Ronald McDonald House New York Cuts Gold Ribbon to Unveil New Community Floor in Honor of Childhood Cancer Awareness Month

NEW YORK--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Sep 16, 2026--

Ronald McDonald House New York (RMH-NY) announced the completion of its renovation of the Community Floor, a newly reimagined space designed to enhance the everyday experience of children and families staying at the House while their children receive treatment for serious illnesses. The project, which has transformed dining, kitchen, play and program areas on the second floor of the House at 405 East 73rd Street, creates welcoming spaces where families can share meals, children can play and learn, and caregivers can find opportunities for connection, respite and support.

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RMH-NY President & CEO Lucretia Gilbert, Board of Directors, families and supporters gathered for a ribbon cutting to unveil the space and celebrate the milestone. Jaleyah, an 11-year-old RMH-NY resident facing relapsing acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL), and her mother Theresa cut a gold ribbon symbolizing Childhood Cancer Awareness Month and in honor of the children and families at the center of RMH-NY’s work. Guests enjoyed a meal provided by event sponsor, Rao’s.

“The completion of this renovation marks an important milestone in our continued commitment to delivering the highest level of family-centered care at Ronald McDonald House New York,” said Lucretia Gilbert, President and CEO of Ronald McDonald House New York. “When families are navigating a child’s serious illness, even the simplest moments—sharing a meal, helping with homework, playing a game or having a quiet place to work—can provide a sense of normalcy and connection. We designed every detail of the Community Floor with those moments in mind, creating more opportunities for families to gather, recharge and support one another. We look forward to seeing these spaces become part of the daily lives and memories of the children and families we serve for years to come.”

Jaleyah has been staying at the House with her mother Theresa since July 2025. For Jaleyah and her family, the House has provided more than a place to stay during an uncertain and difficult time—it has offered a sense of community, comfort and normalcy. While Jaleyah continues treatment, she attends school, enjoys time in the House’s communal spaces and shares comforting meals with her family.

Multi-award nominated actress best known for “The Big Bang Theory” Melissa Rauch joined the ceremonial ribbon cutting and provided poignant remarks. Rauch is co-founder of Oscar’s Kids, a nonprofit dedicated to funding pediatric cancer research and supporting families. Oscar's Kids is a fiscally sponsored fund of the Entertainment Industry Foundation (EIF), a 501(c)(3) tax-exempt organization.

"Ronald McDonald House New York recognizes that supporting a child through cancer treatment means supporting the whole family, and this new Community Floor brings that commitment to life in a truly meaningful way,” said Melissa Rauch, actress and co-founder of Oscar’s Kids. “Through my work with Oscar’s Kids, I’ve seen how important it is to give children and families moments of joy and a strong community while they navigate the challenges of pediatric cancer. I’m honored to celebrate this milestone during Childhood Cancer Awareness Month.”

The renovation at RMH-NY has modernized and reconfigured key spaces to better foster community, connection, and comfort. The project enhances the organization’s ability to provide families a warm, supportive environment that promotes healing and togetherness. Designed in collaboration with Zubatkin Owner Representation (ZOR), Mitchell Giurgola Architects, and Structure Tone, and led by RMH-NY’s Board of Directors, the renovation includes several key features:

The Community Floor represents years of vision, planning, and partnership—and a continued investment in the well-being of the children and families who call Ronald McDonald House New York home. As a 501(c)(3) organization, 95% of funding comes from generous donors and supporters who ensure this space and others remain vibrant and welcoming for the thousands of families who will use it for years to come. Additional philanthropic support remains essential to sustaining and enhancing the Community Floor, with naming opportunities still available for several key areas. To learn more and support the Community Floor, visit rmh-newyork.org/community-floor.

RMH-NY supports children and families from NYC, across the U.S. and around the world in the fight against pediatric cancer and other serious pediatric illnesses through its House on the Upper East Side in Manhattan as well as in partnering NYC hospitals.

About Ronald McDonald House New York
Located on East 73rd Street in New York, Ronald McDonald House New York (RMH-NY) provides temporary housing and support services for children and families while they receive treatment for pediatric cancer and other serious illnesses at nearby hospitals. RMH-NY has served more than 59,000 families throughout all five boroughs of New York City, across the U.S. and around the world, and approximately 40% of families are international. Its 11-story, 79,000 square-foot House features 95 guestrooms – including six post-transplant suites – four full guest kitchens, laundry facilities, two outdoor terraces, private libraries, a dining room, living room and more. At the House, families are welcomed with love and comfort, and lifelong friendships are formed among people who understand what it’s like to cope with devastating diagnoses. RMH-NY’s programs help to provide families a sense of normalcy, including wellness programs, educational tutors, music, art, transportation, activities for siblings, holiday and birthday parties, specialized support groups and more. The organization’s presence extends well beyond the confines of the House, as RMH-NY is also committed to positively impacting communities across the five boroughs. Through partnerships with 22 of the city’s leading hospitals, RMH-NY provides critical services to families at these hospitals working to address the social determinants of health within the New York City community. For more information, or to learn how to volunteer or donate, please visit rmh-newyork.org

