Sallie Brooks Found Refuge at RMHC
June 28, 2022

Thousands of families have walked through the doors of Ronald McDonald House Charities of Greater Chattanooga to stay while their child is in the hospital. Many of those families, after they have stayed at RMHC, have chosen to give back by becoming donors, volunteers, or even board members. For Sallie Brooks, a former RMHC resident, she has chosen to give back to the organization in each and every way she possibly can.


“I didn’t realize the scope of our mission at Ronald McDonald House until my daughter was in a car wreck and we had spent two nights in the waiting room,” said Sallie. “Finally someone said you can go over across the street and there’s a place for you.”


22 years ago, Sallie and her late husband Mark’s daughter endured a horrific, life-altering car accident. This car accident resulted in their daughter Kelly undergoing numerous emergency surgeries due to ruptured intestines from the impact, facial surgery from a cracked jaw and countless broken bones in her face and a severe spinal cord injury. Kelly was 16-years-old at the time.


All the while and for months after the accident, Sallie and Mark needed to process and plan their next steps of this life changing event that left their daughter with a long journey to recovery, all while discovering Kelly was now paralyzed from the waist down.

Throughout this entire process, Sallie and Mark never felt alone. However, having been given their own personal waiting room in Erlanger Hospital due to the volume of visitors, they became overwhelmed by the support.


“It was wonderful to have that support from family and friends, but also I had no time to process what was going on or figure out what we needed to do,” shared Sallie. “So, looking back, I always say when we came to RMHC it became our refuge.”


For Sallie, the Ronald McDonald House was where she and her family could process and rest in the midst of something so horrible that their child was enduring. “It was a place Mark and I could get away from the crowd and we could even sleep a little,” said Sallie. “I will never forget the two weeks that you served me and I was in the worst state of my life I had no idea what I was doing half the time, but I didn’t have to because you all were just providing anything and everything.”


With Kelly as the oldest of their three girls, Sallie and Mark needed RMHC not only to process and take care of one another, but they needed moments to feel like a family again.


“The girls would come after school and eat the RMHC meals with us and it would give us family time, said Sallie. “Food is necessary to nourish our bodies, but it is also a comfort and a place that people can gather to eat and reconnect.”


Throughout their two weeks at their home-away-from-home, they were able to witness not only how the organization helped them, but how RMHC helps other families going through the same experience.


“Where you see the most people in this house is about two in the morning in that big kitchen. You hadn’t eaten all day because you’re trying to process,” said Sallie. “Nobody is here that’s not going through something horrible and everybody was in the middle of the night trying to find something to eat. You’d be in your pajamas in the kitchen and you run into everybody raiding the refrigerator.”


During a time when they were at a loss at how each day would look let alone the next meal would be, RMHC created a space where Sallie and Mark could tuck each of those worries away and focus solely on Kelly’s recovery.


“I think everybody can relate to being fed and comforted in a difficult time in their lives,” said Sallie. “To this day, when I walk through that door my stomach flip flops. There is a smell in this house that brings all the memories back and that’s why I am so grateful for this house.”


Now decades later, Sallie and her entire family understand the importance of Ronald McDonald House Charities and how it has shaped their lives.


During the House’s kitchen renovation in early 2022, Sallie and her family donated funds to create an ADA compliant portion of the RMHC kitchen, in honor of Mark and Kelly. Sallie continuously dedicates her time as a volunteer, board member and advocate for the continuation of keeping families close at Ronald McDonald House Charities of Greater Chattanooga.



“This place has my heart and I think it always will,” said Sallie.

The House That Chattanooga Built: 35 Years of Ronald McDonald House Charities of Greater Chattanooga

