Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Iowa Celebrates 45 Years of Keeping Families Close
Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Iowa (RMHCCI), has been serving thousands of families — Keeping Families Close — since 1981. This month, the organization is proud to celebrate 45 years of providing comfort, care and a home-away-from-home for families with ill or injured children receiving medical treatment in Greater Des Moines (DSM).
RMHCCI began as a 12-bedroom House and has grown into two Houses with 35 bedrooms, a Family Room at Blank Children’s Hospital, a Respite Room on Trinity – Ft. Dodge’s pediatric unit and multiple comfort carts on maternity units for families receiving care at local children's hospitals and clinics. Watch this short video about the 1981 RMHCCI groundbreaking.
Greater Des Moines Families Served
Total families served by Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Iowa in DSM counties include:
Adair County: 397Guthrie County: 143Clarke County: 211Jasper County: 520Madison County: 169Marion County: 630Marshall County: 606Polk County: 2,366Poweshiek County: 65Warren County: 330
Celebrate 45 Years
Following a month of celebration and sharing stories of families, volunteers, donors and supporters, RMHCCI will hold an Open House at the Blank House parking lot, 1441 Pleasant St. in Des Moines, on Saturday, Aug. 29 from Noon to 4 p.m. All are welcome to attend. Bring the entire family out for face painting, food vendors and more.
Future Plans
Stay tuned for the global Ronald McDonald House rebrand this October as the entire organization continues to evolve and commit to families around the world, including here in DSM, where it is investing in improvements to its family spaces and houses with the construction of an accessible playground, a reading nook mural and other projects as part of the 45 and Forward Capital Campaign.
Find out more about the 45 and Forward Capital Campaign here, and learn more About RMHCCI at rmhdesmoines.org.
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