Actress Melissa Rauch cuts the red ribbon at opening of Ronald McDonald House New York's new Community Floor, alongside President & CEO Lucretia Gilbert, Board Chair Steven J. Bensinger, Board member, Shelly Friedman, and Chief Operations & Management Officer Wini Cudjoe, and RMH-NY family Jaleyah (child) and Theresa (mother), during Childhood Cancer Awareness Month. The ceremony, held at the House on East 73rd Street, New York, on September 15, 2026, celebrates a long-awaited renovation to enhance the experience of families staying at Ronald McDonald House New York while their children receive treatment for cancer and other serious illnesses. (Photo by Kevin Dale Photography)

ALEXANDRIA, Va. (AP) — An Islamic State group member was sentenced Wednesday to 20 years in prison for aiding the terrorist organization that took credit for a suicide bombing that killed 13 U.S. service members and about 160 Afghans at the Kabul airport five years ago during the American military’s chaotic withdrawal from the country.

A federal jury in Virginia had convicted Mohammad Sharifullah in April of providing material support to the IS affiliate known as ISIS-K. But jurors could not agree whether he bore some responsibility for the airport bombing on Aug. 26, 2021.

U.S. troops were conducting an evacuation operation at the airport when a lone suicide bomber detonated an improvised explosive device near an entry point known as Abbey Gate. Sharifullah’s role in the attack was scouting a route to Hamid Karzai International Airport, prosecutors said.

Sharifullah received the maximum sentence for his one-count conviction in an international terrorism case that President Donald Trump heralded last year during a speech to a joint session of Congress.

Sharifullah did not testify at his trial and declined to address the court before U.S. District Judge Anthony Trenga imposed the sentence. The judge said the defendant was a “dedicated terrorist” who expressed no remorse for the “unfathomable” grief and suffering that he had caused.

Trenga heard victim impact statements from several parents of U.S. service members. From a podium only a few feet from where Sharifullah sat, they took turns paying tribute to their children's sacrifices and describing how the attack has shattered their families.

Mark Schmitz of Missouri asked Sharifullah to turn and look at him as he spoke about the life and death of his 20-year-old son, Marine Corps Lance Cpl. Jared Schmitz.

“They may have taken his life, but they'll never take his legacy," Schmitz said. “A bomb killed my son. It did not kill what he stood for.”

Sharifullah requested a 17-year prison sentence, while prosecutors sought 20 years. His lawyers say he was never an ISIS-K leader and has not been convicted of any conduct related to the airport suicide bombing.

"He was brought here because the government believed he participated in the Abbey Gate attack, a theory which it was unable to prove at trial,” defense attorneys wrote.

Prosecutors said in their sentencing memo that “from his teenage years, when he pledged an oath of allegiance to ISIS-K, Sharifullah’s carnage was driven by hate. Hate towards Americans.”

Jurors convicted Sharifullah of providing material support to ISIS-K. They deadlocked on whether any deaths at the airport “resulted from” that conspiracy. Sharifullah could have faced a possible life sentence if the jury had unanimously decided that question.

According to prosecutors, Sharifullah told a journalist that he wanted to “catch and kill the crusaders” from the United States for invading his country after the attacks of Sept. 11, 2001. They said Sharifullah was involved in dozens of other attacks, including a March 2024 assault on a Moscow concert hall that killed roughly 140 people.

Defense lawyers argued that prosecutors failed to present any evidence tying Sharifullah to the Kabul bombing besides his own words during hours of FBI questioning. His team said Sharifullah told FBI agents what he thought they wanted to hear, possibly because he was afraid of being tortured in Pakistani custody before he was brought to the U.S.

A review by U.S. Central Command found that the Abbey Gate bomber was Abdul Rahman al-Logari, an IS member who had been released from an Afghan prison by the Taliban. According to an FBI affidavit. Sharifullah recognized the alleged bomber as an operative he had known while incarcerated.

FILE - This courtroom sketch depicts government witness Bruce Hoffman testifying as defendant Mohammad Sharifullah, seated left, listens during the opening day of the trial for Sharifullah in federal court in Alexandria, Va., April 20, 2026. (Dana Verkouteren via AP)