On a rainy New York City evening at The Lighthouse at Chelsea Piers, Ronald McDonald House New York welcomed families, supporters, and sports legends for Skate with the Greats, an annual celebration that was started because of the love one man, the late Rod Gilbert, former New York Ranger and partner to Ronald McDonald House New York. Rod brought Skate with the Greats to life 32 years ago and his commitment to the House is celebrated with every passing year that RMH-NY skates with the greats.
The annual event brought together hockey history, community leadership, and a powerful family story—capturing the attention of local and national media outlets that helped share its impact far beyond the ice.
Press Coverage Amplifying a Night with Purpose
The evening’s message of health equity and holistic care resonated strongly with the press in attendance and with audiences across multiple platforms. Coverage included ABC7’s Lucy Yang and team, NY1’s Morning Moment, and national pickups from Yahoo Sports and Yahoo News, extending the story to viewers and readers nationwide.
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ABC7 Eyewitness News (WABC-TV) featured on-site reporting led by Lucy Yang, capturing the spirit of Skate with the Greats, interviews with attendees, and the mission of Ronald McDonald House New York to support pediatric patients and their families during medical crises.
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NY1 highlighted the event during its Morning Moment coverage, focusing on the intersection of sports, philanthropy, and community-based emotional support for families navigating pediatric cancer and critical care.
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The ABC7 story was picked up nationally by Yahoo Sports and Yahoo News, helping introduce Ronald McDonald House New York’s work to a broader audience and reinforcing the importance of addressing social determinants of health for all families with hospitalized children and those in extended treatment therapies..
See the national coverage on Yahoo Sports! here.
This layered media attention elevated the evening from a beloved New York event to a national conversation about the importance of healthcare innovation that supports the whole family—not only the patient in treatment.
An Iconic Setting for an Iconic Cause
Skate with the Greats unfolded at the Lighthouse at Chelsea Piers, a venue overlooking the Hudson River that offered both intimacy and energy. The night began earlier on the ice with the Rod Gilbert Memorial Hockey Game, where New York Rangers legends laced up their skates once more for a friendly matchup. Skate attendees gathered rinkside to watch hockey history come alive, honoring the legacy of the late Rod Gilbert while celebrating the sport’s power to unite generations.
As the puck dropped and cheers filled the arena, the tone was set for an evening that balanced fun with meaning—joy with purpose.
Rangers Legends and Hockey Leaders Step Forward
The alumni roster underscored the significance of the event and its draw across eras of New York Rangers hockey. Attending legends included Brian Leetch, Sean Avery, Adam Graves, Nick Fotiu, Ron Greschner, Ed Hospodar, Chris Kotsopoulos, Tom Laidlaw, Stéphane Matteau, Brian Mullen, Boo Nieves, Colton Orr, Brandon Prust, Mike Richter, Sam Rosen, Pete Stemkowski, and Steve Vickers.
Their presence was more than ceremonial. For families supported by Ronald McDonald House New York, these athletes represent community members who choose to show up—using their platforms to champion wholistic family care for pediatric patients and their families.
Adding to the evening’s excitement, Maddi Wheeler of the New York Sirens made a special appearance in support of the House and the families it serves, underscoring the growing visibility of women’s professional hockey within the broader sports philanthropy landscape.
A Program Grounded in Leadership and Gratitude
Festivities at The Lighthouse officially began at 6:00 p.m., featuring food, music, and both live and silent auctions that kept energy high throughout the night. At the heart of the program were voices that have helped shape Skate with the Greats and Ronald McDonald House New York’s ongoing impact.
Chief Executive Officer Lucretia Gilbert opened the evening. In her remarks, Lucretia emphasized the collective power behind Skate with the Greats, underscoring that the event, and the mission it supports; exists because of a community that chooses to show up for families in crisis. She reinforced Ronald McDonald House New York’s role as a steady presence for families facing pediatric cancer and serious illness, and framed the organization’s work not in services, but in impact: ensuring families are supported, cared for, and never alone during the most difficult moments of their lives.
She was followed by James F. Flanagan, former Chief Operating Officer, Vice Chairman, and U.S. Managing Partner for PwC, who served as Chairman of Skate with the Greats for the past two years. His remarks reflected on leadership, stewardship, and the responsibility of institutions and individuals alike to invest in care models that support families during medical crises.
The program also featured Bobby Grubert of RBC Capital, another former Chair of Ronald McDonald House New York, who played a pivotal role in bringing the event to life. His address emphasized collaboration, community investment, and the tangible difference philanthropy can make when aligned with mission-driven healthcare support.
The Story at the Center: Natalie and Marcellus
While the ice, the legends, and the skyline created an unforgettable backdrop, the emotional center of the evening belonged to a family whose journey embodies the mission of Ronald McDonald House New York.
Natalie Miranda took the stage to share her experience as the mother of Marcellus, now a thriving two-year-old. When Marcellus was born prematurely, he spent critical time in the NICU at NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst in Queens. Natalie spoke candidly about the fear and anxiety of having a newborn on life support, fighting for his life—emotions familiar to so many families navigating pediatric critical care.
During that time, Natalie found refuge and emotional support at the Ronald McDonald Family Room at Elmhurst Hospital. She described how Jen, Feng and the entire Family Room team provided not only a place to rest, but real care that addressed the family's needs often overlooked during medical emergencies—rest, nourishment, understanding, and human connection.
There were few dry eyes in the room as Natalie reflected on how the care provided in the Ronald McDonald Family Room allowed her to stay close to Marcellus while preserving her own strength during the most uncertain days of their lives.
In a moment that captured the spirit of the night, Marcellus joined his mother on stage. Together, they were presented with a New York Rangers jersey by Judy Gilbert, wife of the late Rod Gilbert, alongside Rangers legend Brian Leetch. The gesture symbolized resilience, community, and the shared belief that no family should face a child’s medical journey alone.
Media Coverage That Moves the Mission Forward
The press coverage of Skate with the Greats did more than document a successful event—it amplified a model of care that integrates emotional support and healthcare innovations into pediatric treatment journeys. By spotlighting real families and real outcomes, outlets like ABC7, NY1, Yahoo Sports, and Yahoo News helped illustrate how Ronald McDonald House New York can lend a hand in shaping experiences and outcomes for pediatric patients and their caregivers.
For Ronald McDonald House New York, this visibility is essential. It strengthens partnerships, educates the public about health disparities, and invites broader community engagement in addressing the non-medical needs that profoundly influence the health of to many children around the world.
Gratitude for a Community That Shows Up
Skate with the Greats is made possible through the generosity of alumni athletes, corporate partners, volunteers, staff, and families willing to share their stories. The success of the evening—and the attention it received—reflects a shared commitment to compassionate care and to building systems that support the whole family during a child’s most vulnerable moments.
As media stories continue to circulate and reach new audiences, the impact of Skate with the Greats extends well beyond one night at Chelsea Piers. It becomes part of a larger narrative about what healthcare can look like when emotional support, dignity, and community are treated as essential components of healing.
Ronald McDonald House New York remains grateful to the members of the press who helped tell this story, and to every supporter who ensures that families like Natalie and Marcellus’s never have to face a medical crisis alone.
