What was the name of the charity founded in 1984 by McDonald's and its franchisees?

Ronald McDonald House Charities was founded in 1984 by McDonald's, its franchisees, and other supporters.

The organization developed from the Ronald McDonald House program, which began in Philadelphia in 1974 to provide accommodation and support for families of seriously ill children receiving hospital treatment. The national charity formalized and expanded that work a decade later.

Its programs have included Ronald McDonald Houses, Ronald McDonald Family Rooms, and other forms of family support near medical facilities. The Ronald McDonald name links the charity to McDonald's branding, but the organization operates as an independent nonprofit network.

A common mix-up is treating the charity's founding date as the date of the first Ronald McDonald House. The first House opened in 1974; Ronald McDonald House Charities was established in 1984.