RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE OF HOUSTON INC

Results: Since 1981, Ronald McDonald House Houston has provided a home away from home for thousands of families at several locations in Houston including: Holcombe House, a free-standing 50 bedroom House; the House inside Texas Children's Hospital, 20 bedrooms; the House inside Children's Memorial Hermann Hospital, 14 bedrooms; three Family Rooms inside Texas Children's Hospital; and a Family Room inside M.D. Anderson Children's Cancer Hospital.

Target demographics: Ronald McDonald House Houston serves families with children between the ages of 0-18 who are being treated for cancer and other serious illnesses at Texas Medical Center member institutions.

Direct beneficiaries per year: 28,900 Overnight Stays, 1,705 Families, 252,200 catered meals and snacks served

Geographic areas served: Houston, Texas, U.S. and International

Programs: Ronald McDonald House of Houston, inc. (RMHH) fulfills it mission by providing comfortable, home-like environments that encourage caring and sharing among families whose children are seriously ill. Parents and children find mutual comfort and support from other families who are experiencing similar situations. RMH Houston provides its services at little to no cost to lessen the stress and some of the financial burden associated with a serious illness. Volunteers actively participate in the delivery of services to the families by interacting with the families; providing meals and family activities for the families, both on and off site, and assisting with fundraisers. RMH Houston's Holcombe house is a 70-bedroom facility located within a mile of the Texas medical center and offers out-of-town families inexpensive lodging while their children are receiving in-patient and outpatient treatment. Each family has a private bedroom and bath. Holcombe house also offers a large communal kitchen, living and dining room, laundry facilities, a tots' playroom, a game room for teenagers, outdoor play areas, television rooms, and Wi-Fi internet service so families can stay in touch with other families and friends back home. Additionally, Holcombe House offers a special needs kitchen for organ and bone marrow transplant patients and weekday van service to/from the Texas medical center and area shopping. School age children are able to keep up with their studies at the on-site schoolroom staffed with HISD teachers. RMH Houston offers a hospital program at two Texas Children’s Hospital, Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital and the MD Anderson Children’s Cancer Hospital. texas medical center children's hospitals also known as a house within a hospital. The House inside TCH offers napping and overnight sleeping accommodations at no cost to families while their children are being treated in the intensive care units with 19 private bedrooms and private baths. The TCH house also offers a kitchen, living and dining room, a laundry room, library/computer room, an adjacent outdoor patio and a quiet room for families to use at their convenience. In addition to the sleeping facilities, all families whose children are in the intensive care units are welcome to drop by to do a quick load of laundry, grab a quick bite to eat, and/or talk with volunteers or other parents experiencing the same traumatic situations. The TCH house provides families with the comfort and support of a home like environment just minutes away from their child's treatment area and relieves the stress of spending hours in a sterile waiting room environment. RMHH also operates family rooms in different locations throughout TCH where families can grab snacks, coffee or a short respite from the Hospital Room. The family rooms allow parents to stay within a minute of their child while grabbing a quick bite or quiet moment of respite. Children’s Memorial Hermann Hospital offers overnight sleeping accommodations at no cost to families while their children are being treated in the intensive care unit. The CMHH House has 20 private bedrooms and private baths for families and also offers a kitchen, dining area, lounge, library/computer station, television, snack pantry, and a laundry facility. Inside MD Anderson’s Children’s Cancer Hospital, the House offers two private bedrooms, meals and program activities for families. A family room with grab and go snacks also helps support our families inside this hospital location.