to help kids and they knew that the kids that were there and spending hours and hours with them. You know their, their life at home was a good life, but there was, you know, I didn't have parents at home after school, so they were there to be with us. So it was wonderful and I ended up actually, my first professional job was with Columbus Recreational Parks Department Went right back to it. I loved it.
Speaker 2:Right back to it. Full circle moment. Huh yeah, absolutely Helping others. That's great. So, as we talk about the house, can you tell the audience what's the main mission of the house? You know, we see this big, we see this house, we hear about this house. We see Ronald McDonald hanging out at the house. We see these families. What is the mission of the house?
Speaker 1:So the mission is really simple we create, find or support programs that benefit the health and well-being of children and their families. That's it Most of the time. The kids are in the hospital, Sometimes they're an outpatient, but we're there to support the families so they can help their child get better.
Speaker 2:I'm sure you have experienced some great stories, you know, of families. You know Any family sticks out to you. Oh my gosh, there's so many that stick out.
Speaker 1:There's so many that stick out. We just recently had a family that was with us about 200 days from Jamaica and the family wouldn't have had any way of coming to the United States to get treatment for their son. When he came to the house he couldn't walk, he was in a wheelchair. He was nine years old, never been to school because he couldn't go to school. He was too sick. They just left this weekend. He's walking, he's running, he's jumping, he experienced snow for the first time. They're going back to Jamaica and he's going to go to school. But all of that because he got to come to the United States and get treatment at Nationwide Children's Hospital and you know we were a small part of that treatment by giving them a place to stay. But they were, they were pretty special, they were a special family.
Speaker 2:We know those from Columbus, we've seen the house when it was just that one little building, you know. Can you talk about how the growth and we know, as Church Hospital grew, the house grew, but to the point it's grown now from 122 rooms to 203 rooms, 206. 206. It was me and being the largest in the world. Can you talk about that expansion project that you led?
Speaker 1:It was a monster. We actually last year actually you know what One year ago today is when we opened the expansion. Last year, november 15th was our grand opening and we actually doubled the size of the house, both in square footage and the number of families that we can serve. So we serve all the hospital systems here in central Ohio. We work with Nationwide Children's Hospital, the Ohio State Medical Center, ohio Health and Mount Carmel. All of those hospital systems have families that rely on staying at the Ronald McDonald House, and if you've driven around Columbus lately, you've noticed that they're all growing, and so we knew that, in order to keep up and to provide our mission to all the families that needed us, we were going to continue to have to grow too. So we set out on a mission to grow the house. The Columbus community was very giving and helped support the program, and last year a year ago today we were able to grow this house.
Speaker 2:Since that expansion of the new house? Can you tell the audience about some of the features inside there, what you were able to do because of the expansion?
Speaker 1:It's special. It has a space for everyone. We've had some really generous gifts from the community, and not only just financially, but they came in and helped us decorate the space and make it special and put all the rooms in there that we need. We have an inside. You know Columbus in the winter gets cold so it's not really a place to play outside. That's that's conducive to kids. So we have a zoo room. Now Our old kitchen became a zoo room, which is an indoor play space. Kids can run and jump and climb in. You know parents can sit and watch them and read a book or whatever. We have an exercise room for families. That you know, parents. They go through a lot of stress at the hospital so when they come back it's good for them to exercise and burn off some of that steam. We have an arts and crafts room for little kids. We have a princess room we have. Probably the most popular space in the house is the kitchen.
Speaker 2:Can you talk about that kitchen in the house? That's the meeting place.
Speaker 1:That's the place you know what, Just like your kitchen at home. When you have people over at your house, where do they all gather?
Speaker 2:In the kitchen.
Speaker 1:Yeah, it's just the place, and so we knew when we were adding on to the building and we were adding the 86 additional guest rooms, we were going to really need to do something special in that kitchen because that's where everybody spends their time. So it's a wonderful, wonderful dining space. It's two floors of dining space now. It's just a comfortable area. We have space where people can go and sit in a booth and kind of have a little quiet time if they want. We have. We have a little bit of high top tables regular tables but but it's just a very open, bright, um happy place and all the activities. If somebody comes to do something special or volunteer at the house with you know a band, or they want to come and do scrapbooking with families, it typically happens in the kitchen and because that's where everybody gathers, just like your house.
Speaker 2:You've had some special meals cooked in that kitchen, haven't you? All kinds of cuisine going in there, doesn't it?
Speaker 1:Absolutely, we sure do. And you know what? It's all provided by volunteers from the community. You know this house runs on volunteers. Everything that's done in this house is done by volunteers. That's what's special. So the house really belongs to the community. We have a few full-time people here that help run the place and some part-time folks that check families in and take care of them, but really the cooking, the cleaning, the maintenance outside, it's all volunteer power. And volunteers in Columbus love this house, love to come and spend time with the families, and that's how we run it.
