Portland’s two Ronald McDonald Houses are open every day and night of the year – providing a “home away from home” for families and their seriously ill children who travel to Portland for medical care.

It takes more than 6,000 individuals and organizations each year to sustain the nearly 1,600 families who stay with us for days, weeks, and even months.

There is still time to make a gift before the year-end. Our office will be open until 5 pm on Friday, December 30, and you can always submit your donation online right up until the clock strikes midnight on New Year’s Eve.

Click here to donate to Ronald McDonald House Charities.

If you have already made a gift, thank you for your generous support!

The Wizard of Oz continues at the Portland Center for the Performing Arts through this Sunday! If you buy tickets to the matinee performances on Saturday at 2 pm or Sunday at 4 pm, you can upgrade your ticket for an additional $5 to meet the memorable characters in person after the show. All the proceeds from this meet-and-greet opportunity benefit Ronald McDonald House Charities. Say hello to Dorothy, the Tin Man, Scarecrow, and The Cowardly Lion!

Remaining Performances:

December 28, 7:30 pm
December 29, 7:30 pm
December 30, 7:30 pm
December 31, 2:00 pm
January 1, 4:00 pm

Click here to buy tickets.

Tom with daughter Kate and grandson Ryker

I love walking—especially when I’m not bound by time or purpose.  My girlfriend’s dog is a great excuse for such aimless roaming. He needs the exercise and she enjoys having the two of us out of her hair periodically.

I marvel at Darby’s innate curiosity and attention to detail. He stops and goes and stops again, wagging and smelling away. Just doing his business (in more ways than one)—as I alternate between amusement and my own rambling thoughts.

I recall my daughter Kate, as a seven-year-old, walking out the door one December afternoon more than two decades ago. “Where are you headed?” I asked.

“Just wondering around,” she replied, casually. Funny how long it’s taken me to indulge that pleasure…

Last week, Kate returned for a visit with her husband, Will, and nearly three-month-old son, Ryker—my first grandchild. Just holding Ryker fills me with wonder. And I understand (perhaps for the first time) the idea of “Christmas”—how an infant can change the fate of a world…

Also last week, I met Heidi—a mother whose 17-year-old daughter has been hospitalized for six months. The doctors tell her to expect another six months—at least. But Heidi hopes for a faster recovery. “A miracle,” she says.

The season is conducive to wonder and hope. Miracles are a product of both.

For Heidi and her daughter, I wish that miracle. For you and me, a new year in which every day is full of wonder and hope.

Tom Soma, Executive Director

Santa made an early visit to the Ronald McDonald House last night – bringing gifts and good wishes to all the children at the house. Each child got to sit on Santa’s lap, and tell the big man in red what they were hoping for this Christmas. Santa had a big bag of toys, and his assistants helped him select just the right present for each child. We appreciate him taking time out of his busy schedule at this time of year to visit the house!

Employees with Marquis Companies visited the Ronald McDonald House this week to deliver holiday gifts for families. The gifts were collected by staff and residents at Marquis assisted living homes across Portland. Thank you to everyone who took part!

Register yourself for a three course, movie inspired, meal at Le Cordon Bleu’s Technique Restaurant – 600 SW 10th Avenue – and then walk down to Living Room Theaters – 341 SW 10th Avenue –to watch the movie which inspired the dinner.

$30 per person
Or save $10 per person if you purchase the whole series for $80!

Click here to buy tickets online!

Featured Movies

Big Night – Wednesday, January 18th – 6:00 p.m.
A failing Italian restaurant run by two brothers gambles on one special night to try to save the business.

Babette’s Feast – Wednesday, March 21st – 6:00 p.m.
Babette prepares the feast of a lifetime for the members of the tiny church in Denmark.

Eat Pray Love – Wednesday, May 15th – 6:00 p.m.
After divorce a woman discovers the true pleasure of nourishment by eating in Italy; the power of prayer in India, and, finally and unexpectedly, the inner peace and balance of true love in Bali.

Spring Break Lunch and a Movie for Kids!
Kids (of all ages) will love the chance to enjoy a lunch out followed by a Disney classic – Ratatouille.
Ratatouille – Tuesday, March 27th – Noon
Remy, a young French rat, makes an unusual alliance with a restaurant’s new garbage boy,
beginning culinary and personal adventures for the duo.
$15 per child and $20 per adult

All proceeds benefit Ronald McDonald Charities of Oregon and Southwest Washington.

Students at Le Cordon Bleu College of Culinary Arts raised $728 through selling pumpkin and apple pies for the Ronald McDonald House this Thanksgiving. James and Gordon, Student Ambassadors who helped make the pies, visited the Ronald McDonald House to deliver the check and to tour the house. Thanks to everyone who put in their orders to support RMHC!

Well-known local blogger Jack Bogdanski is donating $1 for every visit to his website today. Ronald McDonald House Charities is one of several organizations that will benefit. We encourage you to visit today. All you need to do is click on the link below to be counted as a site visitor. Help us spread the word by sharing with your friends. 5,000 visits = $5,000.

Click here to visit Jack Bog’s blog.

The wishbone from my Thanksgiving turkey remains on the window sill above my kitchen sink. I’m saving it for my youngest daughter—despite the fact that she’s 25!

Isn’t it interesting how we reserve our fondest wishes for our children? I see that every day at the Ronald McDonald Houses. But instead of good grades or admission to a select college, the parents here yearn for just one thing: the return of their child’s health.

Fortunately, that wish does come true most of the time. And once a child is on the path to healing, parents and children alike find themselves on the receiving end of several unspoken wishes—especially at year end, when the community goes out of its way to help make the holidays happy.

This year, we launched a new “Holiday Store” at both Houses. Upon arrival, every family is given vouchers to redeem for gifts at the store. The gifts have been donated by friends and sorted into categories for kids of all ages. So we’re spreading considerable holiday joy to everyone here during December.

It’s been fun to watch the reaction of “shoppers.” I was especially touched by a family from the coast, whose medical challenges have taken them to Ronald McDonald Houses in two states. Witnessing the simultaneous delight and gratitude of both a 40-year-old father and his 10-year-old daughter, I was reminded of just how little it takes to make us happy.

I suppose there’s another reason I’ve left that wishbone untouched. These days, I’m content to leave the wishing to others—and thankful for the opportunity to see so many wishes (both spoken and unspoken) fulfilled here every day.

Happy Holidays!

Tom Soma, Executive Director

PS. If you’d like to help fulfill an organizational wish (specifically, free money!), there’s a special opportunity tomorrow (Tuesday, December 20). Just click on Jack Bogdanski’s blog http://bojack.org/ and RMHC will receive a slice of a potential $5,250 pie. Jack, a widely followed local blogger, has been conducting his annual “Buck-A-Hit Day” day (supporting six charities) for many years. Last year, RMHC was the big winner, with a donation of more than $700! With your help, we can top that this year!

House guests visiting the Ronald McDonald House during the holidays have had a special experience this year in our Holiday Stores. Both of Portland’s Ronald McDonald Houses have opened temporary stores with a wide variety of gifts for all age groups. When guest families check into the house, each person is given vouchers to select free gifts out of the stores. The gifts are provided by donations from the community, and help families celebrate the holiday season, even when their child is sick and money may be tight. The stores guarantee that every guest goes home with presents from the Ronald McDonald House this December, regardless of when during the holidays they happen to stay at the Houses.

Click here to find out more about our holiday gift program.

Nike employees helped set up the East House Holiday Store