Fondazione per l’Infanzia Ronald McDonald Italia is a nonprofit association, founded in 1974 in the United States and in 1999 in Italy, with the goal of creating, finding and supporting projects that directly contribute to improving the health and well-being of children and their families.

A seriously ill child often has to seek treatment away from his or her city. Ronald Foundation aims to build, purchase or operate Ronald Houses located adjacent to hospital facilities and Family Rooms located directly within pediatric wards to provide hospitality and care for sick children and their families during the period of hospital treatment or therapy. Ronald Foundation keeps the family close when care is far away, because being together improves their well-being. Through its programs-Ronald House and Family Room-it not only provides access to excellent care, but also supports families, allows them to be actively involved in the care of their children and encourages the implementation of the Family Centered Care model of care.

Today there are 4 Houses in Italy: two in Rome, one in Brescia and one in Florence, plus a Family Room within the S. Orsola Hospital in Bologna, one within the Cesare Arrigo Children’s Hospital in Alessandria and one within ASST Grande Ospedale Metropolitano Niguarda in Milan. Since 1999, in the course of its work in Italy, Fondazione has supported more than 48,000 children and families, providing more than 250,000 overnight stays.