Monthly Newsletter August 2025

Our 2024 Annual Report is now available, and it is filled with powerful stories, milestones, and moments of impact from across Ronald McDonald House New York. From the opening of new Family Rooms to family journeys that inspire hope, the report reflects the many ways we continue to support children and caregivers facing pediatric illness. We invite you to explore the full report and see how your support helps us keep families close.

Read Annual Report

At Ronald McDonald House New York (RMH-NY), family is at the heart of everything we do, whether at our House on East 73rd Street or in our four Family Rooms across New York City hospitals. The Ronald McDonald Family Room at Elmhurst Hospital has become a vital haven for caregivers, offering rest, comfort, and connection just steps away from their child’s bedside. Thanks to the dedication of program leads Jen Wiener and Feng Jin, the space continues to reflect the cultural and emotional needs of one of the city’s most diverse communities. This summer was full of milestones, from festive July 4th celebrations and a thoughtful self-care resource display to the moving graduation of a NICU family and the joyful return of several alumni families, reminders of how our families grow and thrive long after their time in the hospital.

We also featured plenty of sweet moments: volunteers Manishi and Grethel transformed the Hospitality Cart into a mobile ice cream bar in honor of National Ice Cream Month, complete with toppings and the Mister Softee jingle, spreading joy throughout the Pediatric Unit. Behind the scenes, RMH-NY’s IT team strengthened internet connectivity for families. These efforts, big and small, highlight the power of compassion, creativity, and teamwork in making the Elmhurst Family Room more than a space, it’s a lifeline. As we head into fall, we remain grateful to our staff, volunteers, hospital partners, and families for filling this space with resilience and hope, and we reaffirm our commitment to keeping families close during their most challenging times.

At first glance, a Ronald McDonald House New York Hospitality Cart may look like a simple rolling frame filled with snacks and coffee, but to the families it serves, it represents so much more. These carts, stationed full time in seven hospitals across New York City, bring comfort directly to caregivers who cannot leave their child’s bedside. Born from a pilot program at Hospital for Special Surgery in 2015 and inspired by the “Happy Wheels Coffee Cart” in California, the carts have evolved into lifelines of kindness and connection. Each one is lovingly maintained by the Programs team and pushed by trained volunteers such as Allyson and Jill, who provide not only snacks but also compassion, conversation, and moments of relief during long hospital days. As Senior Manager Jackie Wilson often says, the carts are about more than coffee or crackers, they are about offering a sense of normalcy, hope, and human connection in the midst of medical uncertainty.

Every day, carts deliver small but meaningful gestures: a juice box for a child, a granola bar for a nurse, a listening ear for a parent. They accompany special programs such as Musical Magic concerts, stop by inpatient and outpatient units, and sometimes even spark book clubs with hospital staff. While service windows may be short, often just a few hours a day, the impact resonates deeply, with more than 7,400 caregivers and family members served in 2024 alone. The carts’ reach continues to expand, and with each rollout comes stories of resilience, gratitude, and shared humanity: a child walking on a new prosthetic leg for the first time, a mother needing only a kind word, a nurse recharging during a busy shift. Whether serving patients, families, or staff, these mobile havens embody RMH-NY’s mission to meet families where they are and remind them they are never alone.

Ronald McDonald House New York (RMH-NY) has launched a multimillion dollar renovation of its second floor at 405 East 73rd Street to reimagine communal spaces where families come together during treatment. Designed in collaboration with Zubatkin Owner Representation, Mitchell Giurgola Architects, and Structure Tone, the project will create modern kitchens, play and recreation zones, and dedicated areas for tutoring, volunteering, and caregiver support. Guided by the Board of Directors and Building and Facilities Committee, the renovation reflects RMH-NY’s mission to provide comfort, connection, and healing for families facing pediatric cancer and other serious illnesses, ensuring the House remains a true home away from home.

This International Youth Day, Ronald McDonald House New York shined a spotlight on the extraordinary impact of its founding partner McDonald’s through a special conversation with Bruce Colley, NYC McDonald’s owner-operator and Vice President of the RMH-NY Board of Directors. From the first Ronald McDonald House in 1973 to today’s 95-room haven, Bruce shared powerful stories of compassion, the vital role of volunteers and sponsors, and the strength of families who inspired the mission. He also offered a heartfelt preview of the September 30 Annual Gala, where RMH-NY planned to honor Lynn Martin, President of the New York Stock Exchange, with the goal of raising millions to support families in need. Viewers were invited to watch the full interview on the RMH-NY YouTube channel to hear how staying together gave children the strength to heal.