{"id":2586,"date":"2020-11-18T00:00:00","date_gmt":"2020-11-18T08:00:00","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/familyhouseinc.org\/article\/reflections-on-rock-the-house\/"},"modified":"2025-10-06T14:57:09","modified_gmt":"2025-10-06T21:57:09","slug":"reflections-on-rock-the-house","status":"publish","type":"article","link":"https:\/\/familyhouseinc.org\/tl\/article\/reflections-on-rock-the-house\/","title":{"rendered":"Reflections on Rock The House"},"content":{"rendered":"\n\t\n
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“I awoke this morning with devout thanksgiving for my friends, the old and the new.” \u2014<\/em><\/strong>Ralph Waldo Emerson<\/em><\/strong><\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n<\/blockquote>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\t\n

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Well it has been a few days since the virtual gala, Rock The House<\/a>, and we are all still feeling the love from all of the positive reactions to the show and the incredible generosity shown to Family House San Francisco by our sponsors and individual donors. It is hard to imagine that a virtual event could raise $1.34 million dollars!!  For those who sent messages, please know how much the entire team, including the irreplaceable master of ceremony, Liam Mayclem<\/a>, appreciates the gesture.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\t\n

When asked to Chair this year\u2019s event I was so torn. How could we pull off what we did last year virtually?  As a reminder, last year we had a record number of people (700) who we served cocktails, dinner and entertainment in a gorgeous venue. In July, I was in five Zoom meetings a day, where someone inevitably froze for portions of it and I just could not fathom how we could host something that would truly capture the essence of an organization that means so much to me and to so many others. The responsibility to raise the amount of money needed for operations at Family House seemed almost impossible and my instinct was to try and reset everyone\u2019s expectations of how this might work.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\t\n

Then I remembered when a child is ill, and a family is involuntarily set onto a journey in rocky waters, that they did not ask for, that limits on what can happen were not acceptable<\/em><\/strong>. I knew that the story of these families was one that would win the day. So armed with the team from Family House, and the very engaged planning committee, we set off on our own uncharted journey. It would be impossible for me to thank them all enough. They were pushed to think beyond what seemed possible and they delivered. In addition, we went bold and early with our solicitations of donors competing against so many important donation priorities, not the least of which was COVID 19.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\t\n

Our minds were blown by the number of people who stepped up with large donations; beginning with our very first donation from Ron and Gayle Conway and Nancy and Stephen Grand. They paved the way for every single ask after that. I was also so grateful to the Board<\/a> for coming on early.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\t\n

In my 28 years of working in children\u2019s services at UCSF, I have collected too many family stories to count. Each have left an indelible mark on my heart. Families who were going through things that I could not fathom and when I did try, I was overwhelmed. They have always been my touchstone in every administrative action that was required in the hospital and in every interaction with the incredible healthcare team charged with their care.  The Department of Pediatrics<\/a> and the Divisions of Hematology Oncology<\/a>, Critical Care<\/a>, Allergy Immunology and BMT<\/a>, and Pediatric Surgery<\/a> all came through with sponsorships. I cannot tell you how fortunate these families are to have these world- renowned leaders in research and clinical care at their service. Each of these physicians, many of whom I have known my entire career, are equally as compassionate as they are clinical experts.  They too, live the highs and lows with these families, always pushing themselves to increase the amount of high moments. They are my inspiration.<\/p>\n\n<\/div>\n\n\n\n\t\n

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