Following more than a year of extensive renovations, parents of children receiving treatment at Phoenix Children’s now have access to both overnight accommodations and a new Day Use program at the Cambridge House on the hospital’s campus.
Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central and Northern Arizona celebrated the grand re-opening of its Cambridge House on Wednesday, Dec. 11 with a ceremony for donors and VIPs before families began moving in later in the day.
It will serve as the home away from home for up to 18 families every night, including weekends and holidays.
First opened in 2008, Cambridge House is one of the three locations operated by RMHCCNAZ where parents and children can live while their child receives hospital care. The facility at 1980 E. Cambridge Ave. had been closed for 15 months. The four-story structure with 12 guest rooms and six apartments was completely remodeled, updated and refurnished from top to bottom at a cost of approximately $4.5 million.
“We are grateful to our generous donors and outstanding contractors for the opportunity to give the facility the much-needed improvements that our families deserve,” said Kerry Schulman, CEO of RMHCCNAZ. “Throughout the renovation process we have been able to welcome parents of children receiving hospital care Phoenix Children’s at our nearby Roanoke House location,” she added.
Beginning in 2025, Cambridge House will also be home to the nonprofit’s first Day Use program in Maricopa County.
The Day Use program will provide a welcoming environment for families with a child receiving care at Phoenix Children’s Hospital – Thomas Campus who live within 30 miles of the hospital and are not eligible to stay overnight at Cambridge House. These families will have access to the same essential resources as overnight guests, including a family room, community kitchen, shaded playground, showers, laundry facility and other amenities, enabling them to rest and recharge while remaining close to the hospital.
“The Day Use program expands our ability to meet families where they are,” said Schulman. “Whether a family needs a place to take a break or prepare a meal, the Cambridge House is here to provide comfort and support during their most difficult moments.”
Six guest apartments were remodeled with a $250,000 donation from the Arizona Diamondback’s Foundation, and a new, shaded playground has been installed at Cambridge House courtesy of a $100,000 Devin Booker Starting Five grant.
The remodel of Cambridge House includes sustainability into its design through the installation of a solar canopy system and two electric vehicle charging stations that were designed by Phoenix-based Oculus Studio. The system will generate more than 110 megawatt-hours of renewable energy annually, reducing energy costs and environmental impact. The shaded parking spaces and EV charging stations were installed to further enhance the residential experience for guest families.
“The renovations and new solar capabilities at the Cambridge House represent our commitment to being responsible stewards of the resources entrusted to us for providing family care and ensuring sustainability for many years to come,” Schulman said.
RMHCCNAZ operates three Houses in the Phoenix-area – two near Phoenix Children’s (Roanoke House and Cambridge House) and one near Banner Children’s at Desert in Mesa (Dobson House).
Volunteers provide, prepare and serve dinner for guest families at all three locations Sunday through Friday evenings and brunch on Saturday mornings. To learn more about becoming a Dinnertime Hero or a Brunch Buddy or to sign up here.
So far in 2024, RMHCCNAZ has served 871 families at its Roanoke and Dobson houses. Together, these families have stayed more than 13,000 nights. While 88% of these guest families come from counties throughout Arizona, families seeking life-saving medical care for their children also came from 35 different states and five different countries.
