Ronald McDonald House Charities Receives $3 Million Gift from Kenneth C. Griffin

Donation to fund new 54-room facility in South Florida to serve more families with critically ill children

Mar. 14, 2026 at 3:51pm

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Ronald McDonald House Charities of South Florida (RMHC South Florida) has announced a $3 million gift from Kenneth C. Griffin, founder and CEO of Citadel and Griffin Catalyst. The donation will support RMHC South Florida's Hope Has a New Home Capital Campaign and fund a new seven-story, 54-guestroom facility set to open in early 2027. The expanded campus will nearly double the charity's capacity, allowing it to serve more than 420 families annually and provide 5,740 nights of comfort.

Why it matters

The current 31-room Ronald McDonald House in South Florida is forced to turn away more than 100 families each year due to lack of space, leaving some parents to sleep in hospital chairs or cars while their children receive critical medical treatment. This gift from Kenneth C. Griffin will help address the severe shortage of affordable, proximal family lodging in the region, allowing more families to stay together during their children's medical crises.

The details

The $33 million, 60,000-square-foot campus expansion, to be named the Griffin Family Campus, will rise at the Jackson Memorial Medical Campus. It will nearly double RMHC South Florida's capacity, ensuring thousands of families needing critical pediatric care have a sanctuary just steps from their child's bedside. The charity says this gift represents a major breakthrough in easing pediatric lodging bottlenecks, allowing them to replace their 'waitlist' with a 'welcome' for more families.

  • RMHC South Florida's new 54-guestroom facility is set to open in early 2027.
  • The Hope Has a New Home Capital Campaign has now raised $28 million of its $33 million goal.

The players

Kenneth C. Griffin

The founder and CEO of Citadel and founder of Griffin Catalyst, who provided a $3 million gift to RMHC South Florida.

Soraya Rivera-Moya

The executive director of RMHC South Florida.

Ronald McDonald House Charities of South Florida (RMHC South Florida)

A charity that provides a home away from home for families with children receiving critical medical treatment in South Florida.

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What they’re saying

“Ken Griffin's gift represents a major breakthrough in easing pediatric lodging bottlenecks. When a child is fighting a complex illness, the presence of their family is a clinical necessity that drives better outcomes. This gift allows us to replace our 'waitlist' with a 'welcome,' giving many more families a home away from home to rest, recover, and stay together as they heal.”

— Soraya Rivera-Moya, Executive Director, RMHC South Florida

“Excellent medical care is strengthened when families are able to be together. The extraordinary new campus of the Ronald McDonald House will let more families stay together during the moments that matter most.”

— Kenneth C. Griffin

What’s next

The Hope Has a New Home Capital Campaign has now raised $28 million of its $33 million goal. Those interested in supporting RMHC South Florida to close the final fundraising gap and follow the progress of the Griffin Family Campus can learn more at rmhcsouthflorida.org/capital-campaign-about.

The takeaway

This gift from Kenneth C. Griffin will help the Ronald McDonald House Charities of South Florida expand its capacity to serve more families with critically ill children, providing them a home away from home and allowing them to stay together during their children's medical treatment, which is crucial for better outcomes.