Kaner Legacy Lives On At Ronald McDonald House

Shown (l. to r.) are: Ronald McDonald House of Long Island Ececutive Director Robert S. Weitzner, Cindy Fu, David Fu, Josh Sussman, Julie Wager, Leo Meindl, Robert Tayler, Michelle Kasson and Betty Scott all members of the Walter Kaner Children's Foundation. Members of the foundation donated $25,000 to the House Share-A-Night Program.

An American journalist, philanthropist and long-time resident of Port Washington, Walter Kaner is best known for his stint as "Tokyo Mose" during and after World War II where he aired a popular broadcast radio show on U.S. Army Radio. A well-known columnist for several news publications, including the Queens Gazette, Long Island Press and New York Daily News, he was affectionately referred to as "the breath of home to unknown thousands of young men when they were lonely".

In 1950, Kaner founded the Walter Kaner Children's Foundation, an organization whose sole objective is to help poor, handicapped and mentally disabled children. Since then, his foundation has helped bring sunshine and cheer to the lives of more than 250,000 children in the New York metropolitan area. As a member of the boards of many organizations that help support children in need, his love of children of all ages spanned generations. Kaner's legacy continued even after his life ended in 2005.

More recently, his foundation has touched the lives of families with ill children staying at the Ronald McDonald House of Long Island. The foundation raised a generous amount totaling $25,000 for the House, which will be used towards its Share-A-Night Program. Several members of the Walter Kaner Children's Foundation stopped by the House to present House Executive Director Robert S. Weitzner with the generous donation. The House's Share-ANight Program utilizes the funds from compassionate organizations and individuals to waive the room fees for families with financial challenges.

"The Walter Kaner Children's Foundation has provided funding for many causes that help children in our community," Weitzner said. "Their grant will certainly help our organization operate in a way that will best serve the families who stay with us. And for that we are very grateful."

The Ronald McDonald House of Long Island is a home-away-from home for families who are caring for seriously ill children undergoing medical treatment in area hospitals. Located on the campus of Schneider Children's Hospital, the House accommodates families in a warm and supportive environment. Since opening in 1986, the House has served approximately 12,000 families from Long Island, the five boroughs, throughout the United States and abroad.