\nHill’s medical journey with his daughter, who died in 2011 when she was 44, would become the impetus for the creation of the Ronald McDonald House.\n<\/p>\n
\nAfter his retirement from professional football, Hill approached executives with the Eagles about hosting a local radiothon and fashion show for leukemia research. The team raised over $100,000.\n<\/p>\n
\nKim’s physician directed leaders behind the Eagles’ charity initiatives to Dr. Audrey Evans<\/a>, chief of pediatric oncology at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia. Evans was renowned for establishing the Evans Staging System that categorized types of neuroblastoma in patients as well as her work advocating for the importance of nursing and social work to caring for children with cancer.\n<\/p>\n \nHer dream was to purchase a site where the families of her patients could stay while their children received treatment.\n<\/p>\n “Dr. Evans was seeing families sleep in chairs, not take care of themselves, and cut their children’s care short because they couldn’t afford to be away from home to be in Philadelphia,”said Laura Van Tassell, director of development for the Ronald McDonald House. “She really dreamt of a place where families could stay while their children were receiving treatment, a place that could really support the entire family.”<\/p>\n \nWith the newly raised funds, Eagles General Manager Jim Murray sought some help from his advertising partners at McDonald’s to raise money. Executives agreed to siphon the proceeds of its Shamrock Shake sales to the cause, as long as it was named after the fast-food chain.\n<\/p>\n \nIn 1974, the first Ronald McDonald House opened at a seven-bedroom house at 4032 Spruce St.\n<\/p>\n “We wanted the people of Philadelphia, if they were going to donate something; we wanted them to be able to touch what they bought,” Hill said.<\/p>\n A photo of Jim Murray and Dr. Audrey Evans, co-founders of the first Ronald McDonald House, is displayed in West Philadelphia’s branch.<\/p>\n \nOver half a century later, the charity has expanded to nearly 400 houses around the world that provide social services, lodging and support for families of children undergoing treatment at nearby hospitals.\n<\/p>\n \nWith the Eagles playing such a big part in the establishment of the first house, Van Tassell said the branch’s 127-bedroom historic mansion at 3925 Chestnut Street has offered another service \u2014 converting its guests into Philly sports fans. The house has partnerships with all of the city’s teams so there are sports-themed rooms and experiences for families and patients.\n<\/p>\n “I like to think we’re sending out more families that are Philly sports fans than otherwise would exist,” she said. “Imagine if the first professional baseball game you get to go to, you got to meet the Phanatic; or you go to a hockey game and ride on the Zamboni. \u2026 You\u2019re going to have found a love for Philadelphia, a place that you called home.”<\/p>\n![\"Ronald](\"https:\/\/media.phillyvoice.com\/media\/images\/2024-10-15T021626Z_197862489_MT1USATODAY244910.width-704.jpg\")
Michele C. Haddon\/IMAGN Images via Reuters<\/p>\n