How contractors are supporting families through partnership with Ronald McDonald House

By Dani Sheehan. 

See how you can donate time, skills or resources to support an incredible cause. 

Our industry is built on protecting what matters most, and roofing contractors across the country are finding a deeper purpose through their work with Ronald McDonald House. In a recent episode of Contractor Outlook™, Heidi J. Ellsworth sat down with the President and CEO of Ronald McDonald House Global, Katie Fitzgerald, to learn more about the organization's history and its powerful partnership with the Roofing Alliance. 

As Katie explains, Ronald McDonald House was born out of a very real and painful gap in the healthcare system. Families traveling for lifesaving treatment had nowhere to go, and in some cases, were forced to make impossible decisions. That changed in 1974 with the creation of the first Ronald McDonald House: a place where families could stay, free of charge, while their child received care.  

“Our whole mission is to make sure that we’re supporting families so that they can support their children on what is without question the most unimaginable healthcare journey,” Katie emphasizes. Today, that mission spans more than 400 Ronald McDonald House programs in over 60 countries. But these spaces are more than temporary housing. They are fully integrated support systems designed to carry families through the hardest moment of their lives. 

A simple realization, a powerful industry response 

For the roofing industry, involvement began with a straightforward, but deeply human, realization. Katie shares, “When you think about Ronald McDonald House, we have millions of square feet of physical infrastructure. And our houses are these safe havens of comprehensive support for families... I think there was this ‘aha’ moment – all these Houses have roofs. And as nonprofit organizations, we really need support from the broader community.” 

Across the United States, Ronald McDonald House locations require constant upkeep to remain safe, comfortable and fully operational. But for a nonprofit, those costs can quickly pull resources away from the families who need their support the most. That “aha moment,” as Katie describes it, helped spark a partnership with the Roofing Alliance in 2017, in large part thanks to Charles Antis. 

“The idea was to have the Roofing Alliance, its members, come together and make sure that all 165 standalone houses in the United States got support – everything from maintenance to roof replacements,” Katie continues. 

What followed has been nearly a decade of hands-on support and a measurable impact. “There’s been over $3 million of in-kind support... which is obviously saving our nonprofit partners tremendous amounts of money that they can put into their families,” Katie explains. 

From inspections and repairs to reroofing projects, contractors have helped preserve these homes, ensuring they remain safe, reliable havens for families in crisis. 

A model worth building on 

“If you go into a Ronald McDonal House or you get a chance to meet a family, you are hooked... You can’t not want to do more,” Katie shares. Contractors who initially show up for a project often find themselves returning in new ways, driven by the families they meet and the stories they hear. Across the country, roofing professionals are stepping beyond the jobsite to support Houses in ways that reflect the heart of the industry: 

• Preparing and serving meals for families 
• Hosting fundraising events like golf tournaments 
• Volunteering during holidays and special events 
• Helping with day-to-day operations and upkeep 

The value contractors bring is felt not only in their technical skills, but also in their willingness to show up, lend a hand and invest in their communities. 

The partnership between Ronald McDonald House and the roofing industry is a powerful example of what can happen when professionals align their expertise with a greater purpose. At its core, it’s about stability, safety and giving families one less thing to worry about during the most difficult time in their lives. As Katie’s perspective makes clear, sometimes all it takes is stepping inside a House to understand the impact, and to realize just how much more there is to build. 

Listen to the full podcast episode to learn more about this incredible partnership and find a way to make a difference in your own community.