Ronald McDonald House & McDonald’s
An independent nonprofit, supported by our community
Ronald McDonald House Hawaiʻi is an independent, community-supported 501(c)(3) nonprofit organization. We are not owned or operated by McDonald’s. While McDonald’s is a valued partner in our mission, we rely on the generosity of individuals, businesses, foundations, and community supporters to make our work possible.
Through our Houses and hospital-based programs, we care for families with children who are ill or injured, providing lodging, comfort, and essential services that remove barriers, strengthen families, and promote healing when children need healthcare.
Our mission is made possible by the collective generosity of our community, including the donations, time, and talents of those who believe in supporting families when they need it most.
Little moments like these are made possible by a community that cares. Thanks to the generosity of supporters across Hawaiʻi, families have a welcoming place to stay, play, and simply enjoy being together during their child’s healthcare journey.
McDonald’s Hawaii employees promoting “Round Up” to support Ronald McDonald House Hawaii during their People Week celebration.
McDonald’s: Our founding and forever partner
McDonald’s was the first corporate partner and advocate for Ronald McDonald House, earning the special designation of our “founding and forever partner.” Here in Hawaiʻi, McDonald’s has stood alongside our mission since our first House opened in 1987.
One of the most meaningful ways McDonald’s supports families is through Round Up for Ronald McDonald House. At participating McDonald’s restaurants, customers can choose to round up their purchase to the nearest dollar. These small acts of generosity add up, providing valuable support for families whose children are receiving medical care.
McDonald’s Hawaiʻi restaurant teams also champion our mission during their annual People Week, celebrating their employees while encouraging customers across the islands to participate in Round Up. Through fundraising promotions, volunteerism, and sharing our mission with the public, McDonald’s owners, operators, and employees continue to make a meaningful difference for the families we serve.
We are deeply grateful to the entire McDonald’s Hawaiʻi community, from restaurant teams to the customers who choose to give, for their longstanding friendship and commitment to our mission.
How Ronald McDonald House got its name
Our story began in Philadelphia in 1974, when pediatric oncologist Dr. Audrey Evans, members of the Philadelphia Eagles football team, and local McDonald’s supporters came together around a shared goal: creating a welcoming place where families could stay near their hospitalized children.
Funds raised through a McDonald’s Shamrock Shake promotion helped make the first House possible. In recognition of McDonald’s early support, it was named Ronald McDonald House, drawing on the familiar Ronald McDonald character.
More than 50 years later, our name remains a reminder of that original partnership and the power of a community coming together to care for families. That same spirit continues today, here in Hawaiʻi and around the world.
The original 1974 Ronald McDonald House logo.
