The Global RMHC Network
The Reno Ronald McDonald House is part of a global system, one of 363 Ronald McDonald Houses around the world. Ronald McDonald House Charities chapters are in 42 countries and regions and serve more than 7 million children worldwide every year. At least one RMHC core program provides care for families being served at 89% of top children’s hospitals worldwide. Families served by the charity have been saved a total of $700 million in out-of-pocket expenses.
While Houses are part of the global system, each Ronald McDonald House is autonomous and owned by a not-for-profit 501(c)(3) organization in the city in which it is located. While “Ronald McDonald” is in the title, the Reno House is not fully underwritten by the restaurants. No one company could fund a global charity by itself. Ronald McDonald House Charities Northern Nevada supports families in northern Nevada and northern California, making local support from the community crucial to its ability to function. We depend on our volunteers and the donations individuals, businesses, foundations, and other estimable partners in the community to ensure the success of our programs and the fulfillment of our mission. We rely on the generosity of the private sector as we are not a corporate foundation and we do not receive government funding
The First House
The first Ronald McDonald House opened in 1974 in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Kim Hill, the daughter of Philadelphia Eagles football player Fred Hill, was undergoing leukemia treatment. Fred recognized the need for a supportive environment near the hospital for families of seriously ill children enduring long treatments and enlisted the aid of Dr. Audrey Evans, Jim Murray, the Eagles’ then-general manager, his teammates, Ed Rensi, the McDonald’s regional manager and local McDonald’s restaurant owners. The group raised funds to purchase and renovate the first Ronald McDonald House. Since then, the organization has grown into a global charity, helping keep families close during critical times.