Ronald McDonald House Charleston History
Putting families at the heart of care since 1983.
Putting families at the heart of care since 1983.
For over 40 years, Ronald McDonald House Charleston has been fulfilling our mission of providing essential services that remove barriers, strengthen families, and promote healing when children need healthcare.
The first Ronald McDonald House opened in 1974 in Philadelphia, PA, thanks to Dr. Audrey Evans, a pediatric oncologist at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. She had long seen the weary parents of the young patients she was treating and knew that if there was a safe, home-like setting for these parents to live in while their children received medical treatment, the entire family would benefit. The parents would be better rested and less stressed, and the children would have the comfort of knowing their parents were nearby.
When his daughter, Kim, was diagnosed with a rare form of leukemia, Fred Hill, a former NFL player with the Philadelphia Eagles, experienced firsthand the difficulties a family experiences when a child is seriously ill. Hill approached the Philadelphia Eagles General Manager Jimmy Murray about raising funds to support medical efforts for critically ill children. Dr. Evans shared with Murray her vision of a ‘Home-away-from-home’ for the parents of these seriously ill children.
When Jimmy Murray approached the McDonald’s ad agency in Philadelphia, a beautiful partnership was born. Through the sale of Shamrock Shakes, McDonald’s and the Philadelphia Eagles raised the funds needed to purchase a historic mansion on Chestnut Street in downtown Philly.
And thus, the first Ronald McDonald House came to be.
The idea of a Ronald McDonald House then spread to cities all over the country and the world near pediatric medical facilities. Today, more than 390 Ronald McDonald House programs operate in more than 60 countries and regions around the world.
On September 10, 1983, we opened our doors as the 50th Ronald McDonald House in the world. Originally featuring 12 guest bedrooms just steps from MUSC Children’s Hospital. Our House has continually grown to meet the needs of our community:
On June 26, 2025, surrounded by families, donors, and community partners, we officially broke ground on our most ambitious expansion yet. Today, construction is actively underway, adding 33,062 sq ft to our current facility and providing our campus with 64 total guest rooms to serve families with children who are ill or injured. We look forward to drastically reducing our waitlist and ensuring no family is turned away.