Who We Are

When 6-year-old Beckhem was diagnosed with pediatric cancer and had to receive a

major surgery his family had nowhere to turn in their rural community. Ronald McDonald

House Charities of Richmond (RMHC) came to the rescue. RMHC of Richmond

provides an array of programs and services geared toward families with sick children.

Our goal is to keep children who may be hospitalized close to their families and vice

versa. These services are made possible through donors, sponsors and volunteers. We

are appreciative of all those who help us reach our goal of caring for and providing basic

needs for families and children in need.

Services

Ronald McDonald House is a home that

provides free temporary housing and support

services for families that have a child under the

care of local medical professionals.

A volunteer with a patient at the RMHC center

Ronald McDonald Family Room provides multiple rooms for parents to relax and have some

downtime and are located near the hospitals in Richmond.

Happy Wheels are carts run by volunteers visiting patients and their families staying in nearby

hospitals. These carts contain snacks, toys and other small needs families may find useful.

Lunches with Love are healthy lunches distributed by volunteers to families that may be

experiencing financial difficulties due to medical bills.

The RMHC Sibling Center provides a calming and secure environment for the siblings of

patients receiving care.

History

● 1974- Partnership formed between the Philadelphia Eagles, the VCU children’s

hospital, and McDonald’s

● 1977- A group of parents in Richmond, representatives of the Association for the

Study of Childhood Cancer, doctors at MCV, and McDonald’s operators launch a

letter writing campaign

● 1978- The current site was purchased in September by the Richmond

McDonald’s Owner/Operators Cooperative

● 1979- Full renovation on the House begins

● 1980- The House opened and was named “Miracle on Monument Ave.”

● 2000- The first Ronald McDonald Family Room opened at Children’s Hospital of

Richmond at VCU

● 2012- RMHC opened a Ronald McDonald Family Room with two bedrooms and

a kitchen. RMHC Richmond received anonymous donation in honor of Beckhem

Gemerek and his courage after receiving emergency surgery to remove a brain
 tumor. This donation funded the kitchen renovation and the space was named

“Beckhem’s Kitchen.”

● 2015- “Happy Wheels” launched by RMHC Richmond

● 2016- The “Happy Wheels” program added “Lunches with Love,” a new meal

delivery program to pediatric units

We Need You

RMHC is always on the lookout for donors and sponsors that can help provide for

families in need.

● Volunteers 18 and older. can participate individually or with a group.

● Group volunteers make meals in the kitchen or take part in Off-Site

Opportunities.

● Donate items on the wishlist. Our Wish List consists of physical donations

such as household items, pantry items, and gift cards.

● The Red Shoe Crew is a group of young people in charge of fundraising

and raising awareness. This group is made up of individuals around the

Richmond area who are inspired and excited about helping families in

need.

● You Can Support by being a donor or volunteer. This is essential to us

because it is up to you to help keep these families close and feel

comfortable by providing a home away from home.

 Our Future Matters

Ronald McDonald House Charities of Richmond has a mission to help children going

through medical procedures, hospitalization, and illness because we understand that

things can be scary to experience at any age. We create a home-away-from-home for

these kids and their families. Moving from place to place in order to receive proper

medical treatment is sometimes necessary yet very expensive which is why we provide

support services and homes. We also know that it is important for children and families

going through these experiences to be together. Our goal is to maintain more locations

across the United States and perhaps even internationally. We hope to continue to

provide for those in need for years to come and most importantly help keep families

together in times of medical crisis.

Contact Us

2330 Monument Ave, Richmond, VA 23220

diana@rmhc-richmond.org

804-335-6517

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Sources

RMHC Richmond | Home. (2020, August 18). RMHC Richmond. https://www.rmhc-

richmond.org
(all information and the image on this page is from the citation above)