Since 1983, Ronald McDonald House Charities of South Louisiana (RMHCSLA) has provided free housing and support for families whose children require serious medical care. Under the leadership of Grace McIntosh, the organization has expanded its reach, serving more families than ever with meals, lodging, and ongoing support that extends beyond their stay. St. Charles Avenue Magazine spoke with McIntosh about the remarkable growth and transformation RMHCSLA has experienced during her five-year tenure.
When McIntosh relocated from California to New Orleans to be closer to family, she planned to take time to settle into her new city. Instead, her extensive nonprofit experience quickly caught the attention of a recruiter for RMHCSLA. Drawn to the organization’s mission, McIntosh soon found herself leading an effort to broaden its impact across South Louisiana.
As McIntosh explained, the organization has been in constant motion since her arrival in July 2021. While helping RMHCSLA rebound from pandemic-related setbacks, she also led the team through a major transition. After many years in the organization’s iconic yellow Mid-City house, RMHCSLA expanded into two larger buildings on the Manning Family Children’s campus.
The groundbreaking took place just two weeks after McIntosh was hired. She quickly launched a capital campaign, secured the necessary funding, and oversaw the move just over one year later. During the same period, RMHCSLA also opened a new three-bedroom Ronald McDonald Family Room at Our Lady of Lourdes Women’s & Children’s Hospital in Lafayette.
Today, the Ronald McDonald House on State Street is a welcoming space designed to inspire comfort. Local New Orleans artwork fills the walls, and every detail, from the furnishings to the color palette, was chosen with care. “We have lots of light and glass and a sense of real hope when you come in,” said McIntosh. Designed to feel more like a boutique hotel than a medical facility, the house serves more than 1,000 guests each year, including families from around the world.
House-to-Home Case
Management Program
As a trained social worker, McIntosh spotted an area for improvement at the Ronald McDonald House. “The families get such good care while they are here,” said McIntosh. “But when they go home, it is a completely new world for them. Their child is, for all intents and purposes, still very ill.” Families may be facing financial burdens, and chances are they have had no time to process these changes.
McIntosh realized that they needed a way to (figuratively) follow these families home and make sure that their transition was as good as it possibly could be under these challenging circumstances. So the RMHCSLA team created the House-to-Home Case Management Program, which pairs families with a case worker who provides guidance and resources after they leave the house, helping to ease the transition back home. The program was an immediate success and has since become a model for several other Ronald McDonald Houses across the country.
The program reflects the organization’s family-centered philosophy. “When a child is ill, the entire family needs support and help,” said McIntosh. While the child is the patient, it is the family who ultimately provides day-to-day care. RMHCSLA’s mission recognizes that supporting the family is an essential part of supporting the child.
Reaching Out
For 43 years, the RMHCSLA has successfully hosted families from all over the world. McIntosh’s plans for the future include continuing to educate the community about their work here. As she explained, it is crucial for the community to know that they provide free room and food to these families, but also a wealth of additional resources. In addition, more people need to know about the new campus (which she admits is somewhat hidden) at the historical buildings on State and Tchoupitoulas.
To clear up a common misconception, the charity is independently owned and operated. Although the McDonald’s Corporation is a sponsor, support from other sponsors and community members is crucial to keep the charity running.
Get Involved
McIntosh invites anyone interested to consider joining the RMHCSLA’s board and help spread the word about their organization. Financial support is always welcome as well.
Visit the RMHCSLA website for a full list of volunteer opportunities. McIntosh recommends the Meals From the Heart Program as a fabulous way for people to get their foot in the door. Volunteers are invited to cook a meal, serve it to the families, and generally learn more about what the Ronald McDonald House is all about.
Their golf tournament, the 25th Annual Fore the Families Golf Classic, is coming up on October 8, 2026. They always need volunteers for this event at a gorgeous course.
Contact
Ronald McDonald House Charities of South Louisiana
210 State Street Building 4, New Orleans, LA 70118
Website: rmhcsla.org
Email: info@rmhcsla.org
Facebook: facebook.com/RMHCSLA
