WPCNR GOOD NEWS. By John F. Bailey. August 25, 2006: Lynn and Peter Samaha, owners of 13 McDonald’s franchises in lower Westchester, presented Westco’s Susan Katz with a check for $4,800 upon completion of uplifting, inspiring, “Healing Walls” murals at the Carvel Children’s Rehabilitation Center Thursday afternoon. It is the second health facility in White Plains where Westco, through donations of individuals and organizations of “walls” has brightened up chidrens’ facilities with White Plains artist Anne Ferencz’s murals.
Lynn and Peter Samaha, owners of the three White Plains McDonald's restaurants view one of the Ronald McDonald House Charities "Healing Walls" in a doctor's office at the Thomas and Agnes Carvel Children's Rehabilation Center on North Street yesterday. The McDonald's charitiy organization donate 5 offices and a staircase, completing the Westco Healing Walls project at the CCRC. Photo, WPCNR News.
The Samahas, brother and sister, long-time supporters of Westco Productions, Westchester’s premier presenter of shows for children, hospitals and schools presented the Ronald McDonald House Charities gift, $4,800 completing Westco’s Healing Walls “makeover” creating an appealing, inspiring, uplifting environment at the center specializing in helping disabled children. Susan Katz, who created the Healing Walls concept for cheering up hospitalized children, accepts the symbolic check yesterday at the CCRC. Photo, WPCNR News.
“Our charity is built on raising money and giving money back to children’s charities. This particular program (Westco) which we’ve now donated to in our fourth year, has done a lot of good things for kids, and that’s what Ronald McDonald House Charities like to be apart of,” Mr. Samaha said, presenting the gift. The Samahas also fund Westco’s “Bedside Buddies” program in which Westco actors and actresses visit children in hospitals, performing for them to uplift their spirits.
Samaha told WPCNR, nonprofit organizations in New York, New Jersey, and Connecticut can apply for grants quarterly from Ronald McDonald House Charities by filling out an application which can be obtained online at www.ronaldmcdonaldhousechartities.nynj.org, or you may call 914-273-5625, for details.
Disabled children, learning to climb stairs can count the Anne Ferencz-created Bunnies pointing the way, focusing on reaching a beckoning bunny, not on the painful effort of lifting legs to try and climb one more step. Photo by WPCNR News.
Asked his impressions of the Healing Walls murals donated by Ronald McDonald House Charities, Mr. Samaha said, “It’s Fantastic. It seems with kids going through troubled times, or whatever they are going through the whole thing is attitude and being positive. I think everything you see in this hospital is promoting a great positive outlook and fun. How can you not like it?”
A School That's Fun. Another Ferencz mural makes the second floor CCRC educational wing give flight to childrens' imaginations and uplift spirits. Photo, WPCNR News
Lynn Samaha, Mr. Samaha’s sister said, “When I came here, when Sue showed me originally it was very stark. Clean, but it looked very much like a hospital. Now (with the Healing Walls) it’s much more warm. It’s much more friendly. It’s lively. It makes me feel good about being here.”
Asked where she thought Healing Walls could be taken next: “I know that Sue (Katz) has talked about the program being taken into hospitals, into rehab centers, I would imagine it would benefit a whole host of venues whether in schools, children’s feeder areas. It has a lot of possibilities.”
Teachers and therapists passing by in the hall commented to WPCNR how the “Healing Walls” catch their child-patients’ eyes and aid in setting goals when they are practicing walking and other activities. Corporations, Individuals donate the cost of each wall ($600). This wall was donated by The North Street Community. Photo, WPCNR News
Asked how Ronald McDonald House Charities and Westco first connected, Westco producer Susan Katz said the relationship dates back to when Westco celebrated its twentieth birthday at The White Plains Pavillion mall, where the Samahas own the McDonald’s there. “The stores all participated in certain ways,” Katz remembered, “and McDonald’s there participated by giving coupons. That’s how we initially met, and it’s been a love affair ever since.” Photo, WPCNR News
The Samahas are the son and daughter of Sam Samaha, a former pharmaceutical executive who purchased the first McDonald’s franchise in Westchester County in 1973. Peter Samaha said his father had spent most of his career with Merc and Vick, representing the company in South America, and decided he wanted to turn to a business where he could stay at home. He was very impressed with the McDonald’s operation and opened the first McDonald’s in White Plains at The White Plains Mall in 1973. Samaha was so successful he added more.
Peter says McDonald’s has had 40 consecutive months of “Plus Sales” nationally and has recently passed the 500 million mark in salads sold.
A Trial Balloon Donated by Thompson & Bender. Photo, WPCNR News
Healing Walls now is in two locations in White Plains, after being introduced two years ago. Ms. Ferencz has painted murals in the Pediatric Playroom and Pediatric Nursery of White Plains Hospital Center and has painted 30 to 40 murals, decorating the entire Carvel Children’s Rehabilitation Center. Organizations interested in Healing Walls exhibits can contact Ms. Katz at 914-761-7463 or through www.westcoproductions.org.
