The first House opened in 1974 in Philadelphia through the perseverance and dedication of Fred Hill, then a Philadelphia Eagles football player. After his daughter was treated for leukemia at the local children's hospital, Hill enlisted the help of his teammates and the local McDonald's restaurant franchises to raise funds to create a place for families with sick children. This effort was the beginning of the first Ronald McDonald House.

The Ronald McDonald House of Winston-Salem opened with 10 bedrooms on September 14, 1984. Its establishment was inspired by the son of Penny and Dick Latham, Alan, who died at three with cancer. To honor his memory and help other families, Penny and Dick convinced other parents of children with cancer to work with them to establish a home where parents could stay while their children were being treated for serious illnesses.

Through their efforts, the Rainbow House of Winston-Salem, Inc., was incorporated in February 1981. Many local merchants, civic groups, churches and individuals contributed to the effort, including the Kate B. Reynolds Health Care Trust, the Junior League of Winston-Salem, and the McDonald's family. The support of McDonald's led the project to be renamed the Ronald McDonald House. In 1997, the House expanded with the addition of seven new bedrooms and several common areas. In 2002, the Ronald McDonald House Family Room, a respite room for adults, opened in Brenner Children's Hospital at Wake Forest University Baptist Medical Center. In 2008, the second Family Room in Winston-Salem will open at the Sara Lee Center for Women's Health in Forsyth Medical Center.

View a video about the house