(May 2011 to Nov 2014)
Every child needs a strong body, a strong mind. And when their families stay strong together, this can help them recover faster. All this is what motivates us to do our part at the Ronald McDonald House Charities every day.
The Ronald McDonald House Charities® Singapore was founded in 1989 to help sick children in Singapore whose families could not afford the medical care they needed. Since its founding, RMHC Singapore has assisted over 900 children and their families with over $6 million in grants. Through our Beneficiaries Program, we have helped children with some of the following medical needs: special formula milk powder for premature births or children with digestion issues, hearing aids, handicap aids, medicine and drugs, eyeglasses, surgery expenses and cancer treatments.
In January 2013, RMHC Singapore opened a new Ronald McDonald House at National University Hospital. The 24/7/365 facility is staffed and managed by Ronald McDonald House Charities Singapore and was established in partnership with the Paediatric Cluster of the National University Hospital. Families can remain close to their sick children all day and night as we provide four bedrooms with ensuite bathrooms, a living room, dining area, kitchenette, library and laundry room. Studies prove that children recover more quickly when their families are nearby.
RMHC was founded in 1984 to honor the founder of McDonald’s Corporation, Ray Kroc. As of 2013, there are over 326 Ronald McDonald Houses in 31 countries, 174 Family Rooms in 19 countries, and 44 Care Mobiles (Medical or Dental facilities on wheels) in 8 countries and regions. These numbers grow every day.
Ronald McDonald House Charities Singapore is the “Charity of Choice” of McDonald’s Corporation. McDonald’s Singapore supports its Ronald McDonald House through the Happy Meal™ program, McHappy™ Day, canister collections and various other programs. However, RMHC Singapore needs additional support from the community that it serves. We encourage organizations to contact us if they are interested in raising funds for RMHC.
In 2014, we will open a Ronald McDonald Family Room (RMFR) in the Paediatrics Intensive Care Unit (PICU) at NUH. Our RMFR will provide rest and comfort to the families of seriously ill children in PICU.
We will continue to review our programs and expand them as necessary as we reach out to as many sick children as possible in Singapore. Our goal is to make the lives of the sick children and their families more joyful and hopeful, and to support the sick children as needed.
Please consider volunteering in our Ronald McDonald House at National University Hospital, or dropping your loose change in the canisters at McDonald’s Restaurants. You can and will make a difference in the life of a sick child in Singapore.
Sincerely,
Barbara V. Murphy