Ronald McDonald is one of the world’s most recognizable mascots. With his signature fiery red hair and oversized boots to match, Ronald gives joy and laughter a new meaning, especially to children who are in dire need of help. To them, Ronald McDonald does not only represent the multi-billion dollar fast food chain that created him, he also represents hope.

In 1974, fast food giant McDonald’s built and opened its first Ronald McDonald House in Philadelphia. The purpose of this house was to help families who need to travel great distances just to get medical aid for their ailing or injured children. For most parents, the emotional and economical burden of traveling to get medical attention for their children is already more than they can bear, and to have to worry about where to stay and whether they can afford to stay at a place near the hospital is a burden no one should have to take on. The Ronald McDonald house provides them the opportunity of staying together as a family while facing what may be the toughest times of their lives at little or no cost at all to them. Some of the other programs RMHC has to offer include the Ronald McDonald Family Rooms inside hospitals where parents of children in the ICU could rest while still being near their children. There are 180 of them in different RMHC chapter cities worldwide. Another example of the RMHC’s commitment to help children in need are the 45 Ronald McDonald Mobile Care Mobiles around the world that deliver pediatric healthcare to children that need it the most.

Throughout the years, the Ronald McDonald House charities has grown and evolved into a global charity with chapters in 57 countries around the world and counting. With the organization’s growth comes recognition from different groups and media organizations. One of which is Worth Magazine which named RMHC as one of America’s 100 Best Charities in 2002.