OUR HISTORY

It all began in 1973 when Philadelphia Eagles football player Fred Hill and his wife, Fran, learned that their daughter, Kim, had leukemia.

While traveling into Philadelphia for treatment at the children’s hospital, they met other families in the same situation. These families drove hours to the hospital to be with their children, only to sleep overnight in waiting room chairs and to eat from vending machines because they had nowhere else to go.

Fred Hill and his football team decided to do something for these families… build them a “home-away-from-home” in Philadelphia. The Philadelphia Eagles teamed up with local McDonald’s Owner/Operators to raise money to purchase and restore a house near the hospital where these families could stay. Hence, the first Ronald McDonald House was born. Since that time, more than 300 Houses have been built worldwide.

OUR STORY

The drive to establish a Ronald McDonald House in Lubbock, Texas first originated in 1981 by the Junior League of Lubbock. In 1983, a non-profit organization named Family House, Inc. was organized, and the local co-op of McDonald’s restaurants and the national McDonald’s Corporation solidly backed the project.

The Junior League made the Ronald McDonald House the largest project in their 50 years’ history and the community gave generously to raise construction funds.

OUR REGION

Although we serve families from across the country and around the world, our primary areas of service include Lubbock and the South Plains, the Permian Basin, the Big Country, the Concho Valley, and Southeastern New Mexico.

We have direct responsibilities in 68 counties, which equates to 26% of the state of Texas.

OUR BOARD

  • Steven Maddux, Board Chair
  • Todd Hardin, Chair-Elect
  • Brad Stuteville, Board Treasurer
  • Jennifer Irlbeck, Board Secretary
  • Bill Cohen
  • Paul Dannevik
  • Christi Felton
  • Jacoby Madewell
  • Brian Payne
  • Robyn Snowberger
  • Sunshine Stanek
  • Libby White
  • Sydney Witte

OUR STAFF

  • Emmanuel Ramirez, President & Chief Executive Officer
  • Cynthia Black, Administrative Assistant to the President & CEO
  • Lauren Orta, Director of Operations
  • Anna Bocanegra, Programs Manager
  • Maryhelen Matsler, Family Services Coordinator
  • Hannah Limones, Volunteer Manager
  • Lyle Yates-Bourasa, Resident Manager
  • Bill Wilson, Facilities Maintenance Technician
  • Julie Barron Wells, Director of Development
  • JC Lopez, Development Coordinator
  • Michelle Briggs, Director of Finance
  • Bud Caddell, Accountant
  • Valerie Tucker, Finance Assistant
  • Meghan O’Rourke, Communications Coordinator
  • Roselva Ruiz, Permian Basin Programs Manager
  • Melissa Torres, Permian Basin Family Room Coordinator
  • Maria Martinez, Permian Basin Family Room Coordinator
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