SECU Family House at UNC Hospitals will hold a ceremonial groundbreaking on its building expansion on Wednesday, September 12 at 9:30 a.m, and the public is invited to attend. The expansion will add a new wing to the existing house on Old Mason Farm Road, nearly doubling the total number of rooms from 40 to 75.
SECU Family House is a safe, nurturing, affordable home for patients and their loved ones who travel great distances to UNC Hospitals for lifesaving procedures and serious illnesses. Since opening in early 2008, the home and its hundreds of local volunteers have served more than 22,000 families from all 100 North Carolina counties, 42 other states and 7 foreign countries. More than 2,300 families each year find lodging, meals, supportive programs, transportation and a caring support network at Family House.
“This groundbreaking gets us closer to our dream of serving more families – helping them rest, heal and gather strength when they need it most,” says Executive Director Janice McAdams. “In addition to increasing our number of rooms, we are creating a more flexible capacity. We are adding more family suites and designing the new standard rooms with two queen beds. The new wing will include a common area, laundry facilities and a maintenance area. In the existing house, we will expand the kitchen and dining room, and we have completed a renovation of the front desk reception area.”
The capital campaign is led by SECU Family House volunteers Bob and Becky Woodruff and board member Maureen O’Connor. The co-chairs and the dedicated campaign committee – along with the nonprofit’s board of directors and longtime partners including SECU, Blue Cross Blue Shield of NC and UNC Health Care – have inspired guests, volunteers, community groups, and other foundations and corporations to donate to the Share the House campaign. Fundraising for the final 10 percent continues, and the groundbreaking is a milestone to celebrate the community’s significant support for the Family House mission.
The groundbreaking will take place rain or shine. Officials from the Town of Chapel Hill, SECU and UNC Hospitals are expected to attend. Parking will be available at the NC Botanical Gardens and the Ronald McDonald House of Chapel Hill.
