What we do
Ronald McDonald House Charities Ottawa provides families a home away from home when their child is diagnosed with a sudden illness or will be receiving any kind of medical care at the hospital. Our doors are open to all families who live too far from the hospital to commute.
We currently have 14 suites where we provide families with a shower and bathroom, we have a Home for Dinner program where volunteers prepare fresh meals for families coming home from the hospital, we offer a large kitchen, family gathering spaces, laundry, fresh coffee, a beautiful, serene backyard, weekly pet therapy, and all for the suggested cost to families of $10 per night (though our actual operating cost per night is $100).
Our mission is to keep families close. When a young child is enduring a 10-month chemotherapy program, but they get to hug their sibling here after a long day, are given a home cooked meal, and play video games in the family room for example, for a parent there is truly no greater gift.
While baby Jeh was in the NICU, grandma Viji flew here from India. The House gave her a place to stay while mom Sneha was back and forth in hospital.
How you can help
Volunteer
We are always in need of volunteers to help operate our front desk at the House, and to be a friendly face for families in our two Ronald McDonald Family rooms inside the hospital.
Donate
When your child is ill, everything stops. Your donation will give families a place to stay and peace of mind to avoid bankruptcy during a time when parents need to stop working to be with their child. Your donation will help significantly reduce financial stress. Since our doors opened in 1984, we have provided over 1,300 nights of comfort annually at the House. We also support local families who use our two Family Rooms within the hospital, attached to the Intensive Care Unit and on the 5th Floor.
Whether you are a monthly House Warmer or a one-time donor, your donation directly supports families who suddenly need to stay close to the hospital.
Events + fundraising
McHappy Day
Every year we look forward to the second Wednesday in May when every local McDonald’s restaurant dedicates the entire day to fundraising for RMHC Ottawa. All year long you have the opportunity to “Round Up” for families, and we are grateful to our founding and forever partners at McDonald’s.
Skifest
For 31 years the Ottawa Business Community has come together at Skifest, in support of RMHCO. The impressive funds raised keep the doors open for families traveling for care. We look forward to meeting you on the slopes in March 2024 to support the families we serve!
RMHC Ottawa Open
One of the longest running charity golf tournaments in Ottawa, spending the day at our tournament directly supports families that stay at the House while their kids receive treatment at the hospital. The 36th annual Open will take place September 2024 at Camelot Golf & Country Club.
Radiothon
Our 3rd annual Radiothon will take place June of 2024 with our generous friends from Corus Entertainment. A twelve-hour, live Radiothon on-site, broadcasting on Boom 99.7 and JUMP 106.9. to help raise critical funds to support the families that call our House, ‘home.’
PJ Walk
PJ Walk encourages schools to share our mission with their students and parents through a one-day event leading up to Family Day weekend. Students are asked to wear their favourite PJs to class and walk 167 steps – the distance from our front door to CHEO’s front door.
Support from our Skifest teams at Mont Ste Marie Mar 2, 2023
Get in touch:
Ronald McDonald House Charities Ottawa
407 Smyth Road
Ottawa, ON
K1H 8M8
613-737-5523
rmhottawa.com
rmh@rmhottawa.com
Year founded: 1983
Total revenue for last fiscal year: $1,438,000
Twitter: @rmhcottawa
Facebook: @rmhcottawa
Instagram: @rmhc_ottawa
Christine Hardy, Chief Executive Officer
Danny Baldwin, Board Chair
BOARD MEMBERS
- Karen Hennessey, Vice Chair
- Cindy McCarthy, Treasurer
- Perry McKenna
- Tim Carter
- Mark Taggart
- Philip Von Finckenstein
- Andrew Vey
- Kathryn Jones
- Colin Noble
- Andrew Godfrey
- Dr. Donna Johnston
- Martin Ballard
- Gilles LeVasseur
- Michele Bedford
TOP FUNDING SOURCES
Individual: 40%
Corporate donations: 25%
Other sources: 35%
GEOGRAPHIC REGION OF FOCUS
West of Kingston, East of Cornwall and as far North as Nunavut
