| Locations |
The
first North Carolina Ronald McDonald House opened in Durham in 1980. Four years
later, a second House opened in Winston-Salem. The Greenville House opened in
1987 to be followed in 1988 by the opening of the Chapel Hill
House.
|
| Purpose |
The
Houses provide a warm home-like atmosphere where families can sleep, cook, wash
laundry, and share their hopes and fears with other families in similar
situations. Collectively these Houses can provide lodging to 77 families of
seriously ill children on any given night. The Houses are open 365 days per
year. Since 1980 when the first North Carolina House opened, the Houses have had
more than 62,000 admissions. |
| History |
In
1973, Philadelphia Eagles football player Fred Hill and his wife learned their
daughter had leukemia. While traveling to Philadelphia for treatments at the
children's hospital, they noticed several other families with sick children in
the same situation. The Philadelphia Eagles and local McDonald's
owners/operators teamed up with the Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and
community volunteers to form the first Ronald McDonald House. To date, there are
206 Ronald McDonald Houses in 18 countries. More than 3,000 bedrooms are
available worldwide for families every night. |
| Organization |
Each
house is run by a local nonprofit organization comprised of leaders from the
medical community, McDonald's owners/operators, business and civic leaders, and
parent volunteers. Each of the North Carolina Houses has a very small staff with
only three or four staff members who work more than 30 hours a
week.
|
| Volunteers |
Volunteers are an integral part of the day-to-day
operations at all Ronald McDonald Houses and each year more than 200 individuals
donate their time, energy, and talents at the Houses. Additionally, there are
literally thousands of volunteers who help with special events such as the
Ronald McDonald Celebrity Classic. |
| Illnesses |
Populations served include families whose children are
receiving medical treatments for such problems as cancer, heart disease, organ
transplants, complications resulting from premature births, sickle cell, burns,
and major accidents. |
| Cost To Families |
Families staying at North Carolina Ronald McDonald Houses
are asked to pay nominal nightly fees that range from $5 to $15. However, no
family is ever turned away for the inability to pay; if payment is not possible,
their stay is free. |
| Fundraisers |
Each
House operates independently based on the love and generosity of their local
communities and from fundraisers such as the Ronald McDonald Celebrity
Classic.
|
