Since 1980 Ronald McDonald House Charities® of San Diego provides a "home away from home" for families with children being treated for serious, often life-threatening conditions at local hospitals. Ronald McDonald House Charities® of San Diego provides a welcoming “home-away-from-home” that helps families stay close to their hospitalized children. With 55 guest suites and a Family Care Center for day visitors, we serve over 15,000 people a year. Thanks to an active volunteer program and generous community support, each year approximately: • 1,100 families stay with us as resident guests for an average of 16 nights each. • 12,000 additional people use our Family Care Center for naps, meals, showers, laundry, computer access, and other essential supports close to the hospital (more than 49,000 visits). • 120,000 meals are served free of charge to family members with hospital identification. • 120 siblings of hospitalized children learn and grow through enrichment programs and our onsite school, operated in partnership with San Diego Unified School District. The Ronald McDonald house relies on community support. It is the only service of its kind that is open to families caring for children at any San Diego area hospital. Ronald McDonald House Charities (Global) is based in Oak Brook, Illinois. Their mission is to create, find and support programs that directly improve the health and well-being of children. Besides sharing best practices with all House, Ronald McDonald House Charities also works with national retailers to facilitate donations. There are 365 Ronald McDonald House programs throughout the world. Our San Diego Ronald McDonald House is an independent 501 c3. McDonald's is our proud founding mission partner and provides approximately 10% of our annual operating budget. The rest is made up by generous: individuals, corporations, community groups and foundations.