Ronald McDonald House Charities Hosts Grand Opening

Families traveling to Omaha in search of pediatric medical care will no longer have to worry about where they’ll stay during their child’s treatment. With the completion of a $10.3-million expansion, Ronald McDonald House Charities in Omaha (RMHC; www.RMHCOmaha.org) will be able to accommodate 40 families every single night, doubling their capacity and allowing them to incorporate new programming from collaborative partners to better serve the families in need. RMHC hosted a ribbon cutting ceremony on May 9, welcoming many of their donors to celebrate the opening of the expanded facility. Among the speakers during the program were Omaha Mayor Jean Stothert, Dr. David F. Mercer, M.D., Ph.D. of Nebraska Medicine and the University of Nebraska Medical Center, Stefanie Christensen of the CL Werner Foundation, RMHC Executive Director Lindsey Rai Kortan, and Angels Among Us (AAU) Executive Director Susie Nelson. AAU is another nonprofit that offers financial assistance to families battling pediatric cancer, and they have now moved their offices into the RMHC facility.

The expansion project doubled the size of the House, adding approximately 20,000 square feet of space, including 20 more guest rooms, which will eliminate a waiting list that forced RMHC to turn families away roughly 1,600 times over a two-year span. In addition to the guest rooms, RMHC incorporated several new support spaces, including one that has never been seen in any other Ronald McDonald House: an in-House treatment center to be independently operated by RMHC’s medical partners. The House also has a salon, volunteer room, glass-encased toy room, contemplation room, and many other areas strategically designed to create a comprehensive healing community capable of serving the entire family. That includes bringing in partners like AAU, Completely KIDS, WhyArts, and others to provide programs for every individual who walks in the doors.

Ronald McDonald House Charities is located at 620 S. 38th Ave. For more information or to schedule a tour, please call (402) 346-9377 or visit www.RMHCOmaha.org.