The Ronald McDonald Children’s Fund helps families with seriously ill or disabled children. In addition to the fifteen Ronald McDonald Houses, there are now also Ronald McDonald House rooms where parents and sick children can retreat for a while. The fund also organizes holidays and sports locations for sick and disabled children. Why is it important to support this good cause?
History
In 1974, the very first Ronald McDonald House was opened in Philadelphia (America). This arose from a collaboration between oncologist Dr. Aedrey Evans and the fast food chain McDonald’s. Dr. Evans noticed a need among parents of seriously ill children to be able to stay close to their children during their hospital stay. A guest house would be a solution for them. Dr. Evans started looking for a sponsor and McDonald’s was happy to cooperate. They agreed that the guest house would be called Ronald McDonald, just like the McDonald’s clown. More houses soon appeared, both in America and the rest of the world.
Ronald McDonald houses in the Netherlands
The Dutch pediatric cancer specialist Dr. Tom Voûte became acquainted with the Ronald McDonald House phenomenon in America in the 1980s. He thought that there should also be a Ronald McDonald House in the Netherlands. He convinced McDonald’s in the Netherlands of the need for such a guest house and that is how the very first Ronald McDonald House in Amsterdam was opened in 1985 by Princess Margriet. More houses soon followed in the Netherlands. There are now 15 Ronald McDonald Houses in the following locations:
- AMC Amsterdam
- Amsterdam VU house
- Arnhem
- Barendrecht
- The Hague
- Friesland
- Groningen
- To lead
- Maastricht
- Nijmegen
- Sophia Rotterdam
- Tilburg
- South-East Brabant (at the Maxima Medical Center)
- Zwolle
Parents of sick children can request an overnight stay in a Ronald McDonald House through the hospital department. Families can stay here for 15 euros per night. This amount can be kept low by donations from sponsors and donors. In a Ronald McDonald House, a family has privacy in their room, but they can also tell their story to other parents or volunteers in the common room. There are volunteers present who clean the room and are ready for a chat.
Ronald McDonald living rooms
In addition to the guest houses, Ronald McDonald living rooms have also been available in various hospitals since 2006. If your child is in hospital for a long time or often, he or she can escape the hospital atmosphere in the living room. Parents can quietly read a newspaper here or get in touch with fellow sufferers. Families can also play together here between treatments.
During the day, the living rooms are open for families with children who are being treated in the hospital or institution. It does not matter whether the family is staying in a Ronald McDonald House. Thanks to donations from sponsors and ambassadors, families can use the living rooms for free.
In the Netherlands the following living rooms are:
- Friesland
- Children’s City (Amsterdam VU)
- To lead
- Nijmegen
- Parade (AMC Amsterdam): under construction
- Sophia Rotterdam
- Utrecht
- Zwolle (Isala Clinics)
Ronald McDonald Holiday
A family with a physically or multiply handicapped child can spend a holiday in an adapted apartment from Ronald McDonald Holiday. This way, these families can enjoy a fantastic holiday for an accessible price. The accommodations are in Arnhem, Valkenburg aan de Geul and Beetsterzwaag. Because we work with a team of volunteers and a paid manager and assistant manager, costs can be kept low.
Ronald McDonald Sports
Ronald McDonald Sport develops places where children with and without disabilities can meet and play sports with each other.
A unique sports complex has been established in Amsterdam-Noord where children with a disability or chronic condition learn skills that give them self-confidence and with which they can play on the street. Attention is not only paid to motor development, but also to game comprehension. In addition to physical development, the children are also supported in their social development.
Ambassadors
Robert ten Brink, Chantal Janzen and Yvon Jasper are the ambassadors of the Ronald McDonald Children’s Fund.
Contact
You can reach the Ronald McDonald Children’s Fund via the following contact details:
Ronald McDonald Children’s FundPo stbus 1096
3800 BB Amersfoort
Stationsplein 13818 LE Amersfoort088-2219001
Of course they also have a website. Here you will find more information about the fund and their projects.
Support the fund
- Donor:mAs a donor, you deposit an amount into the fund’s account every month. This is possible from 5 euros per month! In addition to the fact that as a donor you support a very good cause, you also receive the [t]Huis magazine four times a year, which contains all news about the fund.
- One-time gift
- Notarial donations and bequests
- Giving a hug
- Organize an action yourself
- Order a product on the website
- Become a volunteer
You can support the Ronald McDonald Children’s Fund by becoming a sponsor, donor or volunteer. From 5 euros per month you can support this fantastic charity. As a regular donor, you also receive the magazine [t]Huis four times a year, which contains all the news about the Ronald McDonald children’s fund. Would you like to make a one-time donation? Then deposit the amount into account number NL27RABO0376125799 in the name of Stichting Ronald McDonald Children’s Fund, Amersfoort.