Key Elements
- RMHOC’s Together campaign has raised $2 million over goal.
- The campaign has enabled RMHOC to begin construction on the expansion and renovation, with the new and improved House slated to open in early 2024.
- The newly constructed RMHOC will be double the size of the original house, with 24 additional rooms to serve families.
How We Helped
The expansion of the Orange County Ronald McDonald House is a vital step toward ensuring that families with seriously ill children receive the critical support they need during treatment and recovery. This growth in capacity means that more families will have access to a home away from home, where they can find comfort, companionship, and resources in their challenging journey. With additional space and resources, the Orange County Ronald McDonald House can accommodate more families, offer a wider range of services, and foster a stronger sense of community, ultimately making a significant difference in the lives of these families as they navigate the difficult path of caring for their children during illness and recovery.
Noel bucelis, executive director, ronald mcdonald house orange county
THE CHALLENGE
Ronald McDonald House Orange County (RMHOC) has served families in Southern California for 30+ years. Realizing the need for more space to accommodate the growing number of families with critically ill children, RMHOC decided to embark on a historic expansion. CCS conducted a feasibility study at the end of 2017 to determine the size, scope, and dynamics of a major capital campaign. The campaign began in 2018 and became public in 2019. CCS provided fundraising guidance for two years through the early stages of the COVID-19 pandemic and the official groundbreaking in 2022.
THE SOLUTION
The Together campaign goal required significant giving at levels RMHOC had not seen since the founding of the House 30 years ago. CCS consultants formed a special partnership with RMHOC’s Executive Director and the Together campaign co-chairs through our feasibility study and campaign management services. By the end of our engagement, RMHOC had secured a lead 7-figure gift and could continue to run the last of the public phase of the campaign independently.
Together‘s original goal was $12 million; to date, more than $14 million has been raised toward a new goal of $15.5 million.
THE impact
RMHOC serves families with children being cared for at any Orange County hospital, including Children’s Hospital of Orange County (CHOC) and Providence Mission Hospital in Mission Viejo. With the growth of Orange County and the hospitals, more families were being placed on a waiting list to stay at the House. RMHOC doubled the size of the House, from 20 rooms to 44 rooms with added amenities, to accommodate these families and provide comfort and care during their child’s stay at the hospital.
Together has been a monumental success, with the campaign well past its original goal and on target to meet the increased $15.5 million goal. The construction is underway, and the House is due to open in early 2024. The new, larger House is just around the corner from CHOC and prominently displays the RMH mission to the community.
Featured Team Member
Ronald McDonald House of Orange County provides care and comfort to families during the most challenging time—when a child is sick or injured. All families deserve the warmth and consideration of the House. This expansion ensures that families can focus on the treatment or recovery of their child, alleviating the mental load of the every day necessities.
lindsay freyermuth, senior vice president, CCS Fundraising
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