MISSION
Ronald McDonald House Charities of San Diego provides a “home away from home” for families with children being treated for serious, often life-threatening conditions at local hospitals.
The Ronald McDonald House relies on community support. It is the only service of its kind that is open to families caring for children at any San Diego area hospital.
Our Vision
To provide a welcoming and convenient home base where families may take care of their basic needs so they can better focus on what really matters: caring for their critically ill or injured child.
Our Impact
Thanks to an active volunteer program and generous community support, each year approximately:
* 1,400 families reside with us during their child’s hospitalization
* 11,000 additional people use our Family Care Center, coming for meals, computer access, and other essential resources
* 160,000 meals are served free of charge to family members with hospital identification
* 200 siblings of hospitalized children take part in education and enrichment programs, including the School Away from School and Learn & Play Center
Return on Investment
We are able to have a tremendous impact on the lives of families, impacting the whole community.
Hospitalized children: Children heal faster when families are near.
Families: Parents and healthy siblings can manage challenges better when residing together.
Pediatric Medicine: Hospitals require parents to be present for treatments. By housing parents, we help to make long-term and advanced treatments for children possible.
Residents of Southern California: We can all feel assured that we have a safety net to fall back on if our children become seriously ill.
Volunteers and Donors: Volunteers and donors deepen their engagement in civic life and contribute to a stronger San Diego by supporting our House.
Serving Families Better, No Matter Their Needs
In 2009 we added a Family Care Center to support families who are not staying with us overnight. Local families can take a break with us before returning to their child’s bedside. The Family Care Center offers hot meals, napping rooms, showers, computer access, play spaces, and much more during daytime hours.
While parents must focus on the urgent needs of a hospitalized child, it’s not just hospitalized children who need attention. Healthy siblings need support, too. For this reason, in 2010 we opened an onsite school in partnership with San Diego Unified School District. In 2014, we added a Learn & Play Center for preschool-aged children. These programs help children continue to learn and grow while also being with their families at this critical time.
International Impact
Families have come from as far away as Ireland, France, Mexico, Japan, Argentina, and Guam. We also serve families right here at home: San Diego, Riverside, and Imperial Counties. While most children are inpatients at Rady Children’s Hospital, we also partner with Sharp Mary Birch Hospital for Women & Newborns, UCSD Medical Center, Balboa Naval Hospital, Scripps Memorial Hospital, Mercy Hospital, and Kaiser Permanente.