Ronald McDonald House Charities of Richmond launches transformative capital campaign
The Ronald McDonald House in Richmond was only the 16th of its kind in the world when it was established in 1980. It has now been serving families for 46 years. With their new capital campaign, they're hoping to serve families for many years to come.
Emily Toalson, the CEO of Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) of Richmond, put it this way:
“Building a new House is a once in a lifetime opportunity for this community.”
The first “House” took shape on Monument Avenue, with the mission of providing a “home-away-from-home” for families with children receiving care at hospitals throughout the Richmond region.
Decades later, RMHC Richmond continues to offer this essential resource. In 2025 alone, they provided over 700 families with reliable shelter, for an annual average stay of 7 days. They also provided 30,481 meals to families, transportation to and from the hospital, laundry services, and much more, all at no charge. Additionally, they have a presence at several area hospitals like Bon Secours St Mary’s Hospital and HCA Johnston-Willis.
Now, Toalson explained that needs have far outpaced their space.
“When we started, we were just the House on Monument Avenue,” Toalson said. “But today, we need between 55 and 62 new rooms to meet the growing need. So this capital campaign to build a new RMHC Richmond space is really about addressing demand.”
Richmond’s growth as a hub for high-quality pediatric medical care has also meant that more families require services. And with the arrival of the Children’s Hospital of Richmond at VCU downtown and expansions of pediatric medical services by partner hospitals, RMHC Richmond understands they have to expand.
Their solution? A capital campaign to fund a larger, state-of-the-art facility that will be able to keep pace with the influx of families and increase the services RMHC Richmond provides.
“We want to be innovative in our design to fully accommodate a range of family needs,” Toalson said.
The planned space certainly lives up to those goals.
Picture a 52,000 square foot space located in historic Jackson Ward. This site will place families within a mile of the children’s hospital and near the interstate to make transportation as convenient as possible.
It will feature immunocompromised suites for oncology and transplant families, fully ADA compliant facilities, improved accessibility, a larger dining area, and two kitchens, one of which families can use to cook meals.
“This can provide that moment of togetherness for families sitting around a table,” Toalson said. “They are here with us and they’re celebrating birthdays, anniversaries, and other occasions, and this space will help make that togetherness possible.”
The House will also provide more space for meal prep, family and teen lounges, a community space, access to green spaces for outdoor recreation and reflection, and ample parking.
With such an ambitious plan, what has been the response?
“It's been very positive,” Toalson smiled. “We’re a little over halfway to our goal, and our aim is to break ground by the end of the year. We have a city and a community that's fully supportive, I think, in part, because of the long-standing history we have here and the impact everyone wants to have on children’s healthcare.”
That history and impact has certainly inspired many donors who have funds with the Community Foundation. Since the capital campaign launched at the end of March, many Community Foundation fundholders have supported RMHC Richmond. One is John Kemper, who served on the Community Foundation’s Board and has been involved with RMHC Richmond since 2014.
“My interest in this small but mighty organization grew fast and deep when I became involved in their journey to build a new facility,” Kemper said. “They offer families a place to stay, to have meals, and many other amenities to create a home away from home. This provides these families the stability they need to face challenges. As a donor and volunteer, this new facility will have an incredible and positive impact on the Greater Richmond and Central Virginia community.”
Ultimately, this project comes down to a shared commitment to serving children, supporting families, addressing unmet needs, and being a supportive neighbor in the Jackson Ward community.
“If we're taking care of our children, we're taking care of the next generation,” Toalson said. “We’re taking care of the community. I also see it as an economic driver in Jackson Ward, as a way to align our goals with our hospital partners, and as a way to support Richmond as a nationally-recognized location for pediatric care.”
With 46 years of service and now with a bold, forward-thinking plan to ensure continued success well into the future, Toalson spoke directly to why RMHC Richmond is a critical part of the community.
A family that can remain together is better able to support their child,” she said. “It leads to better health outcomes, which creates a healthier community and brings people together. That, above all else, is our legacy of care.”
If you would like to learn more about this project, you can visit the capital campaign website here.