Speaker 2:That's important. Can you talk about expand a little bit more on the importance of volunteers at the house and how a person can get involved in being a volunteer?
Speaker 1:Yeah, they, they are Like I said, they do everything at this house. We have about 30 staff members here but we have probably 600 volunteers that work on a monthly basis. So that right there tells you who's doing all who's running this place basis. So that right there tells you who's doing all who's running this place. And when I started, the volunteers even organized the volunteers. Believe it or not, so, but they honestly do they. They paint the house, they clean the house, they do the laundry. When a family checks out, you know they go in and clean those rooms and they do the laundry. They wash the bed, the bedding and the towels and all of that. Then they put it back in the room for the next family that comes in. They cook three meals a day, you name it. They do it here and it is important to us. We couldn't do that, we couldn't run this house without them.
Speaker 1:And if anybody wants to volunteer, you can come as a group. You know we have lots of church groups that come. We have people that their company will come in and do an activity or they might come in and have a meeting in the morning and then in the afternoon make lunch for families. So you can do a team building activity or you can come as an individual and you can, you know, set your own schedule. You want to come once a week, you want to come once a month? We're open to anything and anything that you do at your house. We do here times 200, because we have 206 families that stay with us any night of the week. So everybody's welcome, everybody's welcome, to come and get involved, and there seems like there's something for everybody.
Speaker 1:If you like to work outdoors, we have a big garden, we have outdoor area, we have an outdoor courtyard where kids play, and so, you know, we trim bushes and we cut grass and we grow vegetables. So if that's what you're into, we have that. If you like to do typing, you know we have all kinds of. We send out letters to people, we write letters to people thanking them for being a good supporter of the house, so there's something for you to do there. If you like to do laundry, unbelievably or not, people will come here and do laundry that they don't want to do at their own house. So it's just, you know, they get to, they get to build friendships here with other volunteers, and it's just a special place.
Speaker 2:You've been here, you know oh yeah, I know, I know that's awesome it's an honor yeah, it's truly been a blessing and you won that several times, you know.
Speaker 2:So that says a lot about, uh, you and your style, but, most important, I think, about who you are as a person. You know when you walk when you walk in and I'm just saying what some of your peers have said, but they just talk when you walk in the room, you know there's something special about you that you attract others to you. You know that people want to be a part, they want to work with you. You know, I've had that pleasure of working with you when we did the Clark Kellogg Classic.
Speaker 2:Yeah, it was fun and what a blessing Because when we first started we worked with Shirley Rogers Reese from McDonald's.
Speaker 2:There's another special and Shirley said you got to get to Diaz, you got to get to her and the first time we met and all came together it was just like magic again. It was such a group that just worked together with your leadership. That's fine. You know, you are truly an inspiration for other young girls. As they see you, it's important for them to see a person like yourself in that, in that, in that suite, as a CEO, what words of encouragement would you give to some young girls who aspire to get to that level?
Speaker 1:I would tell girls just do the best that you can do in everything that you do, give it your all, and and you will end up where you're supposed to be. Um, you know, I I never had any idea growing up that I'd be doing what I'm doing now. Never, never even occurred to me, um, that I would be doing what I was doing now. But everywhere that I went, I actually loved every job that I've had, but I worked really hard and your results show like you don't have to, you don't have to tout your own horn, you, your results will speak for themselves if you're working hard. And so I would tell every girl you know things that you love to do. Work really hard and you will rise to the top Things that you love to do.
Speaker 1:Work really hard and you will rise to the top. You know, if it's something you're not interested in doing, then find what you are interested in doing and work really hard and you'll be able to. You won't work a day in your life. It'll always be fun.
Speaker 2:Right, that's a good word. Always be fun. Always be fun For you. What was that moment in time where you realized you know what you know when you got that job? You're sitting there like this is me. You know, you know I can really have an impact.
Speaker 1:What was that moment like for you? I think, you know, I did a lot of fundraising in my past and didn't even know what fundraising was, you know, until I kind of got stuck in the middle of it and I realized that I liked doing it, that I liked doing it and it didn't bother me when someone said no, which is to me, it was like that just means not right now, you know. And so that's when I kind of realized, like, is this the right job for me, because I'm not bothered by a no, and I realized that what I'm doing is helping others and that's what I want to do. I want it was, you know, it was probably when working for the YMCA and doing a capital campaign there to help expand their programs and services, and it was just like this is good stuff that we're doing here, yeah, yeah.
Speaker 2:How was those yeses that you were doing?
Speaker 1:Yeses are great. The yeses are great. Those yeses, yes, sometimes they surprise you.
Speaker 2:Exactly. Those are the ones, those are the ones that really surprise you. Where did that come from, you know?
