The first Ronald McDonald House opened in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, in 1974, through an unlikely partnership between the Philadelphia Eagles, the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia, and local Philadelphia McDonald’s Franchisees.

The seeds of the partnership were planted when Kim Hill, the 3-year-old daughter of Philadelphia Eagles tight end Fred Hill, was diagnosed with leukemia. Hill and his wife camped out on the hospital chairs and benches, ate food from vending machines and did all they could to keep Kim from seeing their sadness, exhaustion, and frustration.

Through the Philadelphia Eagles’ General Manager, Jim Murray, the team offered its support to Dr. Audrey Evans, head of the Pediatric Oncology Unit at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. It was Dr. Evans’ dream of a house that could serve as a temporary residence for families of children being treated at her hospital that led to the first Ronald McDonald House. Murray became a champion of Dr. Evans’ cause and approached McDonald’s to support the project. Famously, all proceeds from the local Philadelphia Shamrock Shake!