By Izabelle Bradley • October 23, 2025
For 35 years, the promise of rest, food, a hot shower, and a short walk to a child’s bedside has defined Ronald McDonald House Charities of Greater Chattanooga. The mission is clear: to provide families with the care and resources they need when their child is sick and to support programs and services that directly improve the health and well-being of children. Since 1990, that mission has remained steadfast, sustained by a community that shows up. Since its inception, the House has served more than 20,000 families, offering a home away from home completely free of charge. While the average cost for one night’s stay is about $150, families never see a bill, thanks to the generosity of Chattanooga’s donors, volunteers, and business partners. Over the years, Ronald McDonald House Charities of Greater Chattanooga has expanded beyond its original 12-bedroom house into a 28-bedroom facility and two additional core programs designed to meet families where they are. The Ronald McDonald Family Room inside Children’s Hospital at Erlanger extends comfort into the hospital itself, offering rest and respite to anyone with a loved one in the hospital. House to Home, developed in partnership with the YMCA of Metropolitan Chattanooga and its Cleveland Family YMCA branch, serves families from Bradley County, the largest feeder county of guests to the Chattanooga House. The program helps families continue receiving support and resources after leaving the House, guiding them through recovery and transition back to daily life. Much of the House’s lasting impact can be traced back to the leadership and vision that guided it from the beginning. Jane Kaylor, who served as CEO for 32 years before retiring in 2022, led the effort to bring Chattanooga’s Ronald McDonald House from an idea to a reality. Kaylor’s dedication to helping families began with her own. In the early 1980s, her daughter Lori battled leukemia for six years before passing away at age nine. During that time, Kaylor often traveled to St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in Memphis and longed for a place where families could stay near their child, rest, and find comfort in the company of others who understood. Years later, when Kaylor received a call asking if she would help determine whether Chattanooga needed a Ronald McDonald House, she didn’t hesitate. With the help of McDonald’s owner/operators, hospital leaders, and local businesses, she helped raise the funds to make the dream a reality. The House officially opened on Erlanger property under a unique agreement — a 40-year ground lease for $1 per year. Kaylor recalls one of the local McDonald’s owner/operators and former RMHC board member, Ted Lyons, pulling out two $20 bills on the spot, prepaying the lease and setting the tone for a city that shows up. On November 18, 1990, the Ronald McDonald House opened its doors to its first family. The same spirit of generosity that built the House soon led to a defining partnership that continues today. For more than two decades, iCON Air & Mechanical Services has been one of RMHC’s most dependable and generous partners—providing HVAC and plumbing support, financial donations, and even payroll deduction opportunities so employees can give back directly. For Glenn Conkle, President and COO of iCON Air & Mechanical Services, that commitment is deeply personal. “At iCON, we believe family is truly the backbone of our society,” Conkle shared. “When an unexpected illness or situation arises with one of our children, the last thing a family should have to worry about is where they will stay, where they will eat, or how long they will be gone from the hospital. When our youngest son was very ill and hospitalized many years ago, my wife and I personally experienced having to drive back and forth from home to the hospital, so we know the importance of being able to stay close by.” That connection deepened when one of iCON’s own employees, Danny Fay, and his wife, Shauna, stayed at the Ronald McDonald House after their son was born prematurely. “To us, the Ronald McDonald House means one word—love,” the Fay family shared. “They opened their doors so we could be there for our son and cared for us through some very difficult days. We are forever grateful for the love they gave us when we needed it most.” Conkle says it’s experiences like these that have shaped iCON’s long-standing partnership with RMHC and strengthened their belief in the mission. “Not only has the core group of iCON employees been a partner of Ronald McDonald House for the last 25 years, but we’ve experienced firsthand the important service they provide. We are proud to be partners and sponsors of the Ronald McDonald House.” Director of Facilities and Maintenance, Garland Sherman, has witnessed iCON’s impact on the House for decades. Before joining the staff, Sherman owned Garland Sherman Masonry, the company that bricked the original House during construction in the late 80’s. Captivated by the mission, he joined the Board of Directors in 2003, served for eight years, and often lent his expertise to House projects before officially taking on the role of overseeing its maintenance, a position he has held ever since. “iCON has great qualified employees who understand our mission and are always willing to help us,” Sherman said. “They are a great partner for RMHC and help us out in any way they can.” He takes pride in ensuring every family that walks through the doors finds comfort and security in a space that feels like home. Thanks to partners like iCON, the House remains a place where families can focus on what matters most: their child’s healing. Since stepping into his role in 2022, President and CEO Dr. Michael Brown has continued to lead the organization with the same compassion and purpose that defined its beginning. “When I accepted the RMHC Board’s offer to lead this incredible mission, it felt less like a choice and more like a calling,” Brown said. “From day one, I knew I was meant to be here. Meeting our passionate board members and volunteers, I was deeply moved by their love and commitment to our families. I’m proud to follow in the footsteps of those who built this strong, compassionate foundation. Their legacy inspires us every day, and I’m honored to carry it forward with purpose and gratitude.” It’s nearly impossible to capture what 35 years at Ronald McDonald House Charities of Greater Chattanooga truly mean: decades of trust, service, and compassion that have carried thousands of families through their hardest days, and the community that keeps showing up to make it possible.

Thirty-Five Years, One Mission

By Izabelle Bradley • June 16, 2025
This House is much more than a building, it is a place where parents can find peace over a cup of coffee, siblings can make fast friends in the playroom, and a long day in the hospital can end with a shared meal and the comfort of not being alone. Ronald McDonald House hallways have seen spirits break and heal- but one thing stays the same: the families are the heart of the Home. For three and a half decades, RMHC’s mission has remained unwavering: To provide families with the care and resources they need when their child is sick and to support programs and services that directly improve the health and well-being of children. More than just a place to sleep, RMHC Chattanooga offers home-cooked meals, a warm bed, and a supportive community that understands the emotional toll of medical trauma. No matter the length of time or service utilized, the goal is to lift the strain families are facing. Every room in the House holds a powerful story. Some begin with the fear of an early birth, others with a diagnosis no parent expects. In just the first few months of 2025, a mother found rest while her 9-year-old daughter received leukemia treatment next door at Erlanger. She was joined by her two younger daughters, and for 51 nights, this House became their safe place. In another room, a mother stayed close during her newborn’s 112-day fight in the NICU. Her baby boy was born at just 24 weeks. She remained strong, showing up each day alone while dad continued working back home. A few doors down, a family from Rhea County checked in after their newborn’s emergency transfer to the NICU. They stayed for 106 nights, finding strength in the rhythm of close hospital visits, prepared meals, and the community of other parents walking a similar road. These are not rare stories, but the reality inside the walls of RMHC for the past 35 years. From its beginnings as a 12-bedroom house, Ronald McDonald House Charities of Greater Chattanooga has grown into a multi-program organization focused on meeting families where they are. The Ronald McDonald Family Room at Erlanger extends comfort into the hospital itself, while House to Home provides support beyond a family’s stay. The addition of the Mindful Room offers a quiet, reflective space inside the House designed for emotional rest and healing. This incredible work would not be possible without the generous support of the local community. From corporate sponsors and longtime donors to volunteers and Adopt-A-Meal groups, countless people have played a role in sustaining the mission. McDonald’s owner/operators, in particular, have been an essential part of the organization’s foundation and future, contributing not only funds but also time, heart, and advocacy since the facility’s inception. Since 1990, RMHC of Greater Chattanooga has served thousands of families, each with a story that shaped the organization’s legacy. While the programs may grow and evolve, the aim will always be the same: to support families when they need it most, with compassion, understanding, and care. As RMHC of Greater Chattanooga celebrates this milestone anniversary, it also steps into a new season— one rooted in the same love that has carried the mission since day one. While much has changed, one thing never will: family will always be the heart of the Home.