Speaker 1:and then check your X number and there's another zero on there and you're like, whoa, those are the big ones, yeah, the big ones, yeah.
Speaker 2:But even those little ones, those little small ones, those people who made those sacrifices. You know those little small ones, those people who made those sacrifices, you know, you know, as we're sitting here talking, I can see you're so passionate about the work at Ronald McDonald House in Central Ohio and being the largest in the world and still growing.
Speaker 1:What keeps you so passionate about the work that you're doing. You know what we do. It's not rocket science, it's simple. Anybody can do it. We provide a meal, we provide a shower, we provide a room. Anybody can do it. We provide a meal, we provide a shower, we provide a room. But when families walk in the door and you see how much it means to them and you realize that you've made such a huge impact just by doing something that's easy for you to do and just by being nice to people, that's what makes it fun to go to work every day. It's like I can do this. You know, anybody that can walk in that door can do exactly what we're doing and they can get fulfillment, and so it's fun. And then you know, when you see families go home and when you see kids, like Omar, go home, and you know, walk in and you know he's going to go to school and it's going to be a great day, like it's and it was simple. Great day Like it's and it was simple right, it was simple.
Speaker 1:It was a meal, it was a shower, it was, you know, a bedroom. It was simple.
Speaker 2:You know, as we're sitting here talking, I was thinking about this. I wanted to ask you this about those Omar's that you've seen that come back. What's that? Well, what's that like when they come back and say, you know, after they've left the house and they go back home or whatnot, then they come back, you know, and just what is that like?
Speaker 1:It's pretty amazing and we get a lot of that. We get a lot of families that want to come back and, you know, help other families that are in the same situation, so it's pretty cool. And Omar and his family, you know, help other families that are in the same situation, so it's pretty cool. And Omar and his family, you know, they're going to Jamaica and he said I'll be back. He said, and I'm going to help other families who have children that need to go to the hospital, I'm going to help them get here, and so and he just, yeah, amazing, that's amazing, it is.
Speaker 1:It is amazing.
Speaker 2:That really is Just the impact.
Speaker 1:Yeah.
Speaker 2:Just the impact, generational impact, yes, and not just. I think they feel, since they've been helped, they want to help somebody else and go back and say, oh, I know where you can go and get some good help, I know where you can go and get served, I know where you can go and get healed, so to speak. I know where you can go. There's this place in Columbus, right, and there's this lady named Deanne, and when you get there, tell her I sent you.
Speaker 1:Yeah, we actually had a family that spent a lot of time at the house, from Italy too, and they ended up opening a house in Italy. Wow, it's pretty much a Ronald McDonald house in Italy. So they're helping families in Italy.
Speaker 2:So it's a cool thing. You know, as we come around the corner, this is a legacy broadcast and we talk about the legacy. What does that word mean to you? When you hear that word legacy, what does that word mean to you?
Speaker 1:It's just, it's the lasting impression. I think that you leave um wherever you go Um and whatever you do, like what do people think? When you're you know, what did they think of you? I think that's what it means, that's what the legacy is and hopefully you know you'd leave a positive legacy wherever you go.
Speaker 2:Well, I want to assure you that you have left and are still leaving. It's not over yet. You're still leaving that positive impression. So, deanna, thank you for being our guest on the show today. It's been a pleasure just hearing these stories about the Ronald McDonald House Charities and the impact that's having in the community. I want you, before we sign off, can you give the audience information on how anyone might be listening to this, who wants to volunteer or wants to help out and wants to give it a time, talent and treasure. Can you, can you speak to that?
Speaker 1:Yes, we would love to have anybody, and all they need to do is call the house 614-227-3700 and let them know you want to volunteer and we'll get you signed up any way you want to do it, if you want to come as a group, if you want to come as an individual, if you want to come once or you want to do it weekly. We have all kinds of opportunities and our volunteers you know they become good friends we have, you know they meet each other there and you know they become friends outside of the house. So it's a great place if you're looking to meet people that want to give back to the community, just like you do.
Speaker 2:Amen, Amen. Well, thanks, Dee. I want to thank you for being on the show today. Thanks for having me. This is Coach Tim Brown from Be A Baller Podcast, and I pray that the audience was blessed by this episode and I pray that everyone will continue to have a heart of giving, have a heart of sharing, you know, and the Ron McDonald House is a great place to do that. So thanks again, Dee, for being on the show, and I want to encourage everyone to listen, support Be A Baller podcast and share this episode with others. Thanks, Dee.
Speaker 1:Thank you, thanks for having me.
Speaker 3:If you enjoyed this episode, please share this podcast with family and friends. Be a Baller podcast is available on all major podcast stations. Be sure to come back next week as we continue to discuss on how to build a lifelong legacy. Until then, don't forget to be a baller. This podcast was created by Coach Tim Brown and produced and recorded by the video production class of Worthington Christian High School.