History of Ronald McDonald House and Family Room of Wichita
A survey conducted in 1982 found that many out-of-town families of children hospitalized in Wichita hospitals had nowhere to stay.  Many slept in their cars or waiting room chairs.  Some chose not to treat their critically ill children because they couldn't find affordable lodging.

The Department of Pediatrics at the University of Kansas School of Medicine-Wichita and Junior League of Wichita, in conjunction with the generosity of McDonald's owner/operators and other community support, founded the first Wichita Ronald McDonald House near Wesley Medical Center in 1983.  The House was called "Sleepy Hollow".

With the opening of the "Midtown" House in 1985 near Via Christi Regional Medical Center, St. Francis Campus, Wichita became the first city in the world to have two Ronald McDonald Houses.

Ronald McDonald House Family Room, Inside Wesley Medical Center, opened in 1998 after it was determined that along with out-of-town families, local families also needed a place to "get away" while visiting their hospitalized children.

Since its inception, Ronald McDonald House and Family Room of Wichita has served more than 20,000 families at the two Houses and the Ronald McDonald Family Room®.


What is Ronald McDonald House Charities? 
Ronald McDonald House Charities is a non-profit, 501(c)(3) organization with 181 local Chapters currently operating in 49 countries. Each local Ronald McDonald House Charities Chapter is a separate public charity, operated by a local Board of Directors.

In addition to its cornerstone Ronald McDonald House program, the Chapters support a variety of other programs, which may include a Ronald McDonald Family Room™, a Ronald McDonald Care Mobile™ and/or college scholarships for high school students.

The Charity also awards grants to other organizations that directly improve the health and well being of children. To date, Ronald McDonald House Charities' national body and global network of local Chapters have awarded more than US $400 million in grants to children's programs worldwide.

What is the relationship between Ronald McDonald House Charities of Wichita and McDonald's?
Kansas McDonald's store owner/operators from the Mid-Kansas Co-Op and High Plains Co-Op support the organization through various fundraising and promotional activities, as well as serving on the Board of Directors and committees. 

Funds raised by McDonald's for Ronald McDonald House Charities of Wichita account for 12 - 15% of the yearly operating budget of the organization.

McDonald's Corporation allows the local organization to use its trademarks.