The House That Chattanooga Built: 35 Years of Ronald McDonald House Charities of Greater Chattanooga
Honoring the service, partnership, and community that keep families close to one another and the care they need.
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.
After giving birth at eight months and undergoing an emergency C-section, Toni Ann Johnson learned her son, Azari-Asher, would need to stay in the NICU. With limited mobility, her team at Erlanger referred her to Ronald McDonald House so she could remain close while recovering. “I stayed for almost three weeks and it was the best experience having gone through that painful ordeal,” Toni Ann said. “I remember how safe and welcoming the environment was and the staff was always there to greet us with a smile or give us extra treats.” Having a place so close to the hospital gave her comfort during a difficult time. “The biggest help was the convenience of it all being so close and not feeling lost or like you’re going through it alone,” she shared. “The whole experience was such a blessing and memorable; it meant the world to me just to be able to talk and share laughs with the staff and other families there,” Toni Ann said. “Not having to think about anything apart from rest and your baby was the ultimate gift and we are forever grateful to RMHC.” Today, both Toni Ann and Azari-Asher are healthy and thriving.
In mid-October 1990, four-year-old Daniel Bailer became very sick with pneumonia and was admitted to Children’s Hospital at Erlanger. What began as a hospital stay quickly became a long and uncertain time for his family. Daniel spent nearly 50 days in the Pediatric Intensive Care Unit and about 70 days total in the hospital. At the time, the Bailer family lived in Dalton, about a 45-minute drive away. Renee stayed in Chattanooga during the week while her husband continued working. Each night, she slept in the PICU waiting room, resting in chairs and using a public restroom to shower. Most of her time was spent just outside Daniel’s room. During their stay, Daniel’s health quickly became extremely critical. He was placed on a ventilator, taken off, then put back on again and later required a tracheostomy due to recurring pneumonia, which extended his stay even longer. During that time, Renee relied heavily on the nurses and doctors caring for her son. “The nurses and doctors became my lifeline,” Renee said. “They knew I was sleeping in the waiting room chairs every night.” About a week before the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Greater Chattanooga officially opened, founding director Jane Kaylor and hospital staff approached Renee and asked if she would like to stay at the House. “I’ll never forget that moment,” Renee said. “They told me I could come over and sleep in a real bed, and I said, ‘ Take me!’ It was like a godsend.” Renee was hesitant at first to leave the hospital, even briefly, but staff reassured her she was in good hands and Daniel was only steps away. She was given a pager in case Daniel needed her and knew security could get in contact if anything happened overnight. She agreed and became the first guest to ever stay at the House. Renee stayed for about a week in a handicap-accessible room with a private bathroom, shower, and bed. For the first time in weeks, she was able to rest. “The peace and quiet were incredible,” she recalled. “I’d been surrounded by people and hospital noise for weeks. To sit on a couch, to breathe, to feel cared for—it was life-changing.” Today, Daniel is 39 years old. He is wheelchair-bound but healthