Fundația pentru Copii Ronald McDonald announces its transition to a new visual identity and a new name: Casa Ronald McDonald România, reaffirming its mission to provide essential services to families during their most difficult moments, when their children require medical care.
Bucharest, May 8, 2026: Nearly 60% of family members caring for children hospitalized in Romania (mostly mothers) report clinically significant symptoms of depression, while 50% struggle with anxiety, according to the Learning from Families study conducted by the University of California, San Francisco for Ronald McDonald House Global across 14 countries, including Romania. Study participants were beneficiaries of Ronald McDonald House Programs, and the research was conducted between April 15, 2025, and January 2026. The study aims to identify the needs of families staying in the Houses during their child's hospitalization, as well as the difficulties they face upon returning home.
Results for Romania show that the medical journey is made harder by severe economic and emotional barriers:
“For nearly three decades, through the Ronald McDonald Houses we have been transforming hospitalization from an isolated, traumatic experience into one where parents feel supported, connected, and cared for. The results of the “Learning from Families” study confirm that our intervention - from accommodation and daily hot meals to psychological counseling, to support from our team - is essential in relieving families of the overwhelming financial and emotional burden. In the past three years, families have been spared of accommodation, meal, and transportation expenses that would have exceeded 2,5 million euros. The impact of the services offered by the foundation translates into normality and dignity during a crisis, reducing the financial strain on the 50% of parents who cannot afford a hot meal or the 40% who rely on minimum guaranteed income,” said Amalia Năstase, President of Casa Ronald McDonald România.
“The families’ responses help us better understand what they need and how we can support them even more. This allows us to continue expanding our services, adapt constantly, and extend our ability to help as many families as possible, in the most efficient way,” added Andreea Cioban, Executive Director.
A new visual identity
Fundația pentru Copii Ronald McDonald announces the transition to a new visual identity and a new name, Casa Ronald McDonald România, reaffirming its mission to provide essential services to families in their most difficult moments, when their children require medical care, thus supporting the healing process.
28 years of service to families. The longest recorded stay was one year and ten months.
Over more than 28 years of activity, the charity has built and continuously operated the three Ronald McDonald Houses - Bucharest (since 2003), Timișoara (since 2008), and Iași (since 2022) - providing more than 138,800 overnight stays to over 15,000 families from more than 35 counties across the country. More than 27,500 parents and children have been able to stay together, ensuring children’s access to medical services, as many families arrive with children who remain hospitalized for weeks, months, or even years. The longest recorded stay so far has been one year and ten months at Ronald McDonald House Timișoara, followed by one year and eight months at the Bucharest House.
Since its founding, Casa Ronald McDonald România has developed and implemented sustainable community support programs worth more than 13 million euros.
Expanding the services offered in Ronald McDonald Houses
In the past three years, the foundation has promoted a niche service in Romania that carries no cost for families of hospitalized children. Moreover, it has expanded its services to directly address needs identified through local and international studies. In addition to accommodation throughout the child’s hospitalization in rooms with private bathrooms, families also benefit from:
About the „ Worried sick” campaign
When a child receives a serious diagnosis, the parents receive one as well: “worried sick.” This is the reality for thousands of parents who walk through the doors of children’s hospitals in Romania.
The campaign launched today highlights, through an emotional video (https://youtu.be/6NdafKv0FFY), the harsh reality faced by families of seriously ill children. Studies conducted by Ronald McDonald House Global, an organization that in 52 years has expanded to over 60 countries and territories, show that, in the short term, families face stress, suffering, and difficulty meeting basic needs. From the moment of diagnosis, the child’s illness becomes a burden shared by the entire family, and the parents’ universe narrows to the time spent in the hospital or in the Ronald McDonald House. The video captures precisely these moments of exhausting waiting and the vital role the Houses play in offering a fragile yet essential balance.
A new way to support
Together with the new identity, Casa Ronald McDonald România introduces a new way for the public to support these families: a 5 EURO monthly recurring donation via SMS by sending FAMILIE to 8835*.
This direct contribution helps maintain free services for parents, 70% of whom say they could not afford any other form of accommodation during their child’s hospitalization. Each year, 1,200 families can benefit from the services provided in Ronald McDonald Houses. More ways to get involved are available on the new website:
According to Government Decision 767/2018, the foundation holds public utility status.
*The donation value is 5 Euro/month. The amount allocated to the cause is 5 Euro. No VAT is charged for donations made from monthly subscriptions. In the Digi Mobil, Orange, and Telekom Romania Mobile networks, for prepaid cards, VAT is withheld upon credit purchase. For donations made from prepaid cards in the Vodafone network, users do not pay VAT.
Campaign carried out with the support of Digi Mobil, Orange Romania, Telekom Romania, and Vodafone Romania.
About Casa Ronald McDonald România (Ronald McDonald House Romania)
Casa Ronald McDonald România is a foundation that, for more than 28 years, has supported families during their most difficult moments, when their children need long-term medical care, thus supporting the healing process.
Through the three Ronald McDonald Houses in Bucharest, Timișoara, and Iași, we offer a niche and innovative service in Romania, through which families receive accommodation, hot meals, essential care packages, and access to an integrated support system throughout their child’s hospitalization—at no cost to them.
More details about the foundation’s work and the ways you can get involved are available at www.casaronaldmcdonald.ro.
