Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central and Northern Arizona

Home and Heart. Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central and Northern Arizona is a welcoming "home-away-from-home" for families with children facing medical challenges, providing a comfortable environment full of hope and courage. We provide the safe, healing retreat families and caregivers need when their energy is fully focused on caring for their sick child. We give them the support they need, from private rooms, nightly dinners, welcoming staff, a place to rest and restore for tomorrow.

Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central and Northern Arizona (RMHCCNAZ) is truly a "home-away-from-home," keeping families together and close to the medical resources their children need and deserve. Through the generous support of our community, we have had nearly 61,000 family check-ins since opening our doors in 1985 across of our three Valley Houses (2 in Central Phoenix, 1 in Mesa).

The families who benefit from RMHCCNAZ travel from home to receive treatment for their child at world-renowned pediatric centers located in metropolitan Phoenix. Their child's treatment may last a day, a month, or sometimes even longer. It's a long time to be away from home or to divide a family, and often times commuting or staying at a hotel is either impossible or financially challenging for a family. RMHCCNAZ is able to help families overcome these obstacles by providing a welcoming "home-away-from-home" near their child's hospital or medical center.

In addition to a safe, comfortable place to stay, families are treated to dinner prepared by volunteer groups six nights a week and brunch on Saturdays. Families are welcome to visit and get to know each other. Many times we have multiple families here for the same kind of treatment for their children. These families form support connections with each other. It helps them to know they aren't the only ones dealing with the unimaginable stress and pain of a seriously ill or injured child. We have no-cost laundry facilities at each House along with play areas for children. With the support of our donors and community partners, we take the stress of where to stay and what to eat away from families who need to focus all their energy on their child's well-being.

Testimonials

"It relieves our stress to know that we could easily shuttle to and from the hospital each day and to have such an affordable option helped us to focus on the care needed for our daughter."
- mother of a premature daughter who stayed at the House for 14 nights

"We were able to be together as a family and reduce our stress financially and emotionally."
- mother of a daughter with neurological disorder

"These experiences bring out the best in us as families. We're not in this alone."
- father of daughter with a chromosomal deletion