Ronald McDonald House Charities

Ronald McDonald Family Room Program

When families walk into a Ronald McDonald Family Room, they might forget they’re in a hospital. They often find children playing or eating treats baked by volunteers while parents watch and talk to one another. Often situated next to pediatric and intensive care units, Ronald McDonald Family Rooms offer comfort and support to families of seriously ill or injured children.

Ronald McDonald Family Rooms include kitchens, televisions and computer stations, and offer families a place to escape the stress and tension of hospitals. Family Rooms extend the care of Ronald McDonald Houses to medical facilities so children know their parents are close by during treatment.

The first Ronald McDonald Family Room opened in 1992 at Children’s Mercy Hospital in Kansas City, Kan. Today, there are Family Rooms all over the world.

To see if your community has a Ronald McDonald Family Room program, contact your local RMHC organization.

History of Ronald McDonald Family Room

Created in Kansas City, Kan., in 1992, as an extension of the Ronald McDonald House, Ronald McDonald Family Room has become the fastest growing RMHC program. Ronald McDonald Family Rooms originally were intended for communities that didn’t need or couldn’t sustain a facility as large as a Ronald McDonald House.

But the Ronald McDonald Family Room program has evolved into a stand-alone program and an effective support system for the families of critically ill children — both those from the local community and those who travel for their children’s treatment. Local RMHC Chapters work closely with their hospital partners to ensure Family Rooms best meet the needs of families.

Ronald McDonald Family Rooms are replicable and economically feasible programs in communities around the world. Today, there are 115 Family Rooms operating in 13 countries and regions.