Bryan Harris, chief executive officer of Ronald McDonald House Charities of Charlottesville, said that RMHC is planning an expansion in anticipation of the U.Va. Health Children’s Hospital Neonatal Intensive Care Unit’s increase in size. Harris said that RMHC is preparing for the enlarged NICU to bring more families to Charlottesville who could benefit from the free housing and support services that RMHC provides.
U.Va. Health announced April 21, 2025 that it would be expanding its NICU from 60 to 100 beds, with the expanded unit set to open in 2028. Dr. Jennifer Burnsed, neonatal physician at U.Va.'s NICU and associate professor of pediatrics, wrote in an email to The Cavalier Daily that the U.Va. Health is increasing the size of the NICU due to the consistently high demand for space in the unit. She explained that the NICU serves families across the Commonwealth as well as out of state, and it is often at capacity.
Located at 300 9th Street SW, Charlottesville’s RMHC provides free housing, meals and support to families with children receiving medical treatment at the University Medical Center. RMHC will be taking its capacity from 18 rooms to 38-43 rooms in the next couple of years in response to the U.Va. NICU’s increase in size.
According to Harris, a property located next door to the current RMHC was donated for use in RMHC’s expansion. RMHC will be focusing on a fundraising campaign in the next several years to raise money for renovations to the donated property, Harris said, and for an increased operational budget after the expansion is complete.
Harris said that while RMHC receives “round-up” funding from McDonald's — a fundraising system where customers can opt to donate to RMHC by “rounding up” on their purchases — the vast majority of their funding occurs through community fundraisers and partnerships with local organizations and individual donors. According to Harris, the University has become more involved with supporting RMHC within the last year.
“We've always had a great relationship with [the University],” Harris said. “It's just been in the last year … [RMHC] started really partnering with U.Va., and U.Va. has gotten a lot more involved in what we're doing, and supporting us in moving the needle forward.”
Burnsed echoed Harris’ sentiments about the connection between RMHC and the University Medical Center. She said that many U.Va. Health employees volunteer at RMHC or participate in fundraising events.
Burnsed emphasized the importance of RMHC to U.Va. Health, citing its critical role in supporting the families of children who live hours away from the hospital. Specifically, she said that the opportunity for post-partum mothers to have the support of their family nearby is crucial to supporting the health and recovery of both the mothers and their babies. Additionally, Burnsed wrote that the current “pod-style” set-up of the NICU does not allow for parents to stay overnight at their baby’s bedside, so the overnight housing that RMHC provides is critical.
“Often a [baby’s] NICU stay is not expected for the family, and it is very stressful for parents to be far from home, their support system and scared about their sick child,” Burnsed wrote. “In addition, these moms have just given birth and are recovering themselves. Being close to their baby in the hospital is very important.”
Burnsed also emphasized the critical role that RMHC plays in providing a place for families, and particularly the siblings of patients in the NICU, to gather in a place that is not a hospital setting.
Ryan Weathers, family support manager at RMHC, expressed a similar belief in the importance of RMHC for creating a safe and positive environment for families. He described RMHC as a place where families of all different backgrounds — from Central and South America to rural Appalachia — can come together, learn from each other and support each other during difficult times.
“A family I got quite close to … [was] from Lynchburg, and their kids were playing with children from Honduras in the backyard,” Weathers said. “What a … beautiful thing that this really hard time in people's lives can actually end up being this moment of healing and even togetherness because of the service that we provide at the Ronald McDonald House.”
Harris and Burnsed both said that while the average stay of a baby in the NICU is several weeks, it can vary widely. According to Harris, RMHC recently had a family check out after a year-long stay. Weathers explained his belief that RMHC provides a positive environment during such a burdensome time for families.
“There's no other place that provides the warmth and the family friendly setting that we provide, and that really allows people to actually begin the healing process even while they're still recovering,” Weathers said.
Both Harris and Weathers emphasized their appreciation for the continuous support of the Charlottesville and University communities in their mission, and encouraged any residents who want to aid in their mission to consider coming to help make a meal for the families in residence. They also said that every donation, big or small, is greatly appreciated as they embark on their expansion.
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