History of the House
The seeds of the Ronald McDonald House of Akron began with this mission statement:
“Children’s Family Care, Inc., has been founded for the purpose of providing a temporary home for those who have loved ones at Children’s Hospital Medical Center. Our home will provide emotional, spiritual and mental support to all who live within these walls.” On January 13, 1985, this became a reality with the opening of the House at the corner of State and Locust.
Under the direction of Bill Considine, CEO of Akron Children’s Hospital since 1979, and with the help of parents, hospital staff, volunteers, and local McDonald’s owner/operators, Children’s Family Care, Inc., was founded, and the fund-raising began in September of 1982. The effort was jumpstarted by pledges of $400,000 by the Children’s Hospital Women’s Board and a pledge of $200,000 over four years by 140 local McDonald’s restaurants.
On April 1, 1984, a groundbreaking ceremony was held for the 17,000 square foot, 20 bedroom facility.
Children’s Family Care, Inc. raised $1.8 million for the House, so it was built debt-free. While there were many large pledges, the fund drive was “largely a community venture with hundreds of businesses, organizations and individuals pitching in to make their dream possible.”
Since 1985, Ronald McDonald House of Akron has been the home away from home for thousands of families. As we prepare to celebrate our 25th Anniversary, many things have changed. Akron Children’s Hospital has grown in size and now provides service to a 24-county area. With care being provided to infants at both Akron General Medical Center and Summa--in addition to Akron Children’s--we also provide care for families at all three local hospitals. But one thing hasn’t changed: our commitment to our mission statement. We continue to strive to provide emotional, spiritual and mental support to all who live within our walls and we continue to be “the house that love built.”
