When children require long-term hospital stays, families often need to relocate temporarily to access the most appropriate care for their child. Ronald McDonald House (RMDH) is a global network of nonprofit residential facilities that embrace these families with free housing and dining accommodations just steps from their child’s medical facility.
Until recently, Cincinnati and Dayton had operated separate RMDH locations for their corresponding children’s hospitals. But when Dayton’s long-time executive director, Rita Cyr, began planning her retirement in early 2025, the two organizations launched talks of a merger rather than finding a replacement for her. Boards met. Focus groups were formed. Financials were assessed. “Many times, you just don’t need two CEOs and two CFOs,” says Jennifer Loeb, CEO of the newly combined organization. “Mergers help to streamline the costs and put more money toward the care of the families, which is where it should be.”
With all signs pointing forward, the merger took effect on January 1. Renamed Ronald McDonald House Southwest Ohio, the joint venture is the largest RMDH in the country based on the number of families served each night.
In 2025, the combined Dayton and Cincinnati houses delivered 66,798 nights of care for 2,820 families. The Cincinnati location across from Children’s Hospital offers 177 private rooms; Dayton offers 42, plus a non-overnight hospitality suite for NICU families at Miami Valley Hospital. Average length of stay is 15 days in Dayton and 34 days in Cincinnati.
Though some adjustments have been made in the transition, Loeb notes operations haven’t changed significantly. “We came into it with the approach of looking for best practices from both locations,” she says. “We wanted to see what we could learn from each other.”
The two boards were combined into one, with eight spots allocated proportionally to Dayton and 22 for Cincinnati. Both locations still offer free hot meal programs for residents—once per day in Dayton, twice per day in Cincinnati via the Taste of Hope program—as well as daily continental breakfasts. Families are provided not just free private lodging, homecooked meals, laundry facilities, and transportation but also indoor and outdoor play areas, activities, and programming, especially for siblings.
“We allow families to have some sense of normalcy and even some joy while things feel so stressful,” Loeb says. Meeting other families in similar situations, she adds, is yet another “magical” part of the RMDH experience.
The nonprofit RMDH relies heavily on volunteer support. Loeb notes that preparing and serving meals through the Taste of Hope program is an excellent team-building activity for businesses wanting to get involved with the organization. “It’s a really meaningful place for people in our community to spend their time,” she says. “Ronald McDonald House is one of those organizations that you never think you’re going to need, but once you do, you’re so glad it’s there.”
[Illustration by Megan McKean]