Staying attuned to the true spirit of Christmas, 22-year-old Melburnian Aristidis (Ari) Tsoulakos has dedicated time and energy once again this holiday season to support the work of a family & children’s charity.
Since 2019, the young Greek Australian has been a supporter of the Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC), a non-profit dedicated to helping families with sick children in their time of need by providing housing and resources while their child receives medical treatment.
His contributions range from annual Easter egg drop-offs to coordinating donations from local businesses towards the foundation’s undertakings.
Spreading some Christmas cheer, Mr Tsoulakos says, is his way of “continuing to stay connected and give back to a foundation that does remarkable work within our community.”
The RMHC, he explains, provides free accommodation to families who are using the neighbouring hospitals but also educational programmes that provide opportunities for students who are missing school to not fall behind.
“In Parkville alone, the foundation office accommodates up to 50 families,” he tells Neos Kosmos.
“The foundation has shown much appreciation for my various donations and emphasised the impact that this would have on families going through a difficult time.”
First established in the US in 1974, before it expanded globally, the charity totals today 378 Ronald McDonald Houses in 62 countries and regions across the world.
In 1981 the first Australian Ronald McDonald House opened its doors in NSW. Since then, the charity has grown to 18 Houses across the country as well as 18 Family Rooms, 5 Family Retreats, among other programs it runs.
To learn more about the RMHC visit https://www.rmhc.org.au
