Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC)
Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) is a global nonprofit organization dedicated to supporting families with pediatric patients facing serious health challenges. Established in the 1970s, RMHC provides essential services, including lodging, meals, and emotional support, primarily through its flagship program, the Ronald McDonald House, which allows families to stay close to hospitals while their children receive treatment. As of 2023, RMHC operates 387 houses in over 60 countries, offering nearly 10,000 overnight facilities that have welcomed more than 2.1 million families.
In addition to Ronald McDonald Houses, RMHC runs Family Rooms within hospitals and the Ronald McDonald Care Mobile program, which delivers healthcare services to at-risk children in underserved areas. Funding for RMHC comes from donations, with a significant portion collected through initiatives like donation boxes at McDonald's restaurants. The organization emphasizes accessibility by waiving fees for families in need and relies heavily on community support, including the efforts of over 280,000 volunteers.
RMHC also engages in broader initiatives, funding grants aimed at improving child health and education, and supports scholarship programs for students. Overall, RMHC’s mission centers on easing the burdens of families during challenging times, providing a nurturing environment that fosters well-being and hope.
On this Page
Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC)
The Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) is a nonprofit organization that provides care, support, and lodging to families of pediatric patients facing serious medical conditions. The RMHC's main program, the Ronald McDonald House, provides a place for families to stay while a child or young person receives medical treatment in a nearby hospital. Other programs include Ronald McDonald Family Rooms and Ronald McDonald Care Mobiles. The charity was established in the 1970s and grew out of a cooperative effort between a National Football League (NFL) team and the McDonald's hamburger chain. By 2023, the RMHC operated facilities in more than 61 countries and accommodated visits by more than 2.1 million families in its nearly 10,000 overnight facilities.
Brief History
In 1969, Philadelphia Eagles' tight end Fred Hill and his wife learned their three-year-old daughter Kim had a deadly form of leukemia. For three years, the Hills accompanied Kim as she underwent chemotherapy and radiation treatments. Wanting to remain close to their daughter, the Hills often slept on hospital chairs or benches and ate food from vending machines. In 1972, Fred Hill approached the Eagles to help organize a fund-raiser for the Leukemia Society of America. The response from the team was overwhelming, and the event raised more than $10,000. With the help of a friend and the support of the Eagles' owner, Hill started the charity Eagles Fly for Leukemia in 1973. The charity raised more than $125,000, prompting Hill to seek opinions on how best to use the money. A doctor at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia suggested it be used to provide a place to stay for families of young cancer patients undergoing treatment at the hospital.
In 1974, the Eagles teamed up with local McDonald's restaurants to allow the chain to use several players in ads for Shamrock Shakes if McDonald's would donate some of the proceeds to help buy a house. The regional manager later agreed to donate all the sales from Shamrock Shakes if the Eagles would name the house after the company mascot, Ronald McDonald. The Eagles agreed to the request, and the first Ronald McDonald House opened in Philadelphia in 1974. Ten more houses were opened across the country in the next five years, and by the end of the 1980s, there were more than one hundred Ronald McDonald Houses across the United States.
After more than three years of treatment, Kim Hill recovered and moved with her family to California in 1974. In 1991, it was discovered her treatment caused two tumors to form in her brain. She underwent more treatment and several surgeries before dying in 2011 at the age of forty-four.
Overview
By 2023, there were 387 Ronald McDonald Houses in sixty-two countries around the world. All houses provide private rooms, meals, and playrooms for families and are located near medical facilities that treat pediatric patients. In most cases, the program offers rooms for families of patients twenty-one years of age and younger; although because of space limitations, some houses may only offer the services for patients eighteen and younger. Some houses also offer specialized rooms for children with compromised immune systems, recreational activities, and counseling services for families and siblings. Families are not required to pay for the services, although they are asked to make a $25-a-day donation to cover operating costs. The average cost of maintaining a room varies between $50 and $100 daily. If a family is unable to afford the donation, the Ronald McDonald House waives the fee. In 2021, the Ronald McDonald House Charities served 1.5 million children and families, with an estimated cost savings of more than $500 million. At most houses, families can stay as long as needed while their child undergoes treatment. More in-demand facilities, however, may establish some stay limits depending on need.
The majority of funding received by the RMHC comes from donations. An estimated 84 cents of every dollar goes toward funding RMHC programs. Several corporate sponsors contribute more than $500,000 annually, while at least $200 million has been collected through RMHC donation boxes such as those found at most McDonald's restaurants. The organization also accepts donations of food, toys, and household items. More than 280,000 volunteers donated their time to RMHC programs.
RMHC also offers an in-hospital program to help families while a child is undergoing treatment at a medical facility. Many of these rooms are located in hospitals throughout the world and are near a pediatric or intensive care unit and provide necessities for waiting families, such as a kitchen, shower, laundry facilities, and a place to sleep. They may also include a television, Internet access, and a small library.
RMHC estimates that at least one of its core programs is available to families at 90 percent of the leading children's hospitals around the world. For children in the world's less developed regions, the RMHC provides the Ronald McDonald Care Mobile program, a fleet of fifty vehicles that serves at-risk children in these areas. The mobile units have two patient examination rooms, a laboratory, and a reception area. They coordinate with local health-care agencies to offer medical, dental, and health education services. Among the services offered are primary care visits, immunizations, dental and vision care, and prenatal care. They also offer preventative services such as lead screenings, nutrition counseling, and mental health assessment.
Since the early 1990s, the RMHC has given more than $100 million in grants to organizations that promote childhood health. According to its website, the RMHC plans to sponsor several initiatives through its Global Grants program aimed at reducing child and maternal mortality rates in developing nations and promoting dental health in the United States. The RMHC also supports four scholarship programs and has awarded more than $60 million to students since 1985.
Bibliography
"Frequently Asked Questions." Ronald McDonald House Charities, rmhscranton.org/faqs/. Accessed 13 Dec. 2024.
"History of the First Ronald McDonald House." Ronald McDonald House Charities, www.rmhcincinnati.org/about-us/history/. Accessed 13 Dec. 2023.
Moye, Jay. "40 Years of Touching Lives: Ronald McDonald House Charities Marks a Milestone." Coca-Cola Company, 6 Nov. 2014, www.coca-colacompany.com/stories/40-years-of-touching-lives-ronald-mcdonald-house-charities-marks-a-milestone. Accessed 7 Mar. 2017.
"Other Ways to Help." Ronald McDonald House Charities, www.rmhc.org/other-ways-to-help. Accessed 7 Mar. 2017.
"Celebrating Our Past, Present, and Future. Fifty Years of RMHC." Ronald McDonald House Charities, rmhc.org/. Accessed 13 Dec. 2024.
"Ronald McDonald House Charities." Charity Navigator, www.charitynavigator.org/index.cfm?bay=search.summary&orgid=4409. Accessed 7 Mar. 2017.
Slotnik, Daniel E. "Kim Hill, Inspiration for Ronald McDonald House, Dies at 44." New York Times, 9 Mar. 2011, www.nytimes.com/2011/03/10/us/10hill.html. Accessed 7 Mar. 2017.
"2023 Annual Report." Ronald McDonald House Charities, rmhc.org/-/media/Feature/RMHC-Production-Images/About-Us/Files/Media-Resources-and-Financials/RMHC‗2023‗AnnualReport.pdf. Accessed 13 Dec. 2024.