History

Ronald McDonald House Charities began when the parents of a child with leukemia prompted the efforts of an NFL team, a children’s hospital, McDonald's restaurants and the citizens of Philadelphia to build the first Ronald McDonald House in 1974. Their efforts have inspired many communities around the world to reach out to families in similar situations. Since the first House opened in 1974, more than 300 Houses have opened in more than 30 countries.

Closer to Home

Our mission is to provide a home-away-from home for families of children receiving treatment at area health-care facilities and to lift children and families to a better tomorrow. This House became one of the first RMHC Chapters to serve families with children suffering from all childhood diseases and injuries.

Our local RMHC Chapter began with a group called Neo-Fight, a non-profit community service organization that raised money to purchase lifesaving equipment for critically ill newborns. In 1980, a social worker from the University of Missouri’s Children’s Hospital attended a Neo-Fight meeting to seek financial assistance for short-term lodging for parents with infants in the Newborn Intensive Care Unit. A meeting was then held with representatives of Neo-Fight, Candlelighters and McDonald’s Owner/Operators to discuss the possibility of opening a Ronald McDonald House in Columbia. Friends of K.I.D.S., Inc. was born out of that meeting and with their dedication and hard work the current Ronald McDonald House at the corner of Stadium and Monk Dr. was opened on May 21, 1983.

In January of 1988, after serving 2,000 families, the Board of Directors began expansion plans for the House from 10 to 14 bedrooms. On October 21, 1997, the Mid-Missouri Ronald McDonald House officially became the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Mid-Missouri and Friends of K.I.D.S was dissolved.

Through the combined effort of volunteers, community partners, and generous corporate and individual donors, the House continues to offer families stability and support, allowing them to stay nearby their ill or injured children receiving treatment at local healthcare facilities. The wonderful sense of community has been the most contributing factor in the House’s continued success. Each year more than 400 families call our House their home as we fulfill our mission to "lift children and families to a better tomorrow."

Ronald McDonald House Charities of Mid-Missouri is a private, non-profit charity under section 501(c)(3) of the Internal Revenue Code.