Ronald McDonald House® opens first Family Room in the Valley at Banner Thunderbird

3/27/2026

New space will provide respite and support for families with children receiving care in the intensive care units

Family members of up to 53 hospitalized children will benefit as Ronald McDonald House® Central and Northern Arizona recently opened the first Ronald McDonald House Family Room in the Phoenix area at Banner Children’s at Thunderbird.

Designed as a peaceful place for families to find comfort and support as they stay close to their hospitalized child, the majority of construction costs for the Family Room were offset by a generous $200,000 contribution from Erika and Roger Greaves, Youth Angels.

The new 710-square-foot Ronald McDonald Family Room will be reserved for families whose children are receiving care in the 36-bed neonatal intensive care unit and 17-bed pediatric intensive care unit. “Care at our hospital doesn’t just mean doctors and nurses helping patients get better — it also extends to family members and their well-being,” said Anthony DiBella, interim chief executive officer of Banner Children’s at Thunderbird. “This Family Room will provide a welcome source of rest and support for parents who are often exhausted while their children are in the hospital. We are proud to be the first hospital in the Valley to offer a Ronald McDonald House Family Room.”

Just steps from intensive care facilities, the Family Room features a welcoming reception area, a lounge, a kitchenette with coffee and snacks, wi-fi, laundry amenities and a private lactation room. The space also includes two napping bays designed for rest and renewal – with massage chairs, noise-canceling headphones and a calm, non-clinical environment where parents and caregivers can recharge during long hospital days.

“When a child is receiving critical care, proximity matters,” said Kerry Schulman, president and chief executive officer of Ronald McDonald House Central and Northern Arizona. “This Ronald McDonald House Family Room is about providing families a place to pause, take a deep breath and decompress without ever having to leave the hospital.”

Volunteers are essential to operating the Family Room and will play a key role in welcoming families, providing assistance and helping maintain the space throughout the day.

“The board and staff at Ronald McDonald House Central and Northern Arizona are grateful to the leadership team at Banner Health for their partnership and commitment to allocating space for the new Family Room,” Schulman said. “Families will benefit from this model for many years to come.”