The Ronald McDonald House is celebrating a big milestone this month — 50 years of service. The journey began in 1974 in a seven-bedroom home at 4032 Spruce St. in West Philly. Founders Jim Murray, the general manager of the Philadelphia Eagles at the time, and Audrey Evans, a pediatric oncologist at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, wanted to find a solution to a problem they were both seeing: Families spending extended periods of time in the hospital with their sick children. Evans has said she sought to create a way for these families to have some comfort and support, because “a family with a sick child is a sick family.”
At about this time, the Eagles were fundraising for player Fred Hill’s daughter, Kim Hill, who had leukemia. This led Murray to want to do more for children like Kim.
And so the Philadelphia Eagles, the nonprofit Eagles for Leukemia, Elkman Advertising, and McDonald’s worked together to bring this vision to life — a home for families seeking pediatric care in Philadelphia.
Today the Ronald McDonald House has over 380 programs across 62 countries. The original Philadelphia location relocated to 3925 Chestnut St., close to the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. This expanded facility features over 100 guest bedrooms. While the cost for housing and services is $165 per night, families are only asked to contribute $25, ensuring that no one is turned away during a time of need.
