20 Mar RMHC Maine Announces New Executive Director

It is with great excitement that I announce and welcome Julie Mulkern as the new Executive Director of the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Maine. Julie is well known in Maine communities as she has spent the last twenty plus years dedicating her professional life to improving the health of Maine kids.

Most recently, she was the Executive Director of WinterKids, a Maine nonprofit dedicated to helping children build healthy lifelong habits through education and fun, outdoor winter activity. As a key collaborator and relationship builder, WinterKids grew under Mulkern’s leadership from serving 5,000 kids annually to upwards of 45,000 children annually in Maine, and the budget grew from $200,000 to $1.5 million annually. Under Mulkern’s leadership, the organization has been able to grant over $500,000 to schools, rec programs, and likeminded outdoor nonprofit over the past decade.

Julie led the organization through three strategic planning processes and the creation of the WinterKids App, a digital platform to try new winter sports (also adopted by Michigan and New Hampshire), the WinterKids Winter Games, an award-winning school program for Maine elementary students (and now in thirteen other states), a virtual training program for teachers to utilize the WinterKids Learn Outside Guide, and lead the development of the largest winter fundraiser in Maine, a 24-hour ski challenge at Sugarloaf called the WinterKids Downhill 24. This event has raised over $5 million for WinterKids programs.

Previously, Julie held leadership and fundraising positions with Maine Public Health Association, Spring Harbor Hospital, American Cancer Society, and Community Counseling Center. Julie brings two decades of executive leadership experience and a life-long commitment to working for mission-centered organizations. Throughout her career, she has been known for her excellence in program development, fundraising, and making all constituents feel welcomed and valued.

Mulkern’s qualifications in strategic planning and mission integration, fundraising and capacity building, fiscal management, program development and special events position her well to lead RMHC Maine into the future.

Julie is excited to join our RMHC family and looks forward to leading RMHC Maine into our next chapter of serving our pediatric families. The mission of RMHC Maine is to nurture the health and well-being of children and families with a Ronald McDonald Houses in Portland and Maine and two-Family Rooms in Barbara Bush Childrens Hospital and Eastern Maine Medical Center, keeping families close when it matters most.

Julie will assume the responsibilities of leading our organization on April 29, 2024.

Sincerely,

Ron Lydick

RMHC Maine Board Chair