{"id":295130,"date":"2026-09-27T17:22:26","date_gmt":"2026-09-27T17:22:26","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/295130\/"},"modified":"2026-09-27T17:22:26","modified_gmt":"2026-09-27T17:22:26","slug":"the-ronald-mcdonald-house-started-in-philly-thanks-to-the-eagles-chop-and-the-shamrock-shake","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/295130\/","title":{"rendered":"The Ronald McDonald House started in Philly, thanks to the Eagles, CHOP and the Shamrock Shake"},"content":{"rendered":"

Love Philly? So do we. Let\u2019s be friends. Sign up for the Billy Penn newsletter today<\/a>.<\/p>\n

What do the Children\u2019s Hospital of Philadelphia, the Eagles and McDonald\u2019s Shamrock Shake have in common?<\/p>\n

They helped to create the original Ronald McDonald House<\/a> in 1974, the first in the world.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cPhiladelphia is the \u2018City of Brotherly Love and Sisterly Affection,\u2019 and our mission at the Ronald McDonald House is to help families on their children\u2019s medical journey with a community of comfort and hope,\u201d said Laura van Tassell, director of development for Ronald McDonald House Philadelphia. \u201cThat feels so connected in my mind. That comfort and hope and care that we can provide, that\u2019s what family does.\u201d<\/p>\n

This Philly-born achievement is one of four being celebrated this month in the Philadelphia Historic District\u2019s \u201c52 Weeks of Firsts,\u201d<\/a> with a \u201cFirstival\u201d this Saturday in the front gardens and playground of the Ronald McDonald House in West Philly (3925 Chestnut St.).<\/p>\n

\"\"The current Ronald McDonald House in West Philly that now sits on Chestnut Street. Credit: McDonalds<\/p>\n

The Firstival runs from 11 a.m till 1 p.m. and will include an account of the Ronald McDonald House creation by one of the Historic Philly\u2019s Once Upon a Nation<\/a> storytellers, as well as some current guest families speaking about its current impact. There will also be the week\u2019s numeral 1 statue<\/a> on display, painted by local artist Alana Sxmone.<\/p>\n

\"\"No. 1 statue for the First Ronald McDonald House, painted by artist Alana Sxmone. (Colibr\u00ed Workshop\/Courtesy of Philadelphia Historic District)\"\"No. 1 statue for the First Ronald McDonald House, painted by artist Alana Sxmone. (Colibr\u00ed Workshop\/Courtesy of Philadelphia Historic District)\"\"No. 1 statue for the First Ronald McDonald House, painted by artist Alana Sxmone. (Colibr\u00ed Workshop\/Courtesy of Philadelphia Historic District)\"\"No. 1 statue for the First Ronald McDonald House, painted by artist Alana Sxmone. (Colibr\u00ed Workshop\/Courtesy of Philadelphia Historic District)<\/p>\n

The nonprofit program offers families a place to stay near the hospital where their children are receiving treatment, providing a base for family-centered care<\/a> that CHOP pediatric oncologist Dr. Audrey Evans<\/a> had envisioned.\u00a0\u00a0\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cShe really believed that a family with a sick child was a sick family \u2026 that you can\u2019t just treat a diagnosis. You have to think of the patient and their whole family and their community and that will help in clinical outcomes,\u201d Van Tassell said.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Evans met Eagles general manager Jim Murray<\/a> in 1974. He and the team were raising funds to help treat Birds tight end Fred Hill\u2019s<\/a> daughter Kim, who was diagnosed with acute lymphatic leukemia<\/a> five years earlier.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"\"Fred and Kim Hill (Courtesy of McDonald\u2019s) Credit: McDonalds<\/p>\n

After receiving a check for $125,000 to renovate the old CHOP location at 8th and Bainbridge, Evans convinced Murray<\/a> and then-Eagles owner Leonard Tose to raise funds for a house where families could stay while their child was in hospital.<\/p>\n

