“Never doubt that a small group of thoughtful committed individuals can change the world. In fact, it’s the only thing that ever has,” said Margaret Mead decades ago.

This year we celebrate decades of accomplishments of a small, committed group of incredible individuals – those who launched the Ronald McDonald House® in Wichita 40 years ago.

They were doctors, parents, community leaders, McDonald's owner/operators and representatives – all committed to making life better for families of very sick children. Wichita’s first home for families of sick children- Ronald McDonald House opened in May 19, 1983. The first House was right next door to Wesley Medical Center and was called “Sleepy Hollow”, in reference to the neighborhood in which it was built. Then, July 11, 1985, Wichita became the first city in the world to have two Ronald McDonald Houses when the “Midtown" House opened near Ascension Via-Christi Hospital - St. Francis.

Recognizing the impact on our programs that the new Wesley Children’s Hospital and their focus on providing more specialists to provide pediatric medical care, the decision was made to vacate our small and aging Ronald McDonald Houses and build a new twenty-bedroom Ronald McDonald House right across the street from Wesley Children’s Hospital. Thanks to donated space in the Wesley Medical Plaza from Wesley Healthcare, we opened our new House July 22, 2019.

Although the need for families to have a home while their children were receiving medical care in Wichita was satisfied, the need for both out-of-town and local families to be able to “get away” while visiting their children in the hospital became apparent quickly after the two Houses were built. Therefore, our first Ronald McDonald Family Room® opened inside what is now called Ascension Via Christi St Joseph hospital in 1995. It was closed in 2004. In 1998, our Ronald McDonald Family Room opened in Wesley Children’s Hospital adjacent to PICU to provide on-site respite and amenities for families visiting their children in the hospital.

Since we opened in 1983, we’ve helped over 72,601 families! And we are grateful that many of those who were children at the Ronald McDonald House now have children of their own.

And speaking of gratitude, I am grateful to all those who came before me, who built the foundation for this wonderful organization. The leaders, board members, volunteers, donors, and many friends who for 40 years have poured their hearts into this mission. Collectively we are changing the world – one child, one family at a time.