History of Ronald McDonald House of San Diego

In 1980, Ronald McDonald House® of San Diego opened its doors in the Serra Mesa community of San Diego as the 20th Ronald McDonald House in the world. This was a result of a small, dedicated group of parents who knew, first-hand, what it was like to have a child with a serious illness. The idea to form the House originated in the late 1970’s, when Irma Gusfield, a social worker, brought families of cancer-stricken children together to provide moral and emotional support for each other during their stay at the hospital.

Together, the founding families, hospital staff, community and McDonald’s Owner/Operators, made the dream a reality. Since opening our doors on December 16, 1980, the Ronald McDonald House of San Diego has provided over 140,000 night of lodging for more than 14,000 families, while their children undergo treatment at area hospitals. Families have come from as far away as Ireland, France, Mexico, Japan, Argentina, Guam, and as close as San Diego and Imperial counties. Children being treated at most major hospitals in San Diego County have stayed at the House, including Rady Children’s Hospital, UCSD Medical Center, Balboa Naval Hospital, Sharp Mary Birch Hospital for Women & Newborns, Scripps Memorial Hospital, Mercy Hospital and Kaiser Permanente.

After almost thirty years in the original 12-bedroom House, a new 47-bedroom House opened on July 7, 2009 to accommodate more families now and in the future. The new House sits atop a six-story parking structure, is almost two football fields long and four times the size of the previous House. In addition to 47-bedrooms, the new House has a Family Care Center for day visitors that includes a dining area, a computer lab, a school room, outside amphitheatre and play area, arts and crafts room, chapel, work out room, showers and a resting room for day guests, and even a beauty salon. On a monthly basis, the House provides day services to nearly 1,100 local families whose children are receiving care at local hospitals, giving them a sanctuary to take care of themselves so they can take care of their sick child.

All of these services and amenities help keep families together in a home environment in their time of need.

Ronald McDonald House Charities of San Diego is an independent 501(c)(3) organization (Tax ID 95-325-1490)governed by a local Board of Directors. It is financially independent of McDonald’s Corporation and Rady Children’s Hospital.