Our History
Keeping families with sick children close to each other and the care and resources they need.
1974
The first Ronald McDonald HouseĀ® opened on October 15, 1974 in Philadelphia. The desire for a program that supported the unique needs of families with critically ill children quickly spread to other cities, including the Southwest Ohio area just a few years later. Read about how Cincinnati and Dayton began and then united under our founding mission.
1980
In Dayton, Ohio, the first House in Dayton was established to meet the needs of families in the area for medical care with seven rooms available.
1982
Cincinnatiās first Childrenās Family House opened its doors. There wereĀ 21 roomsĀ plus a managerās suite. Quickly, the need began to outgrow the capacity of the existing House.
1998
A new 14-bedroom House was built in Dayton to serve the growing needs.
2001
A new Ronald McDonald House opened directly adjacent to Cincinnati Childrenās. The new House hadĀ 48 bedrooms, includingĀ 26 suites, common spaces and on-site parking.
2009
The Cincinnati House was expanded by 30 rooms in an attempt to meet demand. The House featured a total ofĀ 78 rooms, more laundry rooms, common spaces and additional kitchen and dining space.
2016
The first Family Room opened at Dayton Childrenās to assist families from right inside the hospital.
2017
A second Family Room opened inside Emmettās place at Miami Valley Hospital in Dayton.
2020
To meet the growing need for our services, the Cincinnati House opened another expansion. This location offersĀ 177 roomsĀ to serve families from around the world. Featuring additional dining and activity spaces, this location also increased the number of rooms dedicated to short-term stays.
2025
After a three-year expansion, the Dayton House opened a new 42-bedroom House to accommodate more families than ever before.
2026
On January 1, 2026, the Ronald McDonald House Cincinnati chapter and Ronald McDonald House Dayton chapter merged to form Ronald McDonald House Southwest Ohio. With two Houses and a Family Room within close proximity, the decision was made to combine resources and expand our impact. Ronald McDonald House Southwest Ohio proudly serves more families than any chapter in the United States!
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