Ronald McDonald House Charities of Southern California: Childhood Cancer Awareness

Ronald McDonald House Charities® of Southern California (RMHCSC) is marking Childhood Cancer Awareness Month (CCAM) with a powerful lineup of events and partnerships across the region, highlighting the resilience of children and families while rallying community support.

The month-long campaign coincides with a historic milestone, the 45th anniversary of the Los Angeles Ronald McDonald House, which first opened in 1980 thanks to the vision and generosity of the LA Rams, the McDonald’s Owner/Operators of Southern California, and several more dedicated founders. The LA House was the first of its kind on the West Coast, and today RMHCSC has grown to include seven Houses, three Ronald McDonald Family Rooms, and Camp Ronald McDonald for Good Times®, serving more than 16,000 families annually.

“Childhood Cancer Awareness Month is deeply personal for us,” said Fatima Djelmane Rodriguez, CEO of RMHCSC. “Our mission began with families facing pediatric cancer. Over the years, it’s grown to include children with all serious illnesses. While we have grown, the heart of our work remains the same: keeping families close to their hospitalized child, supported, and surrounded with hope.”

Dr. Stuart Siegel, RMHCSC co-founder and pediatric oncologist, added: “As survival rates rise, so does our responsibility. We walk alongside families through their most difficult days and continue to support them as they rebuild their lives — emotionally, physically, and financially.”

Now through the end of September, RMHCSC will #GoGold with partners across Southern California, creating once-in-a-lifetime experiences for children and their families. Highlights include:

Childhood Cancer Awareness Month began under the bright lights of SoFi Stadium as families from the Los Angeles Ronald McDonald House joined the Rams vs. Chargers preseason game. Families took the field for a once-in-a-lifetime moment, a powerful reminder that joy can exist even during the hardest journeys. The Rams, who helped establish the LA Ronald McDonald House 45 years ago, will also be honored at the House’s 45th Anniversary Gala this September.

Families from across Southern California will gather for a full day of wonder and play at LEGOLAND® in Carlsbad. For children undergoing long hospital stays, the chance to explore, imagine, and simply be kids again is a vital part of healing.

RMHCSC families will board a charter bus to BMO Stadium for an exclusive on-field recognition and game experience. By partnering with LAFC, RMHCSC continues to unite the power of sports and community to uplift children and families in their care.

Turning Awareness into Action: Throughout September, RMHCSC is calling on the Southern California community to #GoGold, the color of Childhood Cancer Awareness Month and rally behind families.

“We invite the community to join us in going gold and to see beyond the awareness month,” says Djelmane Rodriguez. “These families need us not just in the moment of crisis, but through the long road of recovery and beyond. That’s where true compassion lives.”