Fort Wayne, Ind. – Monday, January 16, 2012 — Today, the Ronald McDonald House at Parkview celebrated 10 years of helping families.
On January 16, 2002, the Ronald McDonald House at Parkview opened its doors as one of only two in-hospital programs in the international Ronald McDonald House Charity system. Today, that “pilot project” has been an inspiration around the world and now in-hospital Houses are the fastest growing segment of the Ronald McDonald House program. In the last 10 years, nearly 10,000 families have been welcomed and comforted in the Ronald McDonald House at Parkview. Thanks to generous community donations, all of those families have stayed at no-cost.
The Ronald McDonald House is marking its10th anniversary year with a move into a new House in December. Today, the Fort Wayne-area McDonald’s owner/operators announced a $250,000 gift to the building of the new Ronald McDonald House. The McDonald’s owner/operators have been instrumental in the expansion and building of the current and new Ronald McDonald House. McDonald’s restaurants generously donate 4 cents of every Happy Meal directly to the Ronald McDonald House at Parkview.
The new House will be 9,000 square feet on the main floor of Parkview Regional Medical Center. The new Ronald McDonald House will feature 10 sleeping rooms for families. Guests will enjoy a large gathering room with a private sitting area, a kitchen and a large family-style dining room, a library with reading nook and computers as well as a laundry room and night snack room.
The Ronald McDonald House
The Ronald McDonald House is operated by Ronald McDonald House Charities of Northeast Indiana. Opening in 2002, the Ronald McDonald House at Parkview is a home-away-from home for families of ill or injured children. The Ronald McDonald House serves the families of all dependent children 21 and under. The Ronald McDonald House is available at absolutely no charge to the guest families, whether they stay one day or many months. The Ronald McDonald House is an independent 501c3.