Frequently Asked Questions

Q. What is the average length of stay for families?
A. Families who are using our Bone Marrow Transplant Suites usually stay at least 90 days. Families with non-transplant children stay an average of 10 days. Occasionally a family will stay for one night, but this is the exception.

Q. Is the House funded exclusively by McDonald's?
A. No. The annual operating budget for the Ronald McDonald House of Fort Worth is approximately $1,000,000. $75,000 comes from McDonald's Restaurants. The rest of the budget is funded through special events and donations.

Q. What is the most common diagnosis of the kids whose parents stay at the Ronald McDonald House?
A. The Ronald McDonald House is available to parents of kids suffering from any critical illness that necessitates hospitalization. We often serve families whose children have cancer, but many of our families have premature babies who remain hospitalized for several months. However, in the future, we expect to see a greater number of kids who have undergone various organ transplants and surgeries.

Q. How is the Ronald McDonald House supported financially?
A. Contributions from foundations, corporations and individuals provide the House with the majority of its funding. In addition, several special events take place during the year and proceeds from these events are used to support the House's operation budget.

Q. Is the Ronald McDonald House a federally-funded, nonprofit organization?
A. The House does NOT receive federal funds and is not a part of the United Way umbrella. However, the House is a nonprofit, 501(c)(3) corporation. Most donations given to the Ronald McDonald House are tax deductible, but please consult with your tax advisor.

Q. How does a family get a room at the Ronald McDonald House?
A. Once a child is admitted into the hospital or has a procedure scheduled, the family is assigned a social worker to assist with any needs they might have. This social worker assesses each family's personal situation, and if necessary, makes the referral to the Ronald McDonald House. There are only two requirements for staying at the house: the child receiving medical care must be 18 years old or under, and the family must have their permanent residence more than 40 miles from the hospital.

Q. Do the pop tabs you collect help pay for chemotherapy or dialysis treatments?
A. No. The pop tabs collected for us are recycled and the money earned is put into the general operating account. Each year we make between $5,000-$7,000 recycling pop tabs!

Q. How much does it cost to stay at the Ronald McDonald House?
A. We ask families for a $15/night donation for stays two nights or longer, and a $25/night donation if they are staying for only one night.