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Who We AreOur HouseThe first Ronald McDonald House was opened in Philadelphia in 1974. Fred Hill, a Philadelphia Eagles football player whose daughter Kim was undergoing treatment for leukemia, recognized the need for a supportive environment away from the hospital for families of seriously ill children. He enlisted the aid of his teammates and the local McDonald's restaurant owners to raise funds to purchase and renovate the first house. The name Ronald McDonald House was given not only because of McDonald's fund-raising support but also for the positive, hopeful, and fun-loving feeling this well-known clown character could inspire in children. Today the Ronald McDonald House is international with over 250 facilities in the U.S. and world-wide. Every Ronald McDonald House is autonomous and is owned by a not-for-profit corporation in the city in which it is located. History of Austin House:Ronald McDonald House Charities of Austin and Central Texas was licensed and incorporated in 1983 and began providing lodging and support services to families of critically ill and injured children in February 1985. Since that time the organization has grown from a fledgling endeavor with 8 rooms and a staff of one, into a financially stable organization. The House currently provides lodging and support services to over 300 families annually with an average of five families on a waiting list daily. The Austin House is located in the Mueller Development and is 150 yards from the Dell Children's Medical Center. With Dell Children’s Medical Center offering dramatic new services, including intensive out patient treatments, the Ronald McDonald House is designed with small suites to accommodate children and their families during lengthy regimens. The new Ronald McDonald House will provide 30 rooms for families with critically ill or injured children primarily living in the 46 counties surrounding Austin. The new House positions us to care for the influx of families seeking treatment at the Dell Children’s Medical Center and at the University of Texas Pediatric Research Institute. In the years since it opened its doors, the Austin House has served thousands of families. Although families are asked to contribute $10 per family per night, no one has ever been turned away because of an inability to pay. The Austin Ronald McDonald House is not owned by the McDonald's Corporation nor by any hospital or health care organization. Funding to sustain the Ronald McDonald House of Austin and Central Texas comes from individual and corporate donors, community organizations, and special events. Approximately 10% of the annual operating budget comes from McDonald's Corporation and Ronald McDonald House Charities.
The Ronald McDonald House is proud to take part in the "I Live Here, I Give Here" Campaign. Contact Us The front desk of the Ronald McDonald House of Austin is staffed seven days a week from 9:00 a.m. to 9:00 p.m. During these hours you may reach us at 512-472-9844 or by fax at 512-472-5465. Ronald McDonald House Charities of Austin and Central Texas |
