History

The concept of the Ronald McDonald House began in 1974, after the daughter of Fred Hill, Philadelphia Eagles football player, was diagnosed with leukemia and underwent treatment. Her parents quickly realized how devastating it was to have a child with a life-threatening illness, along with the tremendous amount of financial and emotional stress placed upon the family. Fred’s team joined him in his crusade to build a home where families could stay while their children were being treated for serious illness. The local McDonald’s agreed to donate the proceeds from Shamrock Shake sales to help build the first Ronald McDonald House, and a lasting partnership was born. The program quickly expanded into one of the most highly regarded charities around the world, helping more than 8,000 families each night in over 350 houses across the world.

The Ronald McDonald House of Northwest Ohio was opened in 1982 as the 44th facility in the United States. The Toledo House offers services to over 500 families every year, providing bright community spaces, daily home-cooked meals, and a fully-stocked kitchen – as well as a network of support through interactions with other families, staff, and volunteers. There are 22 bedrooms with the private bathrooms in the current house located across the street from Toledo Children’s Hospital. All families from any area medical facility are eligible to utilize the services of the House with transportation being provided. Our mission is to be a home away from home for families whose children are receiving inpatient or outpatient medical care. RMHC’s programs offer a place to call home at little or no cost so families can access the best care, regardless of location. In addition, by allowing families to stay together, children are likely to heal faster and cope better, while their caregivers can experience improved sleep and reduced stress, fear and anxiety.