Suzanne Costa Joins RMH-LI Board of Directors

Ronald McDonald House of Long Island recently appointed Suzanne Costa to its 2014 board of directors.

Costa, the principal of  New York-based Suzanne Costa Interiors and a former Northport resident, will lend her expertise to the New Hyde Park-based organization’s mission of providing a home-away-from-home for families of seriously ill children. The organization says Costa will share her leadership skills, fundraising experience, and knowledge of the design industry.

Costa first became active with RMH-LI last year through an initiative called Project Design 2013 – the largest redesign RMH-LI has seen in its almost 28 years of existence.  With the help of the region’s interior designer industry leaders, this project focused on completing a redesign and renovation of its original 18 bedrooms, four kitchens, breakfast room, five common areas, first floor restrooms and three laundry rooms. More than $2 million in design, labor and materials were donated to this first-of-its-kind initiative. Phase II, Project Design 2014, will focus on updating RMH-LI’s remaining 24 bedrooms and several common areas.

“Suzanne quickly became a leader within the framework of the project, offering valuable advice and guidance to staff and designers assembling spaces in the House,” said Matthew Campo, executive director of RMH-LI, in a press release.

“She left such a lasting impression during Phase I that she currently serves as design chair for Phase II,” he added.

Costa is currently leading all planning aspects of the initiative and mentoring this year’s diverse group of participating designers on reflecting their own unique style into a comfortable space. Her goal is is to see that each space provides a calm and restful healing environment for families experiencing the pain of having a child in the hospital.

"Working on Project Design 2013 helped me personally realize that transforming a space for families in need was a gift that I could give but more one I received,” Costa said.

“The relationships I built at RMH-LI changed my path and lead me to understand that the right design can help the healing process by surrounding families with the much needed peace and tranquility they need during their stay at the House," she added.