By Samantha Esposito
Steve De Jesus assumed responsibility as the executive director and CEO of Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) of Morgantown, WV, in April 2011. Originally from Chicago, IL, and a graduate of Loyola University of Chicago, De Jesus entered the Chicago Police Department in 1993 as a training officer and worked on undercover narcotics. In 1995, he was involved in a horrific squad car accident responding to a felony call that nearly ended his career in law enforcement. After months of rehabilitation, he was able to return to the career he loved. Unfortunately, as time progressed, his injuries became too severe to continue.
On a trip to North Carolina in early January to visit family, De Jesus was amazed at the temperate winter. The milder temperatures reduced his pain level, and within a year, De Jesus moved to North Carolina and began his work in health care. He worked for a home health and hospice agency, where he met his wife, Melanie. From there, he went on to become the executive director of an assisted living facility. He was quickly promoted to area director of operations, and after four years, De Jesus was offered an opportunity by a competitor to relocate to Richmond, VA, to operate and administer two assisted living houses.
Melanie, De Jesus’s wife and mother of three, is originally from Elkins, WV. While away, the family had to do a lot of traveling to see family members and wanted a closer support system, so they decided to move to Morgantown. Since starting at RMHC, De Jesus has made a number of changes to advance the nonprofit. He has increased services to families around the state and neighboring states of Pennsylvania, Ohio and Maryland. Since his tenure, the number of families assisted increased from 1,200 per year to 1,800 per year. One of the services De Jesus has implemented is the new Ronald McDonald Family Room being built inside the West Virginia University (WVU) Children’s Hospital.
The Ronald McDonald Family Room is an extension of the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Morgantown. The Family Room will be located at the WVU Children’s Hospital on the sixth floor of Ruby Memorial Hospital. This program will be essential for serving the families of Morgantown who do not wish to leave the hospital while their child is receiving care.
The Family Room is expected to be completed in early 2013. Upon completion, it will have amenities such as a kitchen, dining area, living room with a large-screen television, kids’ play area and shower facilities. There will also be a computer area with Wi-Fi access for all family members to utilize. Just like the Ronald McDonald House, there will never be a charge to families utilizing the Family Room.
In the Family Room, families can eat a warm meal, take a shower and take a moment to relax while going through a stressful and difficult time. The Family Room program offers comfort and support not only to out-of-town families but locals as well. In partnership with the hospital, RMHC works to provide unique services to families with ill children in the hospital.
The Ronald McDonald House Charities of Morgantown is the second-smallest Ronald McDonald House Chapter market; however, it serves a great number of families per capita in comparison to some of the larger chapters. Under the leadership of De Jesus, the Morgantown Chapter is poised to meet the ever-increasing demand for services and continue as a leading nonprofit in Morgantown and West Virginia.
About the Author
Samantha Esposito graduated from West Virginia University in 2012 with a bachelor’s degree in public relations. During her college career, she was the account executive for the Buy Local campaign, which gained media coverage and is still carrying on at the Perley Isaac Reed School of Journalism. She worked through college as a waitress and usher at Hollywood Cinemas. She also interned at The Lofts apartment complex, where she took a resident services representative position after graduation. Esposito is now a marketing associate with Ronald McDonald House Charities of Morgantown, WV.
