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~~5 -~uvG- 0310 <br />ORANGE COUNTY BOARD OF COMMISSIONERS ~"/~-~~ <br />Sb <br />Resolution Supporting <br />Family House at UNC Hospitals <br />WHEREAS, Family House at UNC Hospitals, an independent 501(c)(3) non profit <br />organization, is in the midst of a $6.3 million capital campaign for construction <br />and initial operation of a 40-bedroom hospitality house in Chapel Hill; and <br />WHEREAS, the vision for Family House was kindled in 2001 by a small group of <br />volunteers, spearheaded by Dr. Mark Johnson, Director of UNC Hospital's Liver <br />Transplant Program, who recognized the need for extending hospitality, hope, <br />and support to families of critical care patients; and <br />WHEREAS, the families of the critically ill face serious financial constraints - <br />many patients relying on Medicare/Medicaid or having no health insurance at all <br />-with long absences from work translating into reduced paychecks or <br />unemployment for both patients and caregivers; and <br />WHEREAS, the State of North Carolina, through UNC-Chapel Hill, joined the <br />effort to establish Family House at UNC Hospitals with a lease of $1 a year on <br />5.85 acres immediately adjoining the Chapel Hill Ronald McDonald House; and <br />WHEREAS, the proposed Family House at UNC Hospitals will be a two-story, <br />40-bedroom facility featuring a kitchen and large dining area, gathering rooms, a <br />hearth room. and parlor, comfortable furnishings,- and alight-filled, inviting <br />solarium, as a special home away from home for patients' families; and <br />WHEREAS, the Capital Campaign Steering Committee to date has raised $4.2 <br />million of its $6.3 million goal for construction and initial years' operating <br />expenses and, barring unforeseen circumstances and with construction <br />beginning in early 2006, Family House opening to guests in early 2007; <br />NOW, THEREFORE BE IT RESOLVED that the Orange County Board of <br />Commissioners encourages and endorses the mission of Family House at UNC <br />Hospitals, and calls upon its legislative delegation to advocate aggressively for <br />State grant funding in the amount of $50,000 to help secure the construction and <br />early operations of an affordable and sheltering place for families to stay and <br />heal together. <br />This the 18th day of April 2006. <br />Bar gJaco , y hai <br />Oran a ount of ommissioners <br />