What was the first Ronald McDonald House, opened in Philadelphia in 1974, named after?

The first Ronald McDonald House, opened in Philadelphia in 1974, was named after Ronald McDonald.

Ronald McDonald was McDonald's clown character and the public face chosen for the charitable housing project. The first house provided a place for families to stay while their children received treatment at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia.

The project grew from a fundraising campaign involving Philadelphia Eagles personnel, including player Fred Hill, whose daughter was being treated for leukemia. McDonald's restaurants and supporters helped turn the campaign into a permanent family-support service.

Fred Hill is an important part of the origin story, but he was not the namesake. The house was named for the fictional McDonald's character, and the wider organization later became Ronald McDonald House Charities. Its work centers on family support, not on advertising a specific menu item.