Children's Oncology Services, Inc. (Ronald McDonald House Charities)

Ronald McDonald House Charities

Founder: Dr. Edward S. Baum

Areas of Interest: Emotional and educational support for kids afflicted with cancer

Notable Projects/Programs:

Aside from collaborating with the Ronald McDonald House Charities, the Children’s Oncology Services, Inc. also has other activities that are aimed at nurturing young boys and girls who suffer from cancer. The One Step at a Time Camping Series is one of the organization’s well-known projects:

  • Summer Camp – held every summer at Lake Geneva in Wisconsin, where cancer patients aging 7-19 spend two weeks of summer time.
  • Winter Camp – open to 12-19 year-old kids with cancer, the Winter Camp lasts for five days. Winter sports such as skiing, snowboarding, and snowball fighting are provided.
  • Seabees – this program is designed for people 20 years old and above who are diagnosed with cancer and were former kid campers. The program allows the former campers to be involved with their former friends and provide inspirational talks and tips.

Cancer survivors who benefited from the programs of the organization come back and volunteer in any way they can to help those who are still suffering from the disease.


More about the Children’s Oncology Services, Inc. (and its affiliation with Ronald McDonald House Charities):

Founded in 1978 by Dr. Edward S. Baum, a pediatric oncologist at the Children’s Memorial Hospital in Chicago, the Children’s Oncology Services, Inc. offers more than advancing the reaches of man to cure cancer in children. The Children’s Oncology Services strives to make each and every child to live life at its fullest despite being diagnosed with cancer.

When news of the first Ronald McDonald House in Philadelphia broke, Dr. Edward S. Baum, along with Charles Marino, a parent whose child was diagnosed with leukemia, decided to apply the concept and create a similar facility in Chicago. After obtaining the support of the local McDonald office, Dr. Baum formed a group of volunteers, mostly parents of children suffering from cancer, and restored an 18-bedroom Victorian home and named it as the second Ronald McDonald House.

The success of the second house proves that such concept can survive regardless of geographical locations. The National Advisory Board of the Children’s Oncology Services was created and was tasked to help communities in improving, developing, and maintaining Ronald McDonald Houses.

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