The Ronald McDonald House of Central Ohio provides a home away from home for families with seriously ill children staying and receiving treatment at nearby hospitals. The Ronald McDonald House Charities creates, finds and supports programs that directly improve the health and well being of children.

1982 - Started with 15 Rooms

We first opened our doors in March, 1982 located at on 18th Street across from Nationwide Children's Hospital. The original structure was an apartment building which was purchased and renovated for the charity with 15 guest rooms for families.

1988 - Renovations expanded original House to 28 Rooms

As the hospital grew, there was a need to expand, so in 1988 the House increased its rooms to a total of 28 with 12 shared bathrooms, two fully equipped kitchens and dining areas, a play room, laundry facilities, a meditation room, outdoor patio, and several gathering areas.

2005 - 555 Children's Drive House Built with 37 Rooms

In order to accommodate more families and better serve their needs, a capital campaign embarked on the goal to raise $7.8 million to build a new House. The House opened in March 2005 on the west side of the Children's Hospital campus with 52,000 sq. ft. and 37 sleeping rooms and an ability to expand to 50 rooms.

Besides adding quantity, more specialization was also added. At the request of the hospital we created four Continuing Care Suites to serve families of immune compromised children who have undergone such treatments as organ and bone marrow transplants. These children do not need to be in the hospital but need to stay in close proximity and should not be around the general population. These suites are basically apartments with a separate kitchen and laundry facility. In addition, we added more quiet space for the families and added many special amenities such as a breast pump room for new moms, a craft room for children, a library, meditation room, laundry room, playrooms and a teen/game room. All the comforts of home and more.

2008 - New Ronald McDonald House opens at 711 E. Livingston Ave.

The Columbus Ronald McDonald House is located directly across the street from NCH at 711 E. Livingston Ave. The House is furnished with 80 guest rooms, 10 of which are Continuing Care Suites for families whose children need an isolated environment close to the hospital during chemotherapy or following a transplant. In 2009, the Columbus Ronald McDonald House will serve over 3000 families with seriously ill children by providing home-away-from-home. Please come down to visit and take a tour of the second largest Ronald McDonald House in the world.