Our History
1974: The first Ronald McDonald House opens in Philadelphia! Fred Hill, a Philadelphia Eagles football player whose daughter was diagnosed with leukemia and was being treated at the children’s hospital there. Hill, his wife Fran, and pediatric oncologist Dr. Audrey Evans, noticed there were insufficient accommodations for families who had to travel to Philadelphia for their children’s healthcare needs. They enlisted the Eagles organization and local McDonald’s Owners/Operators to raise the funds to open the first Ronald McDonald House.
1990: The Ronald McDonald House Charities of Corpus Christi opens its doors on February 10th with enough room to accommodate 16 families. Ronald McDonald House Charities of Corpus Christi is the only House in the country entirely funded by community efforts.
2001: An expansion of our House occurs to allow 25 families to find comfort, care, and a place to stay close when it matters most.
2003: The first Casa de Amor gala, showcasing Ted Kennedy, Jr., takes place as a premier fundraising event for Ronald McDonald House Charities of Corpus Christi. Casa de Amor continued to feature celebrity speakers such as Tony Parker, Regis Philbin, Jeff Bagwell and many others over the years.
2005: Grunts Cantina in Sandia, TX holds its first annual Pachanga for the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Corpus Christi. The all-day event was filled with motorcycle ride, a BBQ cook-off and a one-of-a-kind live auction. Grunts Pachanga is our longest running third-party fundraiser!
2007: Sophia, our first House dog, arrives. She is a small dog with a big responsibility of bringing a sense of home to our families.
2014: The first Men Who Cook takes place in the spring and quickly becomes a very popular event in Corpus Christi. Teams of men from all over the Coastal Bend compete to see who can prepare the best dish and who can raise the most money for our House. Men Who Cook continues to be the signature fundraising event for our House
2015: A campaign to refresh all 25 rooms kicks off this year. Each room receives a fresh paint job, a new headboard, dresser and décor. Rooms are sponsored by individuals, families and organizations who come together to provide a more comfortable, home-like atmosphere.
2018: This year we added a new member to the family. The House was gifted a yellow lab puppy by Gloria Hicks of Hicks Family Automotive Group! Duke became our Chief Cheer Officer and he brings joy, comfort and a little feeling of home to our families and staff.
2019: This summer starts off in the sweetest way! A giant ice cream cone is given to the our House by the family of the late Jennifer Hawn. The cone adorned Hawn’s yard for 20 years and when she passed away; her family wanted the cone to live on in a place for children to enjoy.
2020: We celebrate our 30th anniversary! Because of generous community support, we have been able to provide important amenities and programs to families who are facing some of their toughest challenges.
2021: Love grows here! RMHC of Corpus Christi and RMHC of the Rio Grande Valley unite under the new name, Ronald McDonald House Charities South Texas, expanding our reach through our Ronald McDonald House in Corpus Christi and Family Room programs in Harlingen and Edinburg to serve more families across South Texas.
2025: Taking love on the road with the Ronald McDonald Care Mobile. In partnership with Su Clinica, we launched the Ronald McDonald Care Mobile to bring preventive dental care, health education, and referrals directly to children and families facing barriers to healthcare in Cameron and Willacy Counties.
2026: We broke ground on a new Ronald McDonald House in Corpus Christi, marking a major milestone in an expansion that will nearly double our capacity to keep more families close to the care they need.
Our Founding Board of Directors – 1990
- Rodney E. Senterfitt
- Linda Prado
- Cathy Crews
- Barry Box
- Lana Andrews
- Paige M. Cooper
- Foster Edwards
- Russell W. Ellis
- Ann Fox
- John J. Fraser M.D.
- Ruth Hildreth
- Michael R. Karm
- Carol Kins
- George Kohler
- Sandra LaBaume
- Reese Lewandowski
- Courtney McLain
- Mary Ellen Miller
- Rebecca Muir-Rodriguez
- Karen O’ Connor
- Jacqueline Park
- Sheila Senterfitt
- Bill Stahl
- Fran Steele
