Who We Are
Our History
The idea of a home for families of hospital patients first developed in Philadelphia, PA, in 1973. Fred Hill, a member of the 
Philadelphia Eagles football team learned that his daughter had leukemia. During the course of her successful treatment, Hill and his team members and management asked what they could possibly do to help the children's hospital. The idea of a place for children's families to stay was born at that time. The Eagles football team worked together with the local McDonald's stores to raise funds, and eventually a home was opened in Philadelphia. That House became the first Ronald McDonald House in the country.
Today there are 289 local Chapters in 52 countries, including:
- 297 Ronald McDonald Houses
- 147 Ronald McDonald Family Rooms
- 39 Ronald McDonald Care Mobiles
In Lexington, this same need was recognized by doctors and parents of children who had undergone treatment in our area hospitals. The Fayette County Medical Society and Auxiliary, parents, McDonald's representatives and other volunteers formed a non-profit organization called Children's Oncology Services of the Bluegrass, Inc. It's purpose was to establish and operate the Ronald McDonald House of Lexington. (COS is now called Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Bluegrass.)
The University of Kentucky Athletic Department provided a 1.43 acre site near Commonwealth Stadium convenient to all area medical centers. Successful fundraising by committed volunteers resulted in a 17 bedroom House opening debt-free in December 1984. Since that time, our Ronald McDonald House has served over 25,000 families. While most of these have come from central and eastern Kentucky, the House has served families from all parts of Kentucky, 38 states and 9 foreign countries.
Today's House
In the past 15 years, the Ronald McDonald House expanded to 20 rooms and the name and mission was expanded through the formation of the Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Bluegrass. As an RMHC Chapter, we have created new programs to extend our impact on families and children throughout the Bluegrass and beyond.
In 2005, the Ronald McDonald Care Mobile (a partnership between the University of Kentucky and RMHC of the Bluegrass) began offering Eastern Kentucky’s children free professional dental services and education aboard a state-of-the-art mobile clinic. Centered in Hazard, KY (Perry County) the Care Mobile cares for underserved children in their own neighborhoods and schools.
The Ronald McDonald Family Room began welcoming guests in 2009 inside the walls of Kentucky Children’s Hospital in Lexington, KY. The Family Room provides a comforting and quiet area of respite, relaxation and reflection for families and loved ones of children who are being treated in the critical care units (NICU, PICU) of the hospital.
Ronald McDonald House Charities qualifies as a 501 c3 and therefore contributions to RMHC may be tax-deductible to the fullest extent of the law.
Affiliated Hospitals & Medical Centers
Families staying at the Ronald McDonald House for the first time must be referred by a physician or hospital/medical center personnel. The Ronald McDonald House accepts referrals from all following area hospitals and medical centers:
Cardinal Hill Rehabilitation Hospital
Central Baptist Hospital
Gill Heart Institute
Kentucky Children’s Hospital
Kentucky Clinic
Kentucky Eye Clinic
Markey Cancer Center
Ridge Behavioral Health System
Saint Joseph East Hospital
Shriner’s Hospital
…and local outpatient surgery centers.
House volunteers provide van service to these locations three times per day.