26 Sep Groundbreaking Media Coverage
The “Hope has a New Home” groundbreaking was a major success, thanks to the support of the community and avid RMHC South Florida champions. We received media coverage from NBC6, Univision, and Telemundo 51, collectively reaching millions of viewers. This momentous occasion was also highlighted by trade publications, including the South Florida Business Journal, Florida Construction News, and South Florida Hospital News. To further amplify the excitement, the ceremony was featured in Negocios Magazine, Miami Community News, and Social Miami. Check out coverage by Univision below:
Located just steps from Holtz Children’s Hospital at Jackson Memorial Medical Campus, the new seven-story, 60,000-square-foot Ronald McDonald House will almost double accommodations. The current House, built in 1982 with 31 rooms, is always full. Last year, 128 families were turned away due to space limitations, with an average wait time of 14 days for a room. For families navigating complex diagnoses like pediatric cancer and organ transplants, a two-week wait for a room can be an unimaginable burden. This expansion will enable RMHC South Florida to serve more than 420 families annually, providing 5,740 nights of comfort and eliminating the waitlist for free pediatric lodging.
When a family receives the heartbreaking news that a child is critically ill or injured, they need a place where they can stay without the added worry of finding lodging. This expansion ensures families endure as little additional stress as possible while they concentrate on what matters most, the health of their child and each other. This House symbolizes our commitment to ensuring that no family has to face their struggles alone.
The ceremony also featured remarks from several key leaders, including Miami-Dade County Mayor Daniella Levine Cava, who emphasized the county’s strong commitment to children’s health. The event featured a special invocation by Archbishop Thomas Wenski of the Archdiocese of Miami, as well as comments from Peter Amaro, a board member of the Maestro Cares Foundation, who expressed his support for families in South Florida.
The new home-away-from-home will feature 54 private guestrooms, each accommodating up to four family members, along with laundry facilities on every floor. It will also offer state-of-the-art kitchen and dining areas, including private family kitchens and a large communal kitchen for enjoying Meals from the Heart. Designed with families in mind, the new House includes strategically placed gathering spaces, a private Contemplation Suite, and a family business center. A large seventh-floor communal space and a rooftop will provide families with an area to gather and enjoy fresh air after long days at the hospital.
We are incredibly proud to continue our partnership with RMHC South Florida, ensuring that our Holtz Children's Hospital patients and their families have the comfort and support they need during some of the most difficult moments of their lives. We’re deeply grateful to our community partners and donors for their unwavering commitment, allowing families to focus on what matters most: healing.