Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) has long been a beacon of support for families facing medical crises. With its roots in local communities and a mission to provide comfort and care to families with seriously ill children, RMHC offers a safe haven, complete with essential services and emotional support. Despite its close association with McDonald’s, the charity is independently operated, with funding largely coming from local franchises, generous donations, and community efforts. Through various initiatives like the Penny for a Pound of Fries program and volunteer opportunities, RMHC continues to make a meaningful impact on families’ lives, offering them not just a place to stay but a home away from home during some of their most challenging times.
About Ronald McDonald House Charities
According to John Burtness, a representative from the Denver Ronald McDonald House, the charity operates as an independent local nonprofit. Despite its close association with McDonald’s corporate, the charity is independently operated, with funding largely coming from local McDonald’s franchises, generous donations, and community efforts.
The money raised directly supports families who stay at the RMHC, with 100% of services provided free of charge. The Denver Ronald McDonald House alone accommodates 73 family bedrooms with an average stay of 29 nights. These rooms, which can host up to four family members, are equipped with essential amenities such as hot meals, laundry facilities, and a supportive environment to help ease the emotional and physical challenges families face when caring for a sick child or other life-altering circumstances like high-risk pregnancies.
How to Support RMHC
- The Penny for a Pound of Fries program
For every pound of fries purchased, local McDonald’s owners and operators donate a penny to RMHC. The program’s goal is to raise funds, engage the community, and make a tangible difference in the lives of families dealing with difficult medical situations. In 2024, through the Penny for a Pound of Fries initiative, the Denver Ronald McDonald House received $227,413.05 in donations, and the Southern Colorado Ronald McDonald House received $54,288.72. - Roundup at the Register
Consider rounding up your purchase to the nearest dollar. - Collect Spare Change
At the drive-thru windows and indoor service counters, McDonald’s has canisters to drop spare change into. - Buy Shamrock Shakes & Happy Meals
During the month of March, grab a Shamrock Shake and enjoy your sweet treat knowing that 25 cents of your purchase will be donated to RMHC. Or, any time of the year, you can buy a Happy Meal and one cent will be donated. - Volunteer Your Time
RMHC is always looking for more volunteers to support the families staying in the houses. Consider spending a few hours a week helping out with desk support, meal preparation, or volunteering a skill like massage therapy or playing music for the families.
If you would like to learn more about the organization or contribute to its mission, visit their website at rmhc-denver.org.
A Family Business Supporting the Community
Lauren Koenig Holmberg, a next-generation McDonald’s Owner/Operator, shares her passion for the program and its role in the community. Holmberg’s parents bought their first McDonald’s franchise in 1989 in Connecticut before relocating to Colorado, where the family’s franchises have grown to six locations along the I-25 corridor. Holmberg purchased her parents’ franchises and has been an owner/operator ever since.
Holmberg says that she’s proud of her team members and mentions that some of them have been there for over twenty years. She shares that they go beyond just serving food, saying “They volunteer their time by hosting meals at RMHC, and helping with greeting guests and cleaning rooms.” One of Holmberg’s favorite ways to support RMHC is through the yearly Light the Houses Radiothon hosted by KOSI 101.1, during which her team gets to help raise funds for the charity.
“It really is for our community,” says Holmberg, “We care about the people we serve and get to interact with. A child in the hospital is probably one of the worst things a family can go through, but having a place where you get hot meals, people to care for you, and even things like a toy room… it feels like a home and a community.”
