Built on strong relationships
Our chapter runs on core relationships built over decades, including two of our region’s leading hospitals, a student dance marathon, and McDonald’s, the founding and forever partner of Ronald McDonald House.
McDonald's
Our Founding & Forever Partner
Ronald McDonald House Eastern Iowa & Western Illinois is an independent nonprofit 501(c)(3) corporation not owned or operated by McDonald’s Restaurants. As our founding and forever partner, McDonald’s has played an integral role in supporting our mission from the very beginning. Today, that support continues through customer giving opportunities, including Round-Up and special seasonal campaigns like the Shamrock Shake, as well as the generous support of local McDonald’s owner/operators.
Together, McDonald’s and its customers contribute approximately 25% of our annual operating budget—a significant investment in our mission.
Funds raised through McDonald’s restaurants across Eastern Iowa and Western Illinois directly support our local chapter, helping us serve guest families and strengthen our mission.
University of Iowa
While Ronald McDonald House Eastern Iowa & Western Illinois is an independent nonprofit and is not part of the University of Iowa, we have shared a strong partnership for more than 40 years. Since 1983, we have worked alongside the University of Iowa to help meet the needs of families whose children are receiving medical care.
Our Ronald McDonald House is located just three blocks from the hospital, making it easy for families to remain close to their child during treatment. The Ronald McDonald House Family Room is located inside the University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital on Level 3.
We are grateful to the University of Iowa for its continued partnership and for providing us with a no-cost lease for our Iowa City House. This collaboration allows us to focus on what matters most: supporting families during some of the most difficult times in their lives.
University of Iowa Dance Marathon
UI Dance Marathon funding offsets the cost of stays for families whose children are being treated for cancer, and keeps the oncology food pantry on the 11th floor of the University of Iowa Stead Family Children’s Hospital stocked with shelf-stable meals.
UnityPoint Health – St. Luke's Hospital
We work alongside UnityPoint – St. Luke’s Hospital through the Ronald McDonald House Family Room located inside the Helen G. Nassif Center for Women’s and Children’s Health. This partnership provides dedicated space for families to rest and recharge, located within steps of their child’s room.