Ronald McDonald House Charities of Connecticut and Western Massachusetts

Our primary goal is keeping families close. Families need to be close to their hospitalized child during medical crisis and emergencies to maximize the hospital experience and improve the child's recovery. Families travel near and far to seek the best possible care for their child. The burden of being away from home causes additional stress on a family. High levels of stress coupled with the financial burdens associated with having a hospitalized child are huge obstacles that parents have to face. The Ronald McDonald House Charities of Connecticut and Western Massachusetts provides the comfort, support, and services that families need to face the weight of illness together.

We strive to continually grow and enhance our programs and services to meet the needs of our communities to ensure that no family is ever turned away. We frequently assess the needs of our families, as well as the hospitals in our community to make improvements on an on-going basis.

Donors and volunteers are the backbone of our organization and ensure stability and growth to our mission. Our strategy is to continue developing new relationships and stewarding existing donors to ensure we are able to accomplish our mission.

The Board of Directors provides guidance and leadership to help position the organization to achieve its goals.

The organization makes it a high-priority for staff members to attend professional development training opportunities to grow and retain talent.

More resources have been focused on social media and communications to help effectively deliver our message and create brand awareness.

Additional efforts have been placed into community outreach and developing strong ties and relationships within our communities. We have established key relationships with donors, volunteers, and in-kind donors, which has helped to offset the costs of operating our facilities.

Volunteers are the heart of our Houses, and we are fortunate to have many individuals who dedicate their time and talents by cooking for the families, assisting with special events, and covering shifts at the reception desk every day from 9am-9am. Thanks to them, we are able to offer the best possible care to families 247.

Despite the global pandemic, in 2021, we provided over 4,500 nights of services to 297 families last year, who traveled from 22 states and 3 countries around the world to receive the best possible care for their children. Over 180 active volunteers adapted and dedicated their time and talents to supporting our mission in different ways, such as donating catered meals, participating in virtual events and more. Families staying at our Ronald McDonald Houses saved an estimated $1,139,385 in out of pocket lodging and meal expenses in 2021.

As area hospitals continue to expand, we too must grow to be able to meet the increasing demand for our services. We will work in conjunction with the hospitals in our communities to continue assessing our current structure and strategically plan for the future.