"The first Ronald McDonald program opened in 1974 in Philadelphia at the urging of Dr. Audrey Evans, a world-renowned pediatric oncologist at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. As families traveled near and far for Dr. Evans to treat their children with cancer, she realized the crucial need for families to stay close to their sick children and for housing to facilitate that proximity. Dr. Evans was introduced to the Philadelphia Eagles, where one of their beloved players, Fred Hill, had a daughter who was being treated for pediatric leukemia. The National Football League team rallied behind Dr. Evans, the Hill family, and Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia and encouraged the local McDonald’s owner/ operators and regional office to get involved. With this community of support, which remains a hallmark of the program today, the first Ronald McDonald House was built, offering a “home away from home” for families with seriously-ill children in a communal setting in close proximity to the hospital. Today, there are over 365 Ronald McDonald Houses in more than 40 countries and regions around the world. The program cares for a diverse population of families whose children are faced with the full range of pediatric acute and chronic illnesses, including cancer, prematurity, heart conditions, trauma, organ and tissue transplant, and many other serious conditions."