Ronald McDonald House is an independent American nonprofit organization whose stated mission is to provide essential services that remove barriers, strengthen families, and promote healing for children who are ill or injured.[3]
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| Formation | October 15, 1974[1] Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S. |
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| Type | Health care, charity, social welfare |
| Headquarters | Chicago, Illinois, U.S. |
| Location |
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Official language | English |
Key people |
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| Website | https://ronaldmcdonaldhouse.org/ |
Ronald McDonald House has a global network of chapters in 62 countries and regions under three core programs: Ronald McDonald House, Ronald McDonald Family Room and Ronald McDonald Care Mobile.[4]
Programs
editThe first Ronald McDonald House was opened in Philadelphia in 1974.[5] Jim Murray, general manager of the Philadelphia Eagles, was raising funds for one of his players' (Fred Hill) daughters when he met Children's Hospital of Philadelphia oncologist Dr. Audrey Evans. They partnered with Elkman Advertising which handled marketing for McDonald's, and the charity took the name of the latter's mascot.[6][7]
Houses
editThere are over 394 Ronald McDonald Houses in 62 countries.[8] These accommodate families with hospitalized children under 21 years of age (or 18 or 26, depending on the House), who are being treated at nearby hospitals and medical facilities.[9] These houses are located near the special care hospitals. Ronald McDonald Houses allow families to stay free of charge.
Family Rooms
editCare Mobiles
editInternational
editIn 1981, the first Ronald McDonald House outside the United States opened, in Toronto, Ontario.[5] In 1991, the 150th Ronald McDonald House opened, in Paris, France, although it has closed.[citation needed] On July 25, 2005, the 250th location opened in Caracas, Venezuela, but it has since been closed. The first in-hospital Ronald McDonald House in APMEA (Asia Pacific Middle East and Africa) opened at Queen Sirikit National Institute of Child Health, Bangkok, Thailand, on June 7, 2011.
Australia
editThe first Ronald McDonald House in Australia was opened in Camperdown, New South Wales, in 1981. The number of Houses has since grown to 18. Each House is attached to a major children's or women's hospital. Each House has an independent board that manages its own day-to-day funding.[12][13]
The Ronald McDonald's Learning Program (Australia only) was formed in 1997 to help children who had suffered minor illness and returned to school. Its stated mission is to provide "educational support" to these children who have fallen behind in their education. It was first piloted in 1997 by Tracey Webster.
The Ronald McDonald's Learning Program supplies students with a cognitive and educational assessment by an educational psychologist, 40 hours of individual tutoring by a qualified teacher and 10 sessions of speech or occupational therapy, if required.
Other Ronald McDonald House Australia activities include Family Rooms in fourteen hospitals.[14] Ronald McDonald House Australia also operates Family Retreats that enable families of sick children to take a holiday for a week.[15][13]
The Charlie Bell Scholarship Program is named after the first Australian Global McDonald's Corporation CEO. The program provides financial assistance in the form of 11 one-off scholarships a year. It assists with expenses related to vocational or tertiary education for children who have been seriously ill.[16][13]
The Ronald McDonald Care Mobile is a partnership between Ronald McDonald House Australia and Royal Far West. It is based in Orange in regional New South Wales and travels throughout rural and remote New South Wales.[17]
Ronald McDonald House Charity Australia is also the major private donor to cord blood banks in Australia, providing a 10-year $A1 million commitment.[18]
Hong Kong
editNorway
editOn May 21, 2016, Ronald McDonald Barnefond (Ronald McDonald Children's Fund), along with Stine Sofies Stiftelse, opened the world's first camp and learning center for children. Stine Sofie Stiftelse first joined forces with Ronald McDonald Barnefond in 2015. The initial purpose was to fix houses where children of abuse and their families could stay for a day free of charge.[citation needed]
Pop Tab Program
editThe Ronald McDonald House Pop Tab Collection Program was established to allow individuals and businesses to collect soda pop tabs from aluminum cans and donate them to their local Ronald McDonald House chapter or Ronald McDonald's House. Though each program differs, for the most part, Ronald McDonald House chapters use the money received from recycling the tabs to help offset operational expenses or to sponsor or support programs. Not all Houses participate in the Pop Tab Program. Collected pop tabs are used by Ronald McDonald House to fund their work.[21]
The Alpha Delta Pi sorority partners with Ronald McDonald House to promote and participate in the Pop Tab Program.[22]
Partnership with McDonald's
editThe Ronald McDonald House has a program to help support the house through the donation of money from each happy meal purchased at McDonalds. With the purchase of each happy meal two cents is donated to the charity. In 2021 more than $168 million was donated to the Ronald McDonald House through the donations from McDonalds.[11]
Awards
editWorth magazine named Ronald McDonald's House Charity one of "America's 100 Best Charities" in 2001 and 2002.[23]
The U.S. Green Building Council awarded the Ronald McDonald's House Charities of Austin and Central Texas (Ronald McDonald House-ACT) with Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) Platinum certification, the highest level of sustainable building in the nation.[24]
Criticism
editRonald McDonald House has been criticised as an attempt by McDonald's to distract from its role in contributing to childhood obesity and animal welfare issues.[25][26] Anne Markwardt of Foodwatch, which researches food industry practices, said that "One has to remember that a large amount of the funding does not come from McDonald's itself but from private, corporate or other donors." In 2013 it was estimated by Corporate Accountability International that McDonald's contributed about 5% of the funding and about 30% came from McDonald's customers' donations.[27][28] Markwardt said that the houses are "used as marketing ploys for profitable but unhealthy products, as well as means of indirect political influence," noting that politicians regularly visited for photo opportunities.[29]
See also
edit- Fisher House Foundation, a similar charity for military families
- Fred Hill
- McHappy Day
- Jim Murray
- Patient hotel
- Ronald McDonald House New York
- Ronald McDonald House Canada
References
edit- ↑ "Our History". RMHC.org. Ronald McDonald House Charities. Archived from the original on May 21, 2016. Retrieved May 6, 2016.
