McDonald's Making a Difference 麥當勞叔叔兒童之家
Anyone who thinks McDonald's is only about hamburgers, French fries, and cold drinks is absolutely mistaken. In 1974, a group of people in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania worked together to open the first Ronald McDonald House. This was a place for families to stay while their seriously ill children were getting medical treatment in the nearby hospital. The project was made possible because of the donations collected from local McDonald's restaurants. Thirty-seven years later, Ronald McDonald House Charities is still helping sick children and their families in 52 countries around the world.
"We believe that when you change a child's life, you change a family's, which can change a community, and ultimately the world." This is the vision of RMHC. When a child is seriously sick, they might need treatment in a specialized facility far from home. This costs an arm and a leg, and few families can afford the treatment, not to mention the additional costs of traveling with the child. However, thanks to RMHC, many children no longer have to face a possibly frightening and long-term situation without their loved ones around them. RMHC provides a place close to the hospital for the families to stay. They set up rooms in hospitals where families can play, have fun together, and forget about their worries for a while. RMHC even has mobile care units that bring medical care to those who can't afford it. That is just the beginning of what RMHC is doing.
Building Your Vocabulary
- mistaken a. 誤解的，弄錯的
It wasn't until I told Mike that he realized he was mistaken about my birthday.
直到我告訴麥克，他才知道他記錯了我的生日。
- treatment n. 治療，療法
The patient's condition has greatly improved after getting the proper treatment.
在經過妥善治療後，病人的情況已有大幅改善。
- vision n. 遠見，願景
The boss had a clear vision of how he wanted his company to develop.
那位老闆對公司的發展有清楚的願景。
- facility n.（特定用途的）場所，建築
The government set up a nuclear research facility in the middle of the desert.
該國政府在沙漠中建造了一座核能研究中心。
- frightening a. 嚇人的，可怕的
The frightening movie gave Mandy a nightmare.
那部恐怖的電影讓曼蒂做了惡夢。
- long-term a. 長期的
How parents treat and discipline their children will have a long-term impact on them.
父母對待與管教孩子的方式會對他們產生長遠的影響。
- mobile a. 移動式的；活動的
In many rural communities, mobile libraries are used to help promote reading.
許多鄉村社區都利用行動圖書館來協助推廣閱讀。
Phrases for Learning
cost an arm and a leg 非常昂貴，所費不貲
The bag cost an arm and a leg because it was a famous brand.
那款包包因為是名牌而索價不菲。
More to Know
The Very First Ronald McDonald House
七零年代初，美國費城飛鷹足球隊隊員弗萊德‧希爾（Fred Hill）的三歲女兒因罹患血癌，必須遠離家鄉，前往費城兒童醫院接受治療。長達三年的治療期打亂了希爾全家人的生活，他們必須以醫院為家、三餐光顧醫院餐廳、倦了也只能在病床旁的狹小空間歇息，為的就是能時時刻刻陪在女兒身旁。希爾眼見無數家庭和他們有一樣的遭遇，深深認為這樣下去不是辦法，於是和其他飛鷹隊隊員決定要為這些家庭盡一份心力，他們跟他女兒的主治醫生及兒童醫院腫瘤科部門主管分享他們的心願，希望能在醫院附近建立一所給病童的『出門在外的家（home away from home）』。
當地的麥當勞餐廳聽到這個消息後深感認同，於是透過商品義賣發起募款行動，參與籌建重症病童與家庭『出門在外的家』的工作。1974年，第一間『麥當勞叔叔兒童之家』正式於費城成立，裡頭有七個房間、客廳、廚房、洗衣房等設施。時至今日，『麥當勞叔叔兒童之家』已發展成國際性組織，而台灣第一間『麥當勞叔叔兒童之家』也在2007年於台北內湖成立，以服務大台北地區的醫療中心為主。
中文翻譯
任何認為麥當勞只跟漢堡、薯條和冷飲有關的人可真是大錯特錯。1974年，賓州費城的一群居民共同成立了第一間『麥當勞叔叔兒童之家』。當家中有生重病的孩子在附近醫院接受治療時，這裡是一個給他們家人暫時居住的地方。這項計畫因為有來自當地麥當勞餐廳的捐款而得以成功展開。三十七年後，『麥當勞叔叔兒童之家』仍然幫助著全球五十二個國家的病童及其家人。
『我們相信當您改變一個孩童的生命，您也改變了一個家庭的命運，進而改變一個社區，最後是整個世界。』這正是『麥當勞叔叔兒童之家』的願景。當一名孩童生了重病，他們或許需要在一個離家很遠的特殊場所進行治療。這需要大筆金錢，但很少家庭能負擔得起醫療費用，更不用說陪伴孩子一起出門在外的額外花費。然而，多虧有『麥當勞叔叔兒童之家』，許多孩童再也不必在沒有親愛的家人陪在身邊的情況下，面對可能造成恐懼且為期長久的處境。『麥當勞叔叔兒童之家』提供了一個鄰近醫院的處所給家人留住。他們還在醫院裡設立許多房間，讓家人們可以一起玩樂、暫時忘卻他們的煩惱。『麥當勞叔叔兒童之家』甚至設有行動照護小組，可為那些無法負擔費用的人提供醫療照顧。對於『麥當勞叔叔兒童之家』即將進行的各種作為，上述的一切僅是個開端而已。
引用自：長春藤英語 http://www.ivy.com.tw/
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