Philadelphia Ronald McDonald House
Encyclopedia
The Philadelphia Ronald McDonald House was the first of the Ronald McDonald House Charities
and now stands at 39th and Chestnut Streets in West Philadelphia
.
tight end Fred Hill, manager Jim Murray and owner Leonard Tose
. In 1971, while Hill's daughter was being treated for leukemia
at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
, he saw other families living in the waiting rooms because they could not afford hotel rooms, and decided to help create a home where families could stay nearby. McDonald's
donated money from the firm's Shamrock Shake
promotion. The original house was located at 4032 Spruce St. with room for seven families. The house at 3925 Chestnut street opened in 1981 with 19 bedrooms. This was increased in 1996 to a total capacity of 43 rooms through an expansion largely funded by U.S. Healthcare.
-era Romanesque
mansion was built in 1893 for William James Swain, the son of Philadelphia Public Ledger editor and publisher William Moseley Swain
by architect Will Decker.. Swain died in 1903. In 1926, the house was sold to the Andrew Bair Funeral Home , who sold it decades later to the Ronald McDonald House.
, Temple University Hospital
, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
, Wills Eye Institute
, and Shriner's Hospital. Stays in the house range from one night to more than a year.
Ronald McDonald House Charities
Ronald McDonald House Charities is an independent 501c3 organization whose mission is to create, find and support programs that directly improve the health and well being of children across the world...
and now stands at 39th and Chestnut Streets in West Philadelphia
West Philadelphia
West Philadelphia, nicknamed West Philly, is a section of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Though there is no official definition of its boundaries, it is generally considered to reach from the western shore of the Schuylkill River, to City Line Avenue to the northwest, Cobbs Creek to the southwest, and...
.
History
The house opened in 1974 with the help of Philadelphia EaglesPhiladelphia Eagles
The Philadelphia Eagles are a professional American football team based in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. They are members of the East Division of the National Football Conference in the National Football League...
tight end Fred Hill, manager Jim Murray and owner Leonard Tose
Leonard Tose
Leonard Hyman Tose was an owner of the Philadelphia Eagles from 1969–1985. He made a fortune in the trucking industry and was known for his lavish lifestyle...
. In 1971, while Hill's daughter was being treated for leukemia
Leukemia
Leukemia or leukaemia is a type of cancer of the blood or bone marrow characterized by an abnormal increase of immature white blood cells called "blasts". Leukemia is a broad term covering a spectrum of diseases...
at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
Children's Hospital of Philadelphia
The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia is one of the largest and oldest children's hospitals in the world. CHOP has been ranked as the best children's hospital in the United States by U.S. News & World Report and Parents Magazine in recent years. As of 2008, it was ranked #1 in the nation for...
, he saw other families living in the waiting rooms because they could not afford hotel rooms, and decided to help create a home where families could stay nearby. McDonald's
McDonald's
McDonald's Corporation is the world's largest chain of hamburger fast food restaurants, serving around 64 million customers daily in 119 countries. Headquartered in the United States, the company began in 1940 as a barbecue restaurant operated by the eponymous Richard and Maurice McDonald; in 1948...
donated money from the firm's Shamrock Shake
Shamrock Shake
The Shamrock Shake, a mint flavored, green-dyed vanilla milkshake, is a seasonal dessert sold at McDonald's during March to celebrate St. Patrick's Day.- Origin :...
promotion. The original house was located at 4032 Spruce St. with room for seven families. The house at 3925 Chestnut street opened in 1981 with 19 bedrooms. This was increased in 1996 to a total capacity of 43 rooms through an expansion largely funded by U.S. Healthcare.
The Building
The VictorianVictorian era
The Victorian era of British history was the period of Queen Victoria's reign from 20 June 1837 until her death on 22 January 1901. It was a long period of peace, prosperity, refined sensibilities and national self-confidence...
-era Romanesque
Romanesque architecture
Romanesque architecture is an architectural style of Medieval Europe characterised by semi-circular arches. There is no consensus for the beginning date of the Romanesque architecture, with proposals ranging from the 6th to the 10th century. It developed in the 12th century into the Gothic style,...
mansion was built in 1893 for William James Swain, the son of Philadelphia Public Ledger editor and publisher William Moseley Swain
William Moseley Swain
William Moseley Swain was an American journalist and businessman....
by architect Will Decker.. Swain died in 1903. In 1926, the house was sold to the Andrew Bair Funeral Home , who sold it decades later to the Ronald McDonald House.
Mission
The Ronald McDonald House provides a home away from home for families of seriously ill children receiving treatment at nearby hospitals.Structure of the house
The Ronald McDonald House is run by a core group of full time paid employees along with a large rotating staff of volunteers. They provide accommodations for immediate families of those receiving treatment and outpatient patients mostly from Children's Hospital of PhiladelphiaChildren's Hospital of Philadelphia
The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia is one of the largest and oldest children's hospitals in the world. CHOP has been ranked as the best children's hospital in the United States by U.S. News & World Report and Parents Magazine in recent years. As of 2008, it was ranked #1 in the nation for...
, Temple University Hospital
Temple University School of Medicine
The Temple University School of Medicine , located on the Health Science Campus of Temple University in Philadelphia, PA, is one of 7 schools of medicine in Pennsylvania conferring the doctor of medicine degree. It also confers the Ph.D. and M.S. degrees in biomedical sciences.The 2011 U.S...
, Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania
The Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania is a hospital affiliated with the University of Pennsylvania Health System located in the University City section of West Philadelphia. The hospital was founded at its current location in 1874 by the University of Pennsylvania School of Medicine,...
, Wills Eye Institute
Wills Eye Institute
Wills Eye Institute is a non-profit eye clinic and hospital in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. It was established in 1832 and is the oldest continually operating eye-care facility in the United States...
, and Shriner's Hospital. Stays in the house range from one night to more than a year.
External links
- http://www.philarmh.org/