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Our History

More than 40 years of providing family togetherness

How It All Started

In the early 1970s, Philadelphia Eagles’ player Fred Hill’s daughter Kim was treated for leukemia at Children’s Hospital in Philadelphia. Hill and his family found themselves sleeping in waiting rooms and eating out of vending machines along with several other families who didn’t leave the hospital so they could be close to their children during this crucial time.

With the support of the Oncology department and Dr. Audrey Evans, Hill and his teammates began to search for a way to have a “home-away-from-home” near the hospital for these families. The search led to local McDonald’s owner/operators who supported the concept and created the St. Patrick’s Day Green Milkshake promotion, with the funds going toward purchasing a house near the hospital where families could stay. Thus, the first Ronald McDonald House was established in Philadelphia in 1974 — named after McDonald’s famed clown mascot.

The Start of Our Chapter

Since opening our doors in Phoenix in 1985, the Central and Northern Arizona chapter has undergone many changes. See how we’ve grown from one to three Houses, now providing 78 rooms for families nightly.

1980

Junior League of Phoenix members Judy Schubert and Suzanne Hanson conducted a feasibility study that found a need for a Ronald McDonald House in Phoenix. They formed a steering committee with pediatric medical specialists, hospital representatives and other key authorities to make the House a reality.

black and white photo of Junior League of Phoenix members

1985

On May 15, Ronald McDonald House opened its doors in Phoenix with 16 guest rooms — the 81st in the continually-growing network of Houses worldwide.

1995

We added 10 rooms and expanded the kitchen, playroom and a new library. We also added a new garden in honor of Gus Kapellas, one of our most generous McDonald’s owner/operators.

2005

Our third major construction project increased our housing capacity. The expansion included construction of two new free-standing buildings, housing a family room, library, apartments and additional guest rooms.

2008

On June 23, we opened the Cambridge House, a second Ronald McDonald House on the campus of Phoenix Children’s Hospital. The 18-room, four-story facility features a full-service kitchen, dining area, laundry facilities and activity room.

Cambridge house of Ronald McDonald House of central and northern arizona
the Dobson House, our third Ronald McDonald House on the campus of Banner Children’s at Desert in Mesa, Arizona

2014

On November 10, we opened the Dobson House, our third Ronald McDonald House on the campus of Banner Children’s at Desert in Mesa, Arizona, with 16 rooms (including four apartments), kitchen and dining room, laundry facilities and a playground.

2024

After a year of renovation work at a cost of $4.5 million, the Cambridge House reopened in December with upgraded amenities to launch our first Day Use Program.

2025

Nearly eight months after temporarily closing for a total renovation, the Dobson House reopened in December. The $2.7 million project updated and upgraded every part of the 16-bedroom location with renovated space for a Day Use Program.

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