A Home-Away-From-Home
These words form the basic tenet of a Ronald McDonald House and speak to the spirit of our House and how guest families feel while they are staying with us. A Ronald McDonald House is far more than a place to sleep. We are a place of comfort, compassion, support and convenience. Many families staying at our House are undergoing one of the most stressful situations they will ever encounter – dealing with the fear and anguish of a critically ill child. They’re trying to keep things as normal as possible for their children when in fact their lives are in upheaval. Families travel great distances to our House – often after exhausting every medical resource available near their homes, uprooting their day-to-day lives.
The Need
The need to serve more families is great and growing in Rochester. Proton beam therapy, regenerative medicine, individualized medicine and science of health care delivery continue to drive the need for our services
- The current House simply does not have the capacity to serve present or future needs of Mayo Clinic patient families
- In 2017, 1,079 families were unable to stay with us because when they called, we had no rooms available
- In the past four years, the Ronald McDonald House of Rochester, Minnesota has turned away more than 4,000 families who needed our services
The Plan
After years of planning we have secured adjacent additional parcels of land along Second Street. This plan allows us to preserve our current home and expand our footprint. This strategic location offers us visibility and is conveniently located between the Mayo Clinic’s downtown locations and Saint Marys Campus – just a short walk or shuttle ride away for all guests.
Expand to Meet Demand, Amenities and Features
- House will grow from 42 to 70 rooms
- Small indoor gym for active space
- Indoor and outdoor play areas for children and families who need wellness space
- Parking for guest families – affording easy access out of the brutal winter weather and hot summers for children with compromised immune systems
- Green space for play and recuperation
- The most modern construction available – creating welcoming and comfortable areas for children and families
Funding
This plan involves a capital campaign to fund the construction of the expansion. Philanthropy also represents a critical portion of our current operating budget, thus the Campaign will also provide funding for an endowment to secure the future stability of the larger House with increased operational costs. Our capital campaign addresses $16.5 million construction cost of an expanded facility.
“No family ever thinks they will need the Ronald McDonald House. It was a remarkable feeling to receive help from strangers. I learned that charity, at its heart, is all about being there to lift people up, even when they don’t know you, and meeting the needs of the human spirit,”
– Suzanne, St. Paul, MN