Mission & History
Mission
The mission of Ronald McDonald House Northwest Florida is to provide essential services that remove barriers, strengthen families, and promote healing when children need healthcare.
Purpose
Our purpose is to care for families with children who are ill or injured.
Vision
Our vision is a world where every family has what they need to ensure the best health outcomes for their children.
Philosophy
When a child needs specialized medical care, families should be able to focus entirely on their child’s health and healing, not on the financial, logistical, and emotional barriers that often stand in the way of accessing that care. At Ronald McDonald House Northwest Florida, we believe every family deserves access to the pediatric healthcare their child needs. Since opening our doors in 1984, we have had the privilege of serving more than 30,000 families traveling to Pensacola for pediatric care, helping make access to life-saving and life-changing treatment possible when it matters most.
History of Ronald McDonald House
1974 – Our Mission Began
The Ronald McDonald House mission began with one doctor’s determination to provide better health outcomes for families with sick children. In 1974, Dr. Audrey Evans embarked on building the first Ronald McDonald House alongside Fred Hill, a former Philadelphia Eagles football player, whose daughter was receiving long-term medical care.
With the support of his teammates and local McDonald's owner-operators, Hill and Dr. Evans helped raise the funds needed to establish the first Ronald McDonald House in Philadelphia, PA, creating a new model of family-centered care that would transform pediatric healthcare access for generations to come.
Today, Ronald McDonald House supports families around the world through more than 390 Ronald McDonald House programs, 280 Ronald McDonald Family Room programs, and thousands of local initiatives, each designed to remove barriers to care, strengthen families, and improve health outcomes for children.
1981 – Gulf Coast Children’s Medical Foundation
The vision for bringing a Ronald McDonald House to Northwest Florida began with Dr. Reed Bell, former Director of Pediatric Services at Sacred Heart Children's Hospital, who recognized the barriers families faced when traveling for specialized pediatric care. Believing that families should be able to stay together and focus on their child's health, he formed Gulf Coast Children's Medical Foundation in November 1981, with the name later changed to Ronald McDonald House Northwest Florida.
1984 – Ronald McDonald House Northwest Florida Opened
In October 1984, Ronald McDonald House Northwest Florida opened its first six-bedroom House. Driven by Dr. Reed Bell's vision and supported by local McDonald's owner-operators and the community, the House was created to remove barriers to pediatric healthcare by keeping families together during their child's medical journey. In its first year alone, Ronald McDonald House Northwest Florida served 271 families, laying the foundation for decades of growth and expanded support for families seeking critical care.
2010 – Expansion to Serve More Families, Better
With the generous support of the Northwest Florida community, including former City Councilman and Mayor Jerry Maygarden and general contractor Ed Carson, we expanded our ability to serve families by building a new 26-bedroom Ronald McDonald House in August 2010. Designed to reduce the burdens families face while seeking pediatric medical care, we provide welcoming spaces where families can rest, connect, and remain together throughout their child's treatment journey. Ronald McDonald House Northwest Florida offers private guest rooms, shared gathering spaces, a family kitchen, play areas, laundry facilities, and outdoor spaces that offer comfort, community, and a sense of home during difficult times. Beyond our physical space, we offer numerous resources for families navigating the complexities of being away from home for pediatric medical care.
2019 – Ronald McDonald House Family Room Opened
In May 2019, we expanded our services and level of care by opening the Ronald McDonald Family Room at Studer Family Children's Hospital. Located inside the children’s hospital and steps away from the NICU, the Ronald McDonald House Family Room provides a comfortable, supportive space close to their child's bedside. The space includes three private sleeping rooms, family gathering areas, a fully equipped kitchen, laundry facilities, a playroom, and quiet spaces, ensuring every family accessing pediatric care has a space to refuel and recharge when they need it most.
Present Day - Our Mission Continues
At Ronald McDonald House Northwest Florida, families find more than essential services—they find a community of support that helps them navigate one of life's most difficult journeys. By reducing the burdens associated with accessing pediatric medical care and fostering connections with staff, volunteers, and other families who share similar experiences, we help families focus on what matters most: their child's health and healing. Today, we are honored to serve approximately 1,200 families each year.