SHREVEPORT, La. (KSLA) - The American Electric Power (AEP) Foundation has awarded a quarter of a million dollars in grant money to the new Ronald McDonald House in Shreveport. 

Families with sick children being treated at area hospitals will soon be able to benefit from the Ronald McDonald House.

On Monday (Jan. 22), SWEPCO held a special ceremony to award the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Arkansas & North Louisiana (RMHCAR-NLA) with a $250,000 grant. The money will help support the building of the new house in Shreveport. This will be the first Ronald McDonald House in the Shreveport-Bossier City area.

“Families come to Ronald McDonald House on the worst days of their lives,” said Janell Mason, CEO of RMHCAR-NLA. “By constructing the Ronald McDonald House Shreveport-Bossier, we aim to alleviate the financial and emotional stress of families and allow them to solely focus on their seriously ill child.”

The house will be located at 9100 Susan Drive in Shreveport; construction is expected to begin in mid-March, and be completed in 2025. One of the rooms in the house will be named the AEP Foundation Family Great Room. The house will serve as a free place for families with hospitalized children to gather.

“Ronald McDonald House Charities of Arkansas & North Louisiana is supporting our most vulnerable community members by offering a ‘home away from home’ so their family is always near as they work toward a healthier future,” said Brett Mattison, SWEPCO president and COO. “It is our privilege and honor to announce this grant that will contribute toward creating a nurturing environment where families can find comfort and support during challenging times.”

SWEPCO’s Energy Efficiency team also worked with the architect to incorporate energy-efficient design elements in the home in order to maximize the house’s sustainability and reduce its environmental impact.

“Since its inception in 1981, Ronald McDonald House Charities of Arkansas & North Louisiana has been a cornerstone of support for families in need,” said Michael Corbin, SWEPCO external affairs manager, who volunteered his time to serve as a member of the Ronald McDonald House Capital Campaign Committee. “Shreveport has an urgent need for this type of care and it is an honor to be a part of something that can be life changing to so many families.”

The house will have 20 private suites so families can have a free space to use close to where their child is hospitalized. Families who are not staying at the home but who have a hospitalized child will be able to use the common spaces at the house. These common spaces include a lounge, a fully stocked pantry and kitchen, a dining room, indoor/outdoor play areas, and laundry/shower facilities.

“The impact of this project reaches far beyond the brick and mortar, bringing together a community of caring individuals who understand the importance of providing a “home away from home” for those in need,” Mattison said.

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