The Montefiore Family Room is also a place for creativity, expression, and emotional healing. RMH-NY hosts Paint & Sip events that transform the room into a temporary art studio.

"When we think about the future of healthcare...we see a trend by hospitals to really focus care on community-based resources...Fundamentally, Ronald McDonald House New York is that home away from home."                      

                             -Dr. Ruth Browne, President & CEO, RMH-NY

At NYC Health + Hospitals/Elmhurst’s Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU), where every beep from a machine holds weight, and each medical update tugs at the heartstrings of worried parents, one new mother, Natalie found herself navigating an emotional whirlwind. Her son, Marcellus, had been born prematurely and was fighting for his life. Caught in a storm of uncertainty and hope, Natalie discovered an unexpected sanctuary that would become her refuge—the Ronald McDonald Family Room at Elmhurst.

Reyna, a vibrant 15-year-old with a passion for art and tap dancing, found herself in the Pediatric unit at Elmhurst Hospital for a week-long stay following surgery. By her side was her dedicated mother, Gloria, a single parent working tirelessly to provide for her three children, one of whom is on the autism spectrum. Balancing two jobs and her responsibilities as a mother, Gloria embodies strength and resilience.