Ronald McDonald House Charities history

In 1979, Ronald McDonald House at Stanford opened with 13-rooms to help families with sick children who were faced with overwhelming uncertainties and displaced from their homes.

In June 1980, Doctor Cromie, Albany Medical Center officials, McDonald’s owner/operators, members of the Albany Junior League and other concerned citizens met in a boardroom at Albany Medical Center.

In November of 1981, a group of dedicated volunteers formed the Gulf Coast Children’s Medical Foundation, Inc. (name was later changed to Ronald McDonald House Charities of Northwest Florida, Inc.) to organize and support the House.

November 1982 Cincinnati’s first Children’s Family House opened its doors.

Doctor Bell was the driving force behind the House and with the help of McDonald’s restaurant owners and the community, the 6-bedroom house opened its doors in 1984 and served 271 families.

Since opening in 1987, the Ronald McDonald House of Eastern NC has had more than 27,000 admissions and has provided more than just a place to stay for these families.

Our first Ronald McDonald House program in San Francisco was established on January 26, 1989.

A $7 million construction campaign kicked off with ground breaking ceremonies on October 8, 1999.

In August of 2000, the Ronald McDonald Family Room opened inside the children’s hospital at Albany Medical Center.

In June of 2006, the Ronald McDonald Care Mobile debuted in partnership with St Peters Health Care Services.

The Aurora Ronald McDonald House was opened in January of 2008, at a site just west of I-225 between Colfax and Sixth Avenue.

Spring 2009 The House was expanded by 30 rooms in an attempt to meet demand.

On our 30th anniversary in 2012, RMHC of the Capital Region launched a fundraising campaign to add a third house to the original two established in the ’80s.

The Ronald McDonald House inside the James and Connie Maynard Children’s Hospital at Vidant Medical Center opened in June 2013 inside the James and Connie Maynard Children’s Hospital.

The $2 million project was completed in 2015, adding nine guest rooms and allowing the Albany Ronald McDonald House to serve up to 25 families at once.

In 2017, Ronald McDonald House at Stanford completed a multi-phase expansion to more than double our housing capacity and augment family-centered care services.

2020 In order to meet the growing need for our services, our House opened another expansion.