1. What is the Ronald McDonald House?
   
2. Where is the House? What is it like?
   
3. How is the Ronald McDonald House staffed?
   
4. Is there a fee for the families who stay at the House?
   
5. How is the Ronald McDonald House of Long Island funded?
   
6. What is the relationship between McDonald’s Corporation and the Ronald McDonald House of Long Island?
   
7. Where did the idea for the Ronald McDonald Houses originate?
   
8. Does the House need more volunteers?
   
9. What are the Ronald McDonald House Auxiliaries?
   

The Ronald McDonald House is a home-away-from-home, a temporary lodging facility for seriously ill children and their families who must travel to area hospitals for urgently needed medical care.

These families stay at the House while their child is under a physician's care, whether the child is hospitalized or being treated on an out-patient basis. Residents enjoy a home-like setting, the privacy of their own room, and most importantly, the understanding of others who share the same burden of having a seriously ill child.

Since opening in 1986, the House has been home to more than 7,500 families from Long Island, across the country and around the world. The House accommodates up to 18 families each night. Respite facilities are also available for parents who are sleeping at their child's bedside and need a place to relax and freshen up away from the hospital.

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Where is the House? What is it like?

The Ronald McDonald House of Long Island is in New Hyde Park and is situated on 3/4 of an acre donated by the Board of Trustees of Long Island Jewish Medical Center. The 22,000 square foot House includes 18 bedrooms, each with a private bath, children's play areas both inside and out, library, four kitchen stations, a fully stocked food pantry, three laundry rooms and two family rooms where the families can socialize or watch television.

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How is the Ronald McDonald House staffed?

The House has 8 full-time staff members, which include an Executive Director, House Manager, Volunteer Coordinator, and maintenance/housekeeping personnel. They are assisted by a number of weekend and part-time staff and nearly 100 volunteers. Volunteers help run the House by working in the office, serving on our Speakers' Bureau, driving our van and by serving on various committees.

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Is there a fee for the families who stay at the House?

Families are asked to make a small contribution--$25.00 per night per family. If a family cannot afford the requested contribution, arrangements are made to reduce it.

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How is the Ronald McDonald House of Long Island funded?

The Ronald House is a non-profit corporation that relies heavily on financial support from the community. All day-to-day costs of running the House are paid through private donations and contributions.

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What is the relationship between McDonald’s Corporation and the Ronald McDonald House of Long Island?

This question requires two answers:

1. McDonald’s Corporation, which is headquartered in Oak Brook, Illinois, provides each House with $25,000 “seed” money. The Corporation acts in an advisory capacity and licenses all the Houses world-wide. In addition, the Corporation provides the Houses with a network of legal and various other services, as well as securing the support of national donors, for example, Coca-Cola supplies “free” soda to the Houses nationwide.
   
   
2. The Tri-State Co-op of local McDonald’s restaurant owners guaranteed half of the House’s mortgage. In 1994, the Ronald McDonald House Tri-State Co-op Fund rescued the House by paying nearly $200,000 to correct drainage problems which caused a major flood in January of that year, and in 1996 contributed more than $100,000 towards the House’s ten year renovation project. In addition, the franchisees co-sponsor various fund-raising campaigns and helps promote many in-House fund raising efforts. Six members of the McDonald’s Tri-State Co-op serve on the Board of Directors.

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The first Ronald McDonald House opened in October 1974, as the result of the perseverance and dedication of Fred Hill, a former Philadelphia Eagles football player. After Hill’s daughter, Kim, was treated for Leukemia, he and his teammates were determined to do something to benefit families of hospitalized children. A joint effort by the Eagles and Philadelphia area McDonald’s restaurant owners raised enough money to build the first Ronald McDonald House in Philadelphia.

Currently there are 217 Houses in 44 countries around the world, 145 of which are in the United States. The Ronald McDonald House of Long Island opened in 1986 and is the 100th Ronald McDonald House in the world.

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Does the House need more volunteers?

Volunteers are the “heartbeat of the House.” We welcome the participation of volunteers on many levels.

• Business Advisory Committee - Helps formulate ideas to provide information and develop relationships with the business community for the House.
• Fundraising Committee - Develops and executes annual and/or one-time fundraising events.
• Speakers’ Bureau - Brings information about the House to community groups, corporations and schools with a slide show or Powerpoint presentation, video tape and/or lecture.
• Special Events Volunteers - Represent the House at various community events distributing information to the public.
• In-House volunteers - Individuals volunteer their time at the House for any of the four-hour shifts which are scheduled seven days per week.
• Auxiliaries - see below

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Auxiliaries are independent groups of men or women who raise funds and hold events to benefit the House in their own communities. The auxiliaries create and sponsor events of their choice and work together with the House staff to insure their success. The House is always seeking to establish new auxiliaries in Nassau, Suffolk and Queens communities.

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