Greece’s first Ronald McDonald Family Room is inaugurated

Greece’s first Ronald McDonald Family Room was officially opened on the premises of "Agia Sophia" Children’s Hospital in Athens on November 13, 2024. The new facility will provide essential support to families of hospitalised children, providing them with a comfortable, welcoming space to rest while remaining close to their loved ones.

Greece’s first Ronald McDonald Family Room was officially opened on the premises of “Agia Sophia” Children’s Hospital in Athens on November 13, 2024. The new facility will provide essential support to families of hospitalised children, providing them with a comfortable, welcoming space to rest while remaining close to their loved ones.

The Family Room was inaugurated by the Deputy Minister of Health, Marios Themistokleous, in the presence of RMHC Global COO Rodney Jordan, Hili Ventures CEO Melo Hili, RMHC Hellas President Ioannis Apostolopoulos, and Agia Sophia Children’s Hospital Director Emmanuel Papasavvas.

Located within the hospital, the 310-square-metre Family Room offers a peaceful retreat for families. It includes a kitchen and dining area, private bathrooms, laundry facilities, a living room, and three family suites for overnight stays. These suites are allocated based on need, ensuring families have a place to rest while remaining close to their child’s bedside.

As a founding supporter of RMHC Hellas, Premier Capital Hellas – Premier Capital’s operator of McDonald’s restaurants in Greece – played a key role in funding and developing this project alongside other benefactors.

Melo Hili, CEO of Hili Ventures emphasised: “We are proud to support RMHC Hellas in inaugurating Greece’s first Ronald McDonald Family Room, a meaningful milestone in helping families stay close to their children during critical times. As a forever partner of RMHC in Latvia, Malta, Romania, and now Greece, Premier Capital is committed to supporting families in need through our McDonald’s operations in these markets. This Family Room programme is not only a collaboration with ‘Agia Sophia’ Children’s Hospital, but also a place where families can find comfort, strength, and support during their most challenging moments.”

As the first facility of its kind in Greece, the Ronald McDonald Family Room at Agia Sophia Children’s Hospital brings a global RMHC model to the country, providing a comforting environment for families navigating pediatric healthcare challenges. RMHC Global COO Rodney Jordan, spoke about the importance of family-centered care: “RMHC is pleased to welcome the Family Room at Agia Sophia into our global network, where it will provide essential support for children and families in Greece during critical times.”

Ioannis Apostolopoulos, President of RMHC Hellas, expressed his pride: “Today marks the realisation of a long-held vision – the opening of the first Family Room for the Greek Chapter of Ronald McDonald House Charities. Partnering with ‘Agia Sophia’ Children’s Hospital was a natural choice, and the support of the Ministry of Health, the Hospital Administration, and the Region of Attica has been invaluable. We hope this space will offer much-needed rest and support to families, making a meaningful difference for those with children receiving care at the hospital.”

(From left to right) Martin Xuereb, RMHC Hellas Board Member; Dafni Tsakyraki, RMHC Hellas Exectuive Director; John Apostolopoulos, RMHC Hellas Chairman, Dr Anna Bredima, RMHC Hellas Board Member; Georgios Kalavrouziotis, RMHC Hellas Board Member.

About RMHC Family Rooms
RMHC Family Rooms are spaces within hospitals that provide families with a quiet retreat close to the pediatric units, giving them a chance to rest and rejuvenate. Family Rooms are integral to RMHC’s mission of family-centered care, a model that has proven to be crucial in helping families cope with their child’s health journey.

About RMHC Hellas
Ronald McDonald House Charities Greece (RMHC Hellas) is an independently run, non-for profit organisation registered in Greece.

Established in 2023, RMHC Hellas will create and support programs that directly impact the health and wellbeing of children and their families. RMHC Hellas’ first project is the creation of RMHC Family Rooms at the Aghia Sophia Children’s Hospital in Athens. The RMHC Family Rooms will offer a welcoming respite from the ward, moments from the child’s bedside.

About Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC)
Ronald McDonald House Charities® (RMHC®), is a non-profit corporation that creates, finds, and supports programs that directly improve the health and well-being of children and their families. Through a global network of over 260 Chapters in 62 countries and regions, RMHC enables, facilitates and supports family-centred care through three core programmes: the Ronald McDonald House®, the Ronald McDonald Family Room® and the Ronald McDonald Care Mobile®. RMHC programmes help families with ill or injured children stay together and near leading hospitals and health care services worldwide, ensuring they have access to the medical care their child needs while fully supported and actively involved in their child’s care.

About Hili Ventures
Hili Ventures is the holding company of a diversified group with a deep-rooted entrepreneurial heritage dating back to 1923. Through its various subsidiaries, Hili Ventures is engaged in food service & retail, real estate & hospitality, shipping, oil & gas, engineering, and technology in 10 countries across Europe and North Africa with a team of 12,000 people.Through Premier Capital plc, its food service subsidiary, McDonald’s developmental licencee in six markets, and founding partner of four RMHC Chapters in Greece, Latvia, Malta and Romania, the group actively supports RMHC across these regions.