Compassion, Hope and Community are behind JoAnne McTague and Yellow Door

I've passed by Stone Creek Village, adjacent to Monticello High School, countless times never realizing there is a hidden gem within those aesthetically pleasing buildings with their inviting pool. It's only when you see the Village through the lens of JoAnne (Jo) McTague that you truly grasp that something special has emerged at the corner of Scottsville Road and Mill Creek Drive.

I had the privilege of meeting Jo in her mobile office, the Stone Creek Clubhouse, and little did I know how profoundly her story would impact me during our brief encounter.

Back in 2017, Jo, a Charlottesville resident of three decades, was enjoying her post-retirement life following a successful career at American Express. Alongside her husband, Jeff, they embarked on a new venture, rehabbing homes. A friend’s question over dinner, “Have you ever thought about making your houses available for families of pediatric cancer patients who are in town for extended periods of time?”, ignited the spark leading to the birth of Yellow Door Foundation. However, the true inspiration for Jo's courageous leap forward can be traced back to a deeply personal desire—to honor her grandmother, who had succumbed to cancer when Jo was just 10-years-old.

"I couldn't fathom families of critically ill children sleeping in their cars in our town. Once I understood the need, I hoped I’d be able to make a difference.”

Throughout our conversation, it became evident that Jo is not one to shy away from a challenge. Armed with limited knowledge of how to tackle starting and building a successful 501c nonprofit foundation, Jo relied on the skills honed throughout her professional career. She sought insights from those directly affected, including cancer patient families and UVA's dedicated staff. With each conversation, a vision of the possible began to emerge, even though Jo admits she was improvising as she went along.

"While we initially focused on providing lodging, our vision also encompassed addressing the collateral damage inflicted on families with a pediatric cancer diagnosis. We aimed to meet the needs of immune-compromised patients and make every effort to keep families together during treatment."

Two of Jo's closest friends stepped up as initial sponsors, and Yellow Door took its first steps towards realizing its mission to provide free, long-term lodging for families of immune-compromised pediatric patients for the duration of the child’s treatment at UVA Health Children’s Hospital. A serendipitous conversation that her husband, Jeff, had at a local cigar shop connected Jo with the Perry Foundation, who joined forces to provide funding for apartment furnishings. In February 2018, Yellow Door Foundation opened the doors to its first family.

Fast forward to today, and Yellow Door boasts seven apartments, having recently welcomed its 89th family. Yellow Door’s individual, specially outfitted apartments allow families to stay together, and help ensure the best outcomes for the patients. Each apartment is lovingly supported by a sponsor who makes a generous three-year, $30,000 per year commitment. While Jo remains laser-focused on lodging, Yellow Door has evolved to meet the growing needs of these families, thanks to support from the Emergency Food Network, Wegmans, local churches, and a dedicated team of volunteers who address food insecurity.

Yellow Door has hosted families for as long as 11 months and Jo’s team remains engaged with each family during their entire stay. Jo operates a lean organization where 90% of all funds directly contribute to the mission. Yellow Door relies on the love and generosity of many, including the Stone Creek community. During my visit, I had the chance to meet one such resident. Lydia, a long-time Stone Creek resident, who had recently lost her husband, Bill, after 72 years of marriage. Lydia shared the immense joy she derives from engaging with the families and being a small but significant part of their journey through challenging times. I could sense the profound sense of purpose that Yellow Door had brought into Lydia's life. It was an unscripted, genuine interaction that demonstrated how Yellow Door's positive impact extended far beyond the hosted families.

Later in our meeting, Jo received a call from one of her families, and we were off. The family had just received an update regarding their four-week-old child, indicating the need for an extended stay and additional accommodations to meet the needs of their other child. Although this extension posed scheduling challenges, Jo's sole focus was on providing emotional support for the family.

"These families have become lifelong friends of mine. They bring immense joy into my life. Our team has the privilege of making a significant difference every single day," Jo shared with heartfelt sincerity.

But Jo's work is far from over. Her vision extends to an eighth apartment, "The Annex," designed to provide a dedicated, on-ground space for better family support. The Annex will facilitate a more personalized family intake process, offer temporary (1-3 days) housing for families returning for check-ups and create space for a community to thrive, including an expanded focus on family food support. As soon as Jo receives a sponsorship commitment, The Annex will become a reality.

Apart from the continued need for sponsors and major donations, Yellow Door relies on our community for time and resources to support its operations. Jo has set a goal this year to raise $5,000 in monthly recurring gifts, and it's been more challenging to achieve than one might expect. Jo acknowledges that there are still many people in our community who are unaware of Yellow Door's mission. Recurring gifts are critical in helping offset the increased operational costs of meeting the Foundation’s mission.

"Charlottesville is filled with kind and wonderful people, we just need to keep spreading the word. The best way to truly understand our mission is to come and see us," Jo affirmed.

As I concluded my conversation with Jo, I couldn't help but express that my time with her was the highlight of my day. I also couldn't resist asking her about the choice of the name "Yellow Door." Her response was both simple and profound: "Yellow inspires hope, positivity and all the good things." For a blog focused on positivity, I couldn't agree more. As I drove away from the parking lot, I saw Jo in her car, diligently working the phone to meet the needs of her beloved families.

Now, how about we all rally together to help Jo achieve her goals?

• Can we help her reach that $5,000 target in monthly recurring gifts? Absolutely! I've already made my contribution today!
• If you're inspired, could you lend a hand by preparing a meal or finding another way to volunteer? Of course! Reach out to Jo, [email protected] , to get involved.
• And if you happen to know someone or an organization with the capacity to do more, could you kindly point them in Jo's direction? Without a doubt, Jo and her families could greatly benefit from "The Annex"!
  

To stay updated with Yellow Door's heartwarming journey, follow them on social media.

Website Yelllowdoorfoundation.org
Instagram @yellowdoorfdn
Facebook @yellowdoorfoundation
                 
Let's continue to spread positivity in Cville!