16 Jun Why We Serve – The Impact of Charity
Photo of Ross Glasser, member of the RMHC Bay Area Board of Directors, with wife Jennalyn, baby Ridley and their dog Panda.
Ross Glasser feels joining the board of Ronald McDonald House Charities Bay Area was meant to happen exactly when it did.
“There’s a confluence of events that made this the right time and the right organization for me,” Ross said. Chief among those reasons? His wife, Jennalyn, gave birth to the couple’s first child this May.
“Building my own family…has been transformative,” Ross explained. “It’s a realization for me as I reach this new point in my life, transitioning from being the youngest child in my family to now being a father and starting a family of my own. Acknowledging the importance of that and the importance of family has been key – my wife and I have really leaned on our family in these early days of our parenting journey.”
In growing his own family, Ross can’t help but draw inspiration by the families RMHC Bay Area serves. “You think about these children that are so young tackling difficult health problems but doing it with amazing grace, strength and power,” he said. For Ross, his decision to join the board of directors stems from wanting to do anything he can to help and support families in need.
As someone who has lived through family illness, Ross believes in the healing power of family — in fact, it’s what drew him to RMHC Bay Area. Growing up, his father dealt with significant heart conditions, which affected his entire family. “(My father’s health) led me to want to help families tackling similar issues.”
Coping with his father’s condition changed Ross’s mentality and approach to life. In middle school, his father’s declining health made him unable to work, and Ross knew that if he wanted to attend college, he’d have to financially support himself. In high school, he was forced to give up basketball, a passion of his, so he could focus on work and school. At one point, he was putting in 40 hours a week at his job on top of his high school studies, learning that sacrifice is often unavoidable in pursuit of a goal. Ultimately, Ross excelled, earning scholarships and utilizing financial aid to Indiana University. “Depending on where you come from and your background, graduating college might seem big or small. For me, it was a major event,” said Ross, who considers graduating college his proudest accomplishment, given how much work and determination it took at such a young age.
He also learned a valuable lesson — it’s OK to ask for help. Struggling to get by financially, Ross turned to his friends for financial support in college. Though it “felt terrible” at the time, he said, “To this day, almost fifteen years later, the generosity I received is still something I look back at as formative for me, and really eye-opening.” It’s an experience that informs his philanthropy and board service today.
“Knowing people were supporting me and had confidence in me made me feel stronger. That’s really the benefit of philanthropy – all of us are in different ranges of need, and being able to help someone has an echo effect.”
Looking to the future, Ross said he wants his life’s work to show that small acts compound, build upon one another, and ultimately can make a big difference. In his professional life as a technology investor, Ross sees an “echo effect” everyday – where a chance coffee meeting or introduction can lead to the formation of a company and an entirely new technology or medical advancement. This is also evident in his personal life – advice from a mentor that was generous with their time led Ross down a path to Silicon Valley, and a chance dinner invitation led to meeting his wife and starting their family. He feels RMHC Bay Area is a prime example of what can happen when a community comes together to offer support, no matter the size of the gesture.
“Small acts of compassion and caring – like a meal or shelter to keep a family together – go a long way toward giving families the nudge they need to overcome their adversity. And from there who knows what these children (and their parents) will go on to achieve with their newfound strength and perseverance.”
Photo of Ross Glasser, member of the RMHC Bay Area Board of Directors, with wife Jennalyn, baby Ridley and their dog Panda.
Ross Glasser feels joining the board of Ronald McDonald House Charities Bay Area was meant to happen exactly when it did.
“There’s a confluence of events that made this the right time and the right organization for me,” Ross said. Chief among those reasons? His wife, Jennalyn, gave birth to the couple’s first child this May.
“Building my own family…has been transformative,” Ross explained. “It’s a realization for me as I reach this new point in my life, transitioning from being the youngest child in my family to now being a father and starting a family of my own. Acknowledging the importance of that and the importance of family has been key – my wife and I have really leaned on our family in these early days of our parenting journey.”
In growing his own family, Ross can’t help but draw inspiration by the families RMHC Bay Area serves. “You think about these children that are so young tackling difficult health problems but doing it with amazing grace, strength and power,” he said. For Ross, his decision to join the board of directors stems from wanting to do anything he can to help and support families in need.
As someone who has lived through family illness, Ross believes in the healing power of family — in fact, it’s what drew him to RMHC Bay Area. Growing up, his father dealt with significant heart conditions, which affected his entire family. “(My father’s health) led me to want to help families tackling similar issues.”
Coping with his father’s condition changed Ross’s mentality and approach to life. In middle school, his father’s declining health made him unable to work, and Ross knew that if he wanted to attend college, he’d have to financially support himself. In high school, he was forced to give up basketball, a passion of his, so he could focus on work and school. At one point, he was putting in 40 hours a week at his job on top of his high school studies, learning that sacrifice is often unavoidable in pursuit of a goal. Ultimately, Ross excelled, earning scholarships and utilizing financial aid to Indiana University. “Depending on where you come from and your background, graduating college might seem big or small. For me, it was a major event,” said Ross, who considers graduating college his proudest accomplishment, given how much work and determination it took at such a young age.
He also learned a valuable lesson — it’s OK to ask for help. Struggling to get by financially, Ross turned to his friends for financial support in college. Though it “felt terrible” at the time, he said, “To this day, almost fifteen years later, the generosity I received is still something I look back at as formative for me, and really eye-opening.” It’s an experience that informs his philanthropy and board service today.
“Knowing people were supporting me and had confidence in me made me feel stronger. That’s really the benefit of philanthropy – all of us are in different ranges of need, and being able to help someone has an echo effect.”
Looking to the future, Ross said he wants his life’s work to show that small acts compound, build upon one another, and ultimately can make a big difference. In his professional life as a technology investor, Ross sees an “echo effect” everyday – where a chance coffee meeting or introduction can lead to the formation of a company and an entirely new technology or medical advancement. This is also evident in his personal life – advice from a mentor that was generous with their time led Ross down a path to Silicon Valley, and a chance dinner invitation led to meeting his wife and starting their family. He feels RMHC Bay Area is a prime example of what can happen when a community comes together to offer support, no matter the size of the gesture.
“Small acts of compassion and caring – like a meal or shelter to keep a family together – go a long way toward giving families the nudge they need to overcome their adversity. And from there who knows what these children (and their parents) will go on to achieve with their newfound strength and perseverance.”
About our Board of Directors
We have an incredible volunteer board of directors made up of individuals who take a personal interest in their community and those in it. Read more about who they are and why they choose to serve families with sick children.
About our Board of Directors
We have an incredible volunteer board of directors made up of individuals who take a personal interest in their community and those in it. Read more about who they are and why they choose to serve families with sick children.