(Elyse N. Brown, Executive Director, RMHC of Norfolk)

By Jeff Maisey

If you’ve driven by the Ronald McDonald House on Norfolk’s Colley Avenue across the street from Sentara medical complex and caught a passing glimpse of a lifelike statue of the famous fast food chain’s clown waving and briefly wondered if this was an administrative office or the actual home to Ronald, the Hamburglar, Grimace, The Fry Kids or Birdie The Early Bird, you’d be wrong.

As the non-profit organization states, “For 45 years, Ronald McDonald House Norfolk has been a place where families find comfort, strength, and each other during life’s most difficult moments. When a child is hospitalized, we keep families close, physically, emotionally, and financially, so they can focus on what matters most…healing.”

Ronald McDonald House Norfolk opened its doors in 1981 to provide a free place to stay for families with children who are in need of medical attention. The location was ideal given its close proximity to the Children’s Hospital of the King’s Daughters. 

The organization was founded with a generous financial gift provided by the fast food chain McDonald’s. The first house program was opened in 1974 in Philadelphia. 

It was created as a partnership between the Philadelphia Children’s Hospital oncologist Dr. Audrey Evans, Philadelphia Eagles player Fred Hill, the Eagles organization, and local McDonald’s owner-operators in an effort to provide a “home away from home” for families of seriously ill children. 

According to Elyse N. Brown, Executive Director, RMHC of Norfolk, 71% of stays at the Norfolk House are patients at CHKD. Families seeking to stay at Ronald McDonald House Norfolk are encouraged to get a referral from a doctor or social worker. Family who live beyond a 45-mile radius of Norfolk may stay until their child is discharged from the hospital. Those living closer can stay for 14 days. 

“In 2025, Hampton Roads region 84 McDonald’s owner-operators and their customers raised $221,478, helping families stay close to the care they need when they have a sick child,” said Brown. “This contribution represented 17% of our total budget, with the remainder supported by generous community donors.”

And speaking of donors, on Friday, September 18, Ronald McDonald House of Norfolk will celebrate its 45th anniversary with a fundraising event called Heart & Harmony. Held at the The Main in downtown Norfolk, the event will feature the music of Wonderland, a cocktail reception, dinner buffet, silent auction and other activities.

Earlier this year, Ronald McDonald House Norfolk unveiled the new branding logo designed as a solid red house with a white, oblong shaped heart — think of the term “tugging at the heart.” It comes with a refreshed campaign as well: Family Stays.

These changes are meant to better communicate the mission of the organization.

For local patrons of McDonald’s restaurants, when you “round-up” that $11.19 Big Mac combo to $12 that 81-cents goes directly to Ronald McDonald House Norfolk. 

For those who’d like to help in a more physically present way, individuals and groups can volunteer at Ronald McDonald House Norfolk. This now includes cooking in the kitchen.

“One of our key goals this year is to provide at least one meal per day for the families staying at the House,” said Brown.