To help raise the money, Murray enlisted his local ad agency buddy Don Tuckerman to get McDonald\u2019s on board. The fast food chain promised to donate the proceeds of their upcoming promotional menu item around St. Patrick\u2019s Day, an obscure vanilla milkshake with green food coloring that had only been invented in 1970 (it was initially a lemon lime sherbert, and the minty flavor wasn\u2019t added until 1983).<\/p>\n

\u201cJimmy always said, \u2018Green like money, green like our Eagles.\u2019 It was destiny,\u201d said Van Tassell.<\/p>\n

In return for the Shamrock Shake<\/a> proceeds the house would be named by McDonald\u2019s.\u00a0<\/p>\n

On Oct.15, 1974, in Philadelphia, Murray and Evans opened the first Ronald McDonald House near 40th and Spruce streets.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\"\"Philadelphia Eagles Jim Murray (left) and Dr. Audrey Evans at the opening of the first Ronald McDonald House. (Archive photo)<\/p>\n

Today, there are over 390 houses and 280 family room programs<\/a> in over 60 countries around the world. Philly has two<\/a>: the Chestnut Street House near CHOP and the Front & Erie House in North Philadelphia, close by St. Christopher\u2019s Hospital for Children and Shriners Children\u2019s Hospital.<\/p>\n

\u201cMore than 1,500 families every year stay at our Ronald McDonald House here in Philadelphia and so many of those families would not be able to have the care that they receive if it were not for the Ronald McDonald House,\u201d Van Tassell said. \u201cHotels can be extremely expensive. We know just the cost of living in general continues to rise. And that doesn\u2019t go away when you have a child who needs medical care.\u201d<\/p>\n

Below is more info on all of this year\u2019s Firstivals \u2013 including where you can find this upcoming Saturday\u2019s Firstival dates and location.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Completed<\/p>\n

Week 1: \u00a0Successful balloon flight in America (1793)<\/a><\/p>\n

Week 2: The Mummers parade, the nation\u2019s first folk parade (1901)<\/a><\/p>\n

Week 3: Volunteer fire company (1736)<\/a><\/p>\n

Week 4: Professional basketball league (1898)<\/a><\/p>\n

Week 5: Public Girl Scout cookie sale (1932)<\/a><\/p>\n

Week 6: African Methodist Episcopal congregation (1794)<\/a><\/p>\n

Week 7: Abolitionist society in America<\/a> (1775)<\/p>\n

Week 8: Authentic Chinese gate built in America<\/a> (1984)<\/p>\n

Week 9: Public protest against slavery in America<\/a> (1688)<\/p>\n

Week 10: Flower Show<\/a> (1829)<\/p>\n

Week 11: Women\u2019s medical college<\/a> (1850)<\/p>\n

Week 12: Matchbook<\/a> (1892)<\/p>\n

Week 13: Medical school<\/a> (1765)<\/p>\n

Week 14: Stadium<\/a> (1895)<\/p>\n

Week 15: Circus performance<\/a> (1793)\u00a0<\/p>\n

Week 16: Botanical garden<\/a> (1728)<\/p>\n

Week 17: Postmaster<\/a> (1737)<\/p>\n

Week 18: American-made piano and sousaphone<\/a> (1775 and 1893)\u00a0<\/p>\n

Week 19: Mother\u2019s Day<\/a> (1908)\u00a0<\/p>\n

Week 20: Hospital in America<\/a> (1751)<\/p>\n

Week 21: World\u2019s Fair on American soil<\/a> (1876)\u00a0<\/p>\n

Week 22: Steamboat for passengers and freight<\/a> (1787)<\/p>\n

Week 23: American flag<\/a> (1777)<\/p>\n

Week 24: U.S. Army<\/a> (1775)<\/p>\n

Week 25: Annual Reminder demonstration<\/a> (1965)
Week 26: Paper maker in America<\/a> (1690)<\/p>\n

