Ronald McDonald House of Durham Doubles in Size to Serve More Families in Need

RALEIGH, N.C. –  In a ribbon cutting celebration on Tuesday, Oct. 2, the Ronald McDonald House of Durham (RMHD)revealed the expansion of its housing facility from 29 to 55 bedrooms, nearly twice its original size. The event marks the culmination of the Growing to Serve More Families Campaign, with the goal of serving a greater number of families who may travel great lengths and whose critically ill children are being treated at Duke Children’s Hospital.

The ribbon cutting featured distinguished guests from Duke University Hospital, key McDonalds and community representatives and N.C. Governor Bev Perdue, as well as members of the RMHD Board of Trustees. Geoffrey Krouse, a partner in Smith Anderson’s Mergers & Acquisitions, Private Equity and Securities & Growth practice areas, is the incoming president of the Board of Trustees for the RMHD.

Mr. Krouse commented, “The ribbon cutting is a celebration of our caring community, supported by Duke University, McDonalds and the Triangle at large. Because of this support, the Ronald McDonald House of Durham can offer many more families a place of hope, comfort and empathy, while allowing them to focus on the health and well-being of their critically ill children.”

The RMHD operates two programs to support families in their time of medical crisis: a housing program for families that must travel long distances for their children to receive treatment, as well as two “Family Rooms”--one at Duke Medical Center in Durham and one at WakeMed Children’s Hospital in Raleigh--to allow families to escape the hospital atmosphere but remain steps from their child’s bedside. Last year alone, the RMHD provided a “home away from home” for over 1,200 families while the Family Rooms served more than 30,000.