Grant Program
When the first Ronald McDonald House opened in 1974, no one could have imagined that it would be the genesis of a program that would grow into one of the most highly regarded charities in the world, serving more than 8,000 people each night.
Ten years after the inception of the Ronald McDonald House concept, McDonald’s Corporation began looking for a way to honor the memory of their founder, Ray Kroc. The result was Ronald McDonald Children’s Charities whose goal was to reach beyond the House and award grants to organizations throughout the world that benefit children in the areas of health care, medical research, education, the arts, and civic or social services.
The two organizations merged in 1994 becoming one entity, Ronald McDonald House Charities.
Although the House and the charity will work together, each of us is a separate entity that manages its own operations and fundraising. If you make a contribution to our Ronald McDonald House in Knoxville, rest assured that is where your donation will go.
On the local level, our “Ronald House” continues to operate as the cornerstone program of Ronald McDonald House Charities, providing a “home-away-from-home” for families of seriously ill children being treated in area hospitals with financial support, primarily from the community.
A secondary goal of this venture is to award grants to other 501(c)(3) organizations that address the needs of children in our area. So by supporting national fundraisers in your local McDonalds, you are helping not only the Ronald McDonald House but other children’s charities in East Tennessee.
To see if your organization could qualify for a Ronald McDonald House Charities Grant, simply download the guidelines and/or and entire grant request form.