Week 27: Bank of the United States<\/a> (1791)
Week 28: Organized baseball team<\/a> (1831)<\/p>\n

Week 29: Ice cream soda<\/a> (Oct. 1874)\u00a0<\/p>\n

Week 30: American art school<\/a> (1805)\u00a0<\/p>\n

Week 31: Scientific Society of Natural History<\/a> (1812)<\/p>\n

Week 31: Zoo in America<\/a> (1874)<\/p>\n

Week 32: U.S. Mint<\/a> (1793)\u00a0<\/p>\n

Week 33: Selfie<\/a> (1839)<\/p>\n

Week 34: Slinky<\/a> (1943)\u00a0<\/p>\n

Week 35: Signing of the Constitution<\/a> (1787)\u00a0<\/p>\n

Week 36: Continental Congress<\/a> (1774)\u00a0<\/p>\n

Week 37: Naming of the United States<\/a> (1776)<\/p>\n

Upcoming<\/p>\n

\u2022 Ronald McDonald House (1974)
Sept. 26, Ronald McDonald House, 3925 Chestnut St.<\/p>\n

\u2022 Penitentiary in America (1829)
Oct. 3, Eastern State Penitentiary, 2027 Fairmount Ave.<\/p>\n

\u2022 The First Peoples
Oct. 10, Penn Museum, 3260 South St.<\/p>\n

\u2022 U.S. Navy and Marine Corps (1775)
Oct. 17, Arch Street Meeting House, 320 Arch St.<\/p>\n

\u2022 Public showing of a motion picture (1870)
Oct. 24, Philadelphia Film Society, 1412 Chestnut St.<\/p>\n

\u2022 Modern detective story written (1841)
Oct. 31, Edgar Allan Poe House, 532 N. 7th St.<\/p>\n

\u2022 Thanksgiving Day parade in America (1920)
Nov. 7, Weitzman National Museum of American Jewish History, 101 S. Independence Mall East\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u2022 University in America (1740)
Nov. 14, Houston Hall, The University of Pennsylvania, 3417 Spruce St.<\/p>\n

\u2022 Children\u2019s hospital in America (1855)
Nov. 21, Children\u2019s Hospital of Philadelphia, Main Building, 3401 Civic Center Blvd.<\/p>\n

\u2022 Pencil with an attached eraser (1858)
Nov. 28, National Liberty Museum, 321 Chestnut St.<\/p>\n

\u2022 Weather bureau (1870)
Dec. 5, The Franklin Institute, 222 N. 20th St.<\/p>\n

\u2022 Electronic computer (1945)
Dec. 12, The University of Pennsylvania, 3451 Walnut St.<\/p>\n

\u2022 Public lending library in America (1731)
Dec. 19, The Library Company of Philadelphia, 1314 Locust St.<\/p>\n

\u2022 Philly food firsts: Cheesesteaks (1930s), water ice (1932) and bubble gum (1928)
Dec. 26, Reading Terminal Market, 1136 Arch St.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"Love Philly? So do we. Let\u2019s be friends. Sign up for the Billy Penn newsletter today. What do…\n","protected":false},"author":2,"featured_media":295131,"comment_status":"","ping_status":"","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[8],"tags":[44064,4000,122095,6981,36313,4064,44066,70758,94,69,71,48264,70,72281,122096,726],"class_list":["post-295130","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","category-philadelphia","tag-52-weeks-of-firsts","tag-america-250","tag-charities-and-nonprofits","tag-childrens-hospital-of-philadelphia","tag-chop","tag-eagles","tag-firstival","tag-firstivals","tag-history","tag-philadelphia","tag-philadelphia-headlines","tag-philadelphia-historic-district","tag-philadelphia-news","tag-ronald-mcdonald-house","tag-shamrock-shake","tag-sports"],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/295130","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=295130"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/295130\/revisions"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/295131"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=295130"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=295130"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-pa\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=295130"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}