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Our history

Ronald McDonald House Charities UK has been operating for over 34 years, since construction began on the first House in 1989.

Globally, the Ronald McDonald House Charities organisation has been helping families since 1974.

How our story started

Ronald McDonald House Charities was born out of an unlikely partnership between a doctor, McDonald’s, and the Philadelphia Eagles. Fred Hill, a player for the Philadelphia Eagles, had a daughter suffering from leukaemia, and the team was inspired to raise in excess of $100,000 to support the hospital.

This gift was received by Dr Audrey Evans, an oncologist at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, who also responded with a request for another $32,000 to fund a House in which the families of the children in the hospital could get proper rest, away from the ward. In turn, this request was met by Ed Rensi, an area manager for McDonald’s, who had the idea of donating the proceeds from the McDonald’s ‘Shamrock Shake’ to the cause.

Thanks to these early supporters, the first Ronald McDonald House opened its doors in Philadelphia on 15 October 1974.

A shared global vision

Globally, the Ronald McDonald House Charities programs support families by providing stability and the vital resources they need to focus on what’s most important – their child. The organisation supports family-centred care by enhancing the child and family’s hospital experience, providing families with emotional and physical comfort and support, and improving the family’s coping and cohesion during the child’s recovery.

As well as our 14 Houses across the UK there is also a further House in Glasgow run by an independent charity.

Ronald McDonald House Charities today

In the intervening years, Ronald McDonald House Charities has spread across the world, supporting families with programmes and services in more than 62 countries and regions. McDonald’s has been our Mission Partner ever since the first Ronald McDonald House was built in Philadelphia in 1974. Ronald McDonald House Charities UK run 14 Ronald McDonald Houses and since 1989 we have helped over 95,000 families.

Meet our co-founder: Dr Audrey Evans

Born in 1925, Dr Audrey Evans was one of very few women studying medicine in the 1940s. Today, Dr Audrey Evans is recognised as a world-renowned paediatric oncologist and researcher of neuroblastoma, a cancer affecting babies and children. In the 1960s, she was recruited by Dr C Everett Koop to open an oncology service at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. Dr Audrey and her team began to see patients from a greater distance, not just from Philadelphia. It was this experience that sparked her vision to give families a place to live whilst their children are undergoing treatment.

It makes me feel wonderful.

What a wonderful thing to be able to look back on.

Dr. Audrey Evans, 2014

If you can spare a little to help keep our Houses running please donate what you can.

Read some of the family stories from those who have stayed in our UK Houses

“The Houses became our sanctuaries”: Maisy’s story

19th Mar 2024

Parents Jaimie-Lee and James discovered early on during Jaimie-Lee’s pregnancy that their little girl would be born with Down’s syndrome and a heart condition. Overwhelmed…

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“A little glimpse of normality in a world of chaos”: Freddie’s story

23rd Feb 2024

***Trigger warning: This story contains images and details that some readers may find upsetting*** When Imee and Matt welcomed twin boys Freddie and George into…

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“The House was a godsend”: James’s story

15th Feb 2024

Victoria and Matthew were delighted to be expecting their first baby, a little boy they’d name James, after several years of trying to fall pregnant….

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