Putting families at the heart of care since 1979.
Our journey of care begins with the opening of the first Ronald McDonald House 50 years ago (1974) in Philadelphia on October 15th, thanks to the vision and partnership of pediatric oncologist Dr. Audrey Evans, Philadelphia Eagles’ player Fred Hill (whose daughter had leukemia), Leonard Tose, owner of the Eagles, Jim Murray, the Eagles’ general manager and McDonald’s. The desire for a program that supported the unique needs of families with sick children quickly spread to other cities and countries around the world.
This support needed for families with ill and injured children extends from the USA to countries like Austria, Australia Canada and The Netherlands in the 1980’s. The RMHC house program provided great relief for families needing accommodation near a pediatric hospital. This first RMHC core program has positively impacted millions of children and their families all over the globe.
Guided by global research and family needs data, RMHC enters a new era of tailored programs and services. With 655+ programs across 60+ countries, the focus shifts to whole-family wellbeing — combining healthy accommodations, mental health support, health education, preventative care and community connections to ensure the best possible outcomes for children and their families worldwide.
In December 2009, Ronald McDonald House Charities Curaçao Foundation was officially established, receiving its license on March 24th, 2010. From the very beginning, the chapter set its sights on creating a meaningful presence for families with sick children on the island.
During its first two years, the Foundation focused on building a strong board and driving fundraising efforts to bring its first core program to life — the Ronald McDonald Family Room. In parallel, intensive planning was underway for a renovation within Sint Elisabeth Hospital, strategically located close to the children’s department. This included the relocation of existing facilities, a demolition plan for current spaces, and the design of a new blueprint tailored to the needs of families.
After successful negotiations with the Sint Elisabeth Hospital Board and stakeholders and months of planning and preparation, the Project Construction Phase started.
Our dream is finally realized when on April 1st 2012 we welcomed the first family in our Ronald McDonald Family Room. Our facilities, adjacent to the pediatric department of the hospital, offer 3 bedrooms in addition to other facilities such as a living room, laundry and kitchen area for families and hospitalized children.
This milestone is a true testament of extraordinary teamwork and the level of compassion and support shown by all of the people involved with Ronald McDonald House Curaçao over the years.