- ↑ "Ronald McDonald House Board Members". ronaldmcdonaldhouse.org. Ronald McDonald House. Retrieved May 7, 2021.
- ↑ "Mission and Vision". ronaldmcdonaldhouse.org. Ronald McDonald House. Retrieved July 15, 2025.
- ↑ "About Us". RMHC.org. Ronald McDonald House Charities.
- 1 2 "About Us". rmhccanada.ca. Canada: Ronald McDonald House Charities. Retrieved April 18, 2017.
- ↑ "Mission & History". RMHC Philadelphia Region. Retrieved September 25, 2022.
- ↑ "Life is an Audible the Jimmy Murray Story". St. Jude Shop, Inc. Retrieved September 25, 2022.
- 1 2 3 "2023 Annual Report" (PDF). RMHC.org. Ronald McDonald House Charities. Retrieved March 12, 2025.
- ↑ "FAQ". RMHC.org. Ronald McDonald House Charities.
- ↑ "Ronald McDonald Family Rooms | RMHC". Ronald McDonald House Charities. Retrieved March 22, 2023.
- 1 2 "McDonald's Commitment to RMHC | RMHC". Ronald McDonald House Charities. Retrieved March 22, 2023.
- ↑ "Houses". Australia: Ronald McDonald House Charities. Archived from the original on August 7, 2014. Retrieved November 9, 2013.
- 1 2 3 "RMHC Quick Facts" (PDF). rmhc.org.au. Australia: Ronald McDonald House Charities. Retrieved November 9, 2013.[permanent dead link]
- ↑ "Family Rooms". rmhc.org.au. Australia: Ronald McDonald House Charities. Retrieved July 7, 2016.
- ↑ "Retreats". rmhc.org.au. Australia: Ronald McDonald House Charities. Retrieved November 9, 2013.
- ↑ "RMHC Charlie Bell Scholarship Program". rmhc.org.au. Australia: Ronald McDonald House Charities.
- ↑ "Care Mobile". rmhc.org.au. Australia: Ronald McDonald House Charities. Retrieved November 9, 2013.
- ↑ "Cord Blood Banks". rmhc.org.au. Australia: Ronald McDonald House Charities. Retrieved November 9, 2013.
- ↑ "Ronald McDonald House Charities Hong Kong". rmhc.org.hk. Hong Kong: Ronald McDonald House Charities. Retrieved March 18, 2018.
- ↑ "Family rooms for Hong Kong's sick children planned near new hospital". South China Morning Post. October 2017. Retrieved August 7, 2024.
- ↑ House, Ronald McDonald. "Pop Tab Program". RMHC. Ronald McDonald House Charities. Archived from the original on December 15, 2016. Retrieved August 4, 2016.
- ↑ "ADPI Philanthropy". adpisemo.com. Southeast Missouri: Delta Nu Chapter, Alpha Delta Pi Sorority. April 25, 2013. Retrieved August 4, 2016.
- ↑ "American's 100 Best Charities". Ashoka.org. November 30, 2002. Archived from the original on July 14, 2014. Retrieved July 31, 2013.
- ↑ "LEED Platinum Certification". rmhc-austin.org. Ronald McDonald House Charities, Austin and Central Texas. Archived from the original on August 17, 2012. Retrieved May 7, 2019.
- ↑ "Clowning Around with Charity: How McDonald's Exploits Philanthropy and Targets Children | Eat Drink Politics". www.eatdrinkpolitics.com. October 29, 2013.
- ↑ "McDonald's charity under fire, responds to allegations". Deseret News. November 1, 2013.
- ↑ "McDonald's Accused of Being Cheap Toward Its Charitable Arm". ABC News.
- ↑ Horovitz, Bruce. "McDonald's slammed over Ronald McDonald House giving". USA TODAY.
- ↑ "Ronald McDonald House garners star architects, criticism | DW | 13.01.2014". DW.COM.
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