Since 1981, Ronald McDonald House has served central Arkansas families by staying focused on its mission.
“We want to make sure anyone dealing with their child’s medical issue has a safe, comfortable place to rest, warm meals, snacks, daily essentials and everything they need to take care of themselves while also having to make tough medical decisions for their child,” says Candice Hickman, communications director for Ronald McDonald House Arkansas & North Louisiana.
Currently the nonprofit oversees three programs in the metro — Ronald McDonald House: Little Rock, a 32-room facility that primarily serves Arkansas Children’s Hospital families; Ronald McDonald House Family Room: UAMS, a supportive space for UAMS NICU families; and the Ronald McDonald House Care Mobile: Central Arkansas, a mobile clinic that provides free dental care at select elementary schools.
After a decade at the helm, RMH CEO Janell Mason remains motivated by the immediate impact she sees from her team’s work.
“I’ve talked to families who have said that if they didn’t have a place to stay and all the things that we provide, their child might not get the treatment they need. And that’s devastating to think about,” Mason says.
2025 was a big year for central Arkansas’ local RMH, starting with a rebrand. The new name, now officially Ronald McDonald House Arkansas & North Louisiana, not only reflects the expanded physical boundaries the chapter serves, but also an effort to reach even more families throughout the state and beyond.
“One of the bold ambitions of Ronald MacDonald House across the world is to double the number of families we will serve. There is a huge need, and I was really excited to see our board and our team get behind that,” Mason says.
But last year marked more milestones for the chapter than just a new name. In October, the nonprofit opened Ronald McDonald House: Shreveport-Bossier, its first in northwest Louisiana, and merged with the existing northwest Arkansas and River Valley chapter. According to Mason, the Louisiana community donated nearly $12 million to help launch the house.
Mason’s leadership also gave the chapter a unique voice on a worldwide scale when she was appointed to the RMH Global Board of Trustees last year.
“It’s great to have knowledge and input on decisions made by the global board that affect local chapters. They’ve never had org leaders on their board before.”
Mason and the head of Australia’s chapter were the first two local leaders to hold global board positions.
2026 holds two exciting projects for the chapter including another first: a full RMH inside a hospital in central Arkansas. Along with opening a new family room in Monroe, Louisiana, this spring, an expansive Baptist Health Medical Center program is set to open in the fall. The 6,000-square-foot area will serve NICU families with the comforts of home including a day-use area complete with showers, laundry and snacks, plus six family suites and two sleep rooms. Mason’s team estimates the program will annually provide nearly 2,200 nights of rest for families, 6,000 day-use visits and more than $600,000 in savings on expenses for families.
The experiences of former RMH families put the need for the new Baptist program in stark focus for Mason. Families would often choose to stay in their hospital’s family room instead of moving to a local RMH.
“I met a family in Fort Smith that stayed with us in the family room there for 150 nights. I asked the mother, ‘Why didn’t you choose to stay over at the house where you’ve got more room?’ And she said, ‘I cannot tell you how many nights we made medical decisions for our babies in our pajamas. They would call us, and we would go running. So it’s just essential to us to be right there.’”
The new house will also increase the number of families the chapter can serve in the community.
“Having that house open will not only take care of families that have a baby in the NICU at Baptist, but it will also open rooms in the Ronald McDonald House: Little Rock to serve even more Arkansas Children’s families,” Mason says.
To that end, also in the works is a “day room” in the Little Rock house with amenities for NICU families not staying overnight.
“We want to add a shower and laundry and just have a space where families can come over and take a break from the hospital,” Mason says. “They would be able to enjoy the play areas for their kids, our kitchen and all the services our in-house families experience.”
All RMH services are free for families, which creates many opportunities for central Arkansans to support its mission. Food is often at the heart of their work, and opportunities range from cooking an evening meal or baking a batch of mid-afternoon cookies to donating snacks. There are also ways to plug in that bring moments of normalcy to families like hosting a Bingo night or encouraging self-care with free haircuts donated by local stylists in The Well-Being Salon. Donors can also give monetarily, purchase wish list items, organize third party fundraisers or support RMH events.
One event that directly supports the chapter’s programs is its signature Chocolate Fantasy Ball which will celebrate its 23rd year this month. RMH has set a goal of raising $900,000 through the gala, including an online auction open to supporters unable to attend.
“Millions have been raised to support thousands of families thanks to the generous donors and sponsors over the past 22 years of Chocolate Fantasy Ball,” Hickman says.
Because beyond the event planning, partnership navigating and day room furnishings, the whole of the RMH mission comes down to one simple truth.
“When a child’s critically sick or injured, their family needs to be by their side,” Mason says.
“It’s essential, not optional.”
CHOCOLATE FANTASY BALL, BENEFITING RONALD MCDONALD HOUSE ARKANSAS & NORTH LOUISIANA
Feb. 28, 6 p.m. | Statehouse Convention Center
Info: chocolatefantasyball.com