Staff

Pamela W. Cornforth, Executive Director

Pam Cornforth has been the Executive Director of the Ronald McDonald House of Delaware for the past twelve years.  Her responsibilities include overseeing the day to day operations of the House and three Family Rooms. She is responsible for financial and personnel management, strategic planning, public relations, fund raising and all administrative duties for the House.  During Pam’s leadership the Ronald McDonald House of Delaware has undergone two expansions.  The first “mini” expansion which was completed in 1999 added 10 guest rooms and finished the basement area.  The second expansion was the construction of a 29,000 square foot wing which added 23 guest rooms for a total of 50 guest rooms, new kitchens, dining room, mini theater and family lounge areas.  This new wing was dedicated May 2005.  Pam led the House’s efforts for their capital campaign which exceeded the $4.9mm goal.  Pam recently completed a two year term as a member of the Ronald McDonald House Charities Global Advisory board acting in the capacity as a liaison between the local RMHC chapters and the global office. 

Pam has a strong commitment to her local community.  She is a member of the board of directors for the Rotary Club of Wilmington, the immediate past Chair of the Board of Directors for DANA (Delaware Association of Nonprofit Agencies).  Pam also serves as Co-Chair of the State Chamber of Commerce Small Business Alliance Board of Managers.  She served as President of the Junior League of Wilmington and was the sustainer advisor to their Board of Directors. Pam graduated from Skidmore College with a BA in Psychology and a minor in business. She resides in Landenberg, Pennsylvania with her husband, Doug.  Doug and Pam have 3 adult children.

 
Meg Aument, Operations Director

Meg Aument lives in Landenberg, Pennsylvania with her husband Dave. She grew up in nearby Chester County, Pennsylvania. Through transfers with the DuPont Company, they have lived in Texas and Mississippi.  They have three grown children, a son and two daughters. Meg received a degree in Medical Technology from the University of Delaware. She is an active member of Red Clay Creek Presbyterian Church, currently serving on the Reach and Personnel Committees.

Meg is the Operations Director at the House.  She joined the staff in 2001 working part-time as the Ronald McDonald Family Room Coordinator.  As her time with the House increased, she became more involved with the House Volunteer Program as well.  In 2005, after the opening of the new wing, Meg moved to the full-time position of Operations Manager.

Barbara Loeslein, Development Director

Barbara Loeslein grew up in Erie, Pennsylvania and is a graduate of the University of Dayton.  She is an active volunteer with DFRC and the Junior League of Wilmington.  She is married to Dale and has two adult children, Anne and Matthew.Barbara is the Development Director at the Ronald McDonald House joining in January 2010.  Prior to joining the House, Barbara was the Director of Development for Operation Warm, Inc., a non profit organization that provides new winter coats to children in need.  She was also the Volunteer Programs Manager for the Bank of America Charitable Foundation promoting volunteerism company-wide.  Barbara worked at Child, Inc. in the parent education department managing the Welcome Baby program and the Warmline.

Barbara moved to Wilmington Delaware in 1991 and started volunteering at the LPGA Car Raffle as Chair for the Junior League of Wilmington.  She also founded and chaired The Golf Ball fundraiser for the Ronald McDonald House.

Val Budischak, Social Worker

Valerie (Val) Budischak is a native of Wilmington, Delaware.  She lives in Wilmington with her husband, Matt, and their son.  She is one of the oldest cousins in a large, close extended family.  She grew up surrounded by younger children which influenced her to seek a career working with children and families.  This is one of the reasons she was drawn to work at the Ronald McDonald House of Delaware.

Val attended Padua Academy in Wilmington and then pursued her undergraduate degree in both Human Services and Psychology at Elon University in Elon, North Carolina.  While realizing that she wanted to further her education by completing her graduate degree in Social Work at Temple University, she accepted the Resident Manager position in the fall of 2005 at the House, leaving her days free to complete her degree.  In February of 2008, she happily accepted the role of Social Worker at the House and has been working in that capacity ever since.

 

Hope Byrd, Resident Manager

Hope Byrd was born and raised in Southern California.  She attended Point Loma Nazarene University, in San Diego, California where she received a BA in psychology and a minor in child development.  Hope followed her husband, Jerod, to Delaware in 2008 by way of Colorado.  They welcomed their first son, Samuel Tucker, in October 2010.

Hope loves working with children.  She began babysitting at an early age and has enjoyed working as a nanny, day care worker, teacher, and advocate in the corporate as well as private sectors.  Hope has a passion for volunteering and was looking for something in which to get involved after moving to Delaware.  She found herself blessed as the new Assistant Operations Manager in 2008 after exploring volunteer opportunities at the House.  Hope changed roles at the House in 2009, becoming the Resident Manager, affording her the opportunity to pair her love for children with her passion for volunteerism.

Sara Funaiock, Volunteer Manager

Sara Funaiock joined the staff in the role of Volunteer Manager in 2007.  Before joining the staff, Sara completed a year of service with AmeriCorps.  Since graduating from the Unversity of Delaware with a Bachelor's Degree in Political Science, Sara has worked with nonprofits and volunteers and recently received the honor of being asked to join the Governor's Commission on the Community and Volunteer Service in Delaware.  Originally from Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Sara considers Delaware home.  When she is not at the House, Sara enjoys the arts, volunteering, and spending time with family and friends.

Megan Racobaldo, Assistant Operations Manager

Megan Racobaldo is the Assistant Operations Manager at the House.  She was born in San Diego, California, raised in Unionville, Pennsylvania, and currently resides in Philadelphia.  She is a graduate of the University of Delaware with a Bachelors Degree in Human Services. 

Megan's involvement with the House began as a Social Work intern in the fall of 2009.  After completing her internship, Megan knew she wanted to continue her involvement with the House.  She joined the staff in June 2010.

Dawn Brooks, Special Events Coordinator

Dawn Brooks joined the Ronald McDonald House in 1996 and just celebrated 15 years of service with the House.  Dawn is the longest standing employee at the House.  She is the Special Events Coordinator and oversees all Special Events at the House as well as Community Fundraisers.

Dawn is married to her husband, George, and has two children, Dale and Kristen and lives in Wilmington.

Pam Jones, Development Assistant

Pam Jones grew up in Delaware and earned her Bachelors Degree at the University of Delaware.  She continued her education by receiving her Paralegal Certificate from the Institute of Paralegal Training in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.

Pam worked as a paralegal for two Pennsylvania law firms before moving to Sarasota, Florida.  There she enjoyed her work as an estate and trust paralegal in a bank trust department before returning to Delaware.  Pam entered the nonprofit community while working at the National Multiple Sclerosis Society, Delaware Chapter as a fundraiser.  She joined the Ronald McDonald House of Delaware's development staff eight years ago, and enjoys the opportunity to serve our families.

Pam lives in north Wilmington with her husband, Blaine.  She has two children, Jessica and Ryan.

 

Carol Sayles, Executive Assistant

Carol Sayles grew up in upstate New York and graduated from Cedar Crest College with a Bachelors Degree in Psychology and Elementary Education.  She worked as a marketing assistant for a Massachusetts savings bank coordinating a children's banking program before leaving to raise her two children.  She is active in the local chapter of her womens' group and served as president and as a committee chair at the state level.

Carol first became involved with the House in 2001 as a reception volunteer.  She joined the staff in her current role in 2006. 

Fran Patone, Maintenance Assistant

Fran Patone is a native Delawarean.  He was raised in Wilmington's east side neighborhood with his two sisters, surrounded by many aunts, uncles and cousins.

Fran attended Brown Vocational High School where he studied to become an electrician.  After serving his apprenticeship, Fran worked in his field for over forty years with IBEW Local 313.  His work was centered in the tri-state area on projects that were commercial and industrial.  He retired in 2005.  Fran served in the Delaware Army National Guard for six years after completing his apprenticeship.

Fran was offered the position as maintenance assistant and joined the staff in March 2007.  Working at the House has brought him great satisfaction; he is honored to be part of the team that provides families a "home away from home."

When not working at the House, Fran looks forward to spending time with his family, and friends especially his wife, two children and his new grandson, Dante.