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Who We Are

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"Ronald McDonald House took us under its wings. They provided a safe, warm place to live and showed us unending compassion and love. Without them we could not possibly have afforded a place to live."

Carryn and McKensey's
mom, House resident for 10 months

Without Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) of Western Washington & Alaska, many families would have nowhere to turn. The Seattle Ronald McDonald House is the cornerstone of our organization, providing a home-away-from-home for approximately 1,100 families annually. The House can accommodate 80 families a night. This makes us the second largest House in the world. There are 259 Ronald McDonald Houses in 28 countries, each physically unique and independently run, but sharing the goal of making families feel at home during a stressful time.

Families who stay here are mostly from Washington, Alaska, Montana and Idaho. The length of time families stay varies greatly; some call the House home for over a year.

Our grants program extends the reach of the House. We award grants to nonprofit organizations in Western Washington and Alaska that tie in with our efforts to improve the lives of seriously ill children and their families.

We depend upon charitable donations and volunteer support from many individuals, corporations and foundations for our continued existence. RMHC receives no government funding, but relies on the generosity of the private sector. Local McDonald’s restaurants provide about 20 percent of our operating budget through their in-store canister program and other promotions.

History

The concept of providing a home-away-from-home for families of seriously ill children began in 1973 when Philadelphia Eagles football player Fred Hill learned his daughter had leukemia. Together, the Eagles joined forces with the medical and business communities including local McDonald's owners/operators and, in 1974, the first Ronald McDonald House opened in Philadelphia.

The Seattle Ronald McDonald House opened in 1983 for families with children battling cancer. In 2003, we quadrupled the House’s capacity and expanded who we served to include families of any child with a serious illness being treated at Children’s Hospital and Regional Medical Center, who live more than 60 miles away.