Bijl, partners in public relations

The Sophia Rotterdam Ronald McDonald House accommodates families with children admitted to the nearby Erasmus MC-Sophia Kinderziekenhuis children's hospital. This gives the parents and siblings of seriously ill children a ‘home away from home', enabling them to remain close together during what is often a difficult period. In spite of everything that is happening, family life is able to continue as normally as it can. The facility located at Rochussenstraat 23 was no longer sufficient, so a new Ronald McDonald House was adjacent to Sophia Kinderziekenhuis. The new building was mainly funded by the Rotterdam business community and public. The Ronald McDonald House was officially opened on 11 February 2009.

Bijl played an active role in the fundraising committee and managed the publicity related to the various projects and milestones, such as the press launch on the cruise ship MS Rotterdam, the laying of the first foundation stone for the new Ronald McDonald House by Mayor Opstelten and ambassadors Wilfried de Jong and Herman den Blijker, as well as the official opening.