Ronald McDonald House Charities¬ of Greater Washington, DC (RMHC DC) eases the hardship of childrenÍs illness on families through programs that directly improve the health and wellbeing of children. RMHC DC is the catalyst to create a world where children have access to quality health care and their families are able to better comfort and support them while actively participating in their care. Our cornerstone program, Ronald McDonald House, provides provides a home that allows families to access specialized medical treatment at little or no cost. Our Ronald McDonald Houses are built on the simple idea that nothing else should matter when a family is focused on healing their child _ not where they can afford to stay, where they will get their next meal, or where they will lay their head at night to rest. The Ronald McDonald House of Washington, DC opened in 1980 and the Ronald McDonald House of Northern Virginia opened in 1998. Since 1980 weÍve been a home for more than 191,000 nights for families of seriously ill children being treated at DC area hospitals. The concept is a simple one _ provide a home-like environment where families can find comfort, necessities and respite during a time of great stress. Our Ronald McDonald Houses allow parents to care for a sick child and healthy siblings in a place where they can share and draw strength from others experiencing similar circumstances. In keeping with our mission to improve the lives of children, we expanded our programs to include the KIDS Mobile Medical Clinic/Ronald McDonald Care Mobile, in partnership with MedStar Georgetown University Hospital, that provides free health care to thousands of kids each year; the Ronald McDonald Family Room at ChildrenÍs National Medical Center in Washington DC, and the Ronald McDonald Family Room at Inova Children's Hospital in Fairfax, VA.