Bryce, a young patient or ‘camper’ at Ryan House, can often be found in the kitchen rolling his wheelchair back and forth with anticipation. His eyes staring at the clock waiting for the time to tick from 59 minutes to the next hour. And when it does, a soft chime sings from the clock and Bryce lights up with pure joy.
It’s a small moment that speaks to the mission and incredible caretakers at Ryan House in Phoenix, a non-profit where children with life-limiting conditions like cerebral palsy, neuromuscular disorders and other developmental disabilities receive palliative care to enrich their quality of life. At the same time, Ryan House gives parents and family members a much-needed break from the 24/7 caregiving the children often need.
Over time, Bryce’s wheelchair rolling back and forth wore a hole in the kitchen wall. So, when Sundt volunteers stepped in to renovate Ryan House’s kitchen, they added a steel plate to protect the wall, with Bryce’s name etched in the corner.
For Jesse McDonald, Sundt preconstruction manager, Ryan House holds a special personal connection. “Ryan House has been a huge support to our family since my daughter first became a camper there in 2012. This renovation was a chance to give back in a meaningful way to an organization that has given so much to my family and many others.”
Sundt encourages employee-owners to spend time volunteering and donating to worthwhile causes. When Jesse learned Ryan House’s kitchen, affectionately named the S’more Café, needed renovation, he realized this was a larger effort than typical volunteer efforts where employee-owners provide their skills as builders to help. So, he reached out to the Sundt Foundation to help facilitate the project.
Started in 1999, the Sundt Foundation organizes and enhances volunteer efforts by employee-owners, and awards over $2 million in grants every year to charitable organizations.
“The S’more Café is a space where our families can truly feel at home and where volunteers can gather with ease to cook, bake and provide comfort to the children and families we serve,” said Ryan House Executive Director Tracy Leonard-Warner.
The Ryan House kitchen renovation required extensive planning, coordination and careful measures to minimize disruptions for those receiving care. Many of the campers have sensitivities so extra precautions were taken to manage noise, dust and disruptions.
Tracy and Ryan House staff went through a design process with the help of Phoenix Design One, who provided services for free. They decided on a bright, clean and inviting aesthetic that uses wood elements to give the Smore Café a cozy, camp-inspired feel. Once the design was chosen, the Sundt team put together construction estimates and a timeline was decided.
Before and After
“What was really great is some people that helped us establish the estimate came back and said they wanted to be a part of the project and offered services for free. So, we were able to create the budget and then stay under budget,” said Karla Ricci, Sundt project estimator.
In January, over a three-week period 26 Sundt volunteers put over 300 volunteer hours into upgrading the kitchen with new appliances, cabinetry, countertops and accessibility features.
“We were always asking the staff if we were being too loud, or if they needed us to come back later. We wanted to accommodate the campers as much as possible,” said Jesse. “The day we were going to tear up the floor, James [McInnes, Sundt field engineer] showed up with a bunch of earmuffs to hand out to all the kids, just in case.”
The redesign not only improved functionality but also brought warmth and a renewed sense of comfort to families.
“The kitchen is the heart of every home, and thanks to Sundt Construction, ours has been transformed into a true retreat. From start to finish, Jesse, Karla, and James were absolutely amazing. They were thoughtful, creative and deeply collaborative,” said Tracy.
The S’more Café renovation revitalized a key piece of the Ryan House where families and staff can feel a sense of warmth and renewal. “Everyone loves it, from our patients and families to our staff and volunteers. We are beyond grateful for this heartfelt renovation,” said Tracy.
The Sundt Foundation and our employee-owners look forward to supporting Ryan House and other great organizations giving relief and care to those in need.