Since the tournament’s inception 28 years ago, over $46 million has been raised for Ronald McDonald House Charities and other children’s charities. Thanks to the support of our many sponsors, volunteers and spectators, we continue to make appreciable donations today.

Mission of RMHC
Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC), a non-profit, 501(c)(3), creates, finds and supports programs that directly improve the health and well being of children. RMHC fulfills its mission by creating programs that address targeted needs, and by supporting these programs through its global network of local Chapters in 51 countries and regions. RMHC Chapters are run by boards comprised of members of the local medical community, business and civic leaders, parents/volunteers, and McDonald’s representatives.

Core Programs
The Ronald McDonald House program has provided a “home-away-from-home” for millions of families since its inception in 1974. There are 270 Ronald McDonald Houses open in 30 countries worldwide.

The Ronald McDonald Family Room program provides a home-like haven inside hospitals, often just steps away from neonatal or pediatric intensive care units. Ronald McDonald Family Rooms provide the families of hospitalized children an opportunity to refresh, rest, and reflect, without leaving their children’s sides. Today, there are more than 114 Ronald McDonald Family Rooms in 13 countries.

The Ronald McDonald Care Mobile program is a fleet of state-of-the-art vehicles that deliver cost-effective medical, dental and educational services to underserved children in their own neighborhoods. There are 31 Care Mobile programs in service in Argentina, Poland, El Salvador and the United States.

Scholarships and Grantmaking
Ronald McDonald House Charities awards grants to non-profit organizations for programs that directly improve the health and well being of children. National and international grant requests are reviewed two times per year by a 20-plus-member Board of Trustees in Oak Brook, IL, comprised of health professionals, business and civic leaders, and McDonald’s representatives.
The RMHC National Scholarship Program is available through participating local U.S. Chapters to high school seniors who wish to continue their education.

History
The first Ronald McDonald House opened in Philadelphia in 1974 as the result of the perseverance and dedication of Fred Hill, then a Philadelphia Eagles football player. After his daughter, Kim, was treated for leukemia at the local children’s hospital, Hill became determined to help other families faced with the same situation. Very few institutions at that time provided sufficient accommodations for such families, and Dr. Audrey Evans, a pediatric oncologist at Children’s Hospital, suggested that a “home-away-from-home” was needed. Hill enlisted the help of and his teammates and then General Manager, Jim Murray, as well as the local McDonald’s restaurant franchisees to raise funds to purchase and renovate the first House.