Keeping our promise to New Zealand
Ronald McDonald House Charities® New Zealand (RMHC® NZ) did not turn away a single eligible family in 2023.
This fulfils a promise that we made to Kiwi families when we first opened our doors 34 years ago – we would always be there to support families if they ever experienced that vulnerable moment where their child became seriously sick or injured.
RMHC NZ is driven by the little moments we sometimes take for granted. It’s about a family having dinner together no matter what’s happening in the background. It’s about a mother kissing her child goodnight to ward away the nightmares. And it’s about ensuring the parents are there when a sick child opens their eyes in the morning.
Impact reports are often all about the numbers – which are important – but these little moments are the ones that our teams see on the frontlines every day. These are the stories we receive in letters from mothers and fathers thanking us for being there to help them.
That’s what drives us to keep pushing on, even as the demands for our service grow exponentially along with the increasing New Zealand population.
The fundamental purpose of RMHC NZ has remained consistent. Three decades ago, we were a ‘home-away-from-home’ for Kiwi families who needed somewhere to stay when their child was hospitalised. That remains at the core of every service that we provide to this day.
Every dollar invested in RMHC NZ is a step toward ensuring that families who need to travel for their child’s hospital care have the guarantee of a ‘home-away-from-home’ when they need it most.