Ronald McDonald House Charities® of Greater Washington, DC (RMHCDC) eases the hardship of children’s illness on families through programs that directly improve the health and wellbeing of children. RMHCDC addresses the most urgent needs of our community – Children’s Health. The Problem and Our Purpose: Faced with a child’s illness life stops overnight and parents enter a world of fear and worry. For parents who don’t live close to the medical care their child needs, there’s an added stress - Distance. Most families have to travel hours for treatment. Living expenses quickly add up. Long drives, lost jobs, worried siblings, sleeping in cars. Being far from family and friends. These are extra burdens no family should have to experience. Help even more families stay close through the biggest challenge of their lives. Together, we can do big things. While RMHCDC cannot make medicine taste better or take away painful treatments, we can help lessen the burden and ensure thousands of families a year have the stability and resources they need to keep their child healthy and happy. We believe that an oasis of comfort in a sea of chaos is as powerful as any medication. We believe that a home is more than four walls and a roof over your head. It is the intangible magic that transpires in moments shared together. We believe in building a global community that finds strength, hope and courage in embracing healing as a joyous experience.