VFW Auxiliary Department of Texas, 8503 N Interstate 35, Austin, TX 78753, US

HistoryThe first Ronald McDonald House opened in Philadelphia in 1974. Fred Hill, a Philadelphia Eagles football player whose daughter Kim was undergoing treatment for leukemia, saw the need for a supportive environment away from the hospital for families of seriously ill children. He enlisted the aid of his teammates and local McDonald's restaurant owners to raise funds for the first house. The name Ronald McDonald House was given not only because of McDonald's fund-raising support but also for the positive, hopeful, and fun-loving feeling this well-known clown character could inspire in children. Ronald McDonald House Charities of Austin and Central Texas opened in February 1985. The organization has since grown from a fledgling endeavor with 8 rooms and a staff of one, into a financially stable organization. The House provides lodging and support services to over 700 families annually. Located in the Mueller Development, the House is 150 yards from Dell Children's Medical Center.SpecialtiesWe provide lodging and support services for families when their children are receiving treatment in an Austin area medical center. For these families, Ronald McDonald House of Austin is a temporary home-away-from-home where they can have a comfortable room and bed, kitchen and laundry facilities, and a play area. They can draw hope and strength from late night conversations over a hot cup of coffee, sharing with other residents their experiences that may be difficult for family and friends back home to fully understand. A child's life-threatening illness brings much more than worry and financial hardship; it is a family's most heart-wrenching experience. While we cannot ease the pain sick children and their families experience, we can help lessen their burden. Because the RMHC Austin is a non-profit organization, it is solely operated with funds raised through special events and donations made by individuals, organizations, and corporations.