What was the name of McDonald's charity house program, whose first house opened in Philadelphia in 1974?

The charity house program whose first house opened in Philadelphia in 1974 was called Ronald McDonald House.

The first Ronald McDonald House opened near Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. It provided families of seriously ill children with a place to stay close to medical care, addressing a practical need that hospitals and families had struggled to meet.

The program grew from cooperation among Philadelphia Eagles players, hospital staff, volunteers, and McDonald’s. The restaurant chain supported fundraising and promotion, connecting the Ronald McDonald character with a family-focused charitable identity.

Ronald McDonald House Charities later expanded the model internationally and added other forms of family support. The houses are charitable accommodations, not McDonald’s restaurants or locations within McDonaldland, although the Ronald McDonald name connects them to the company’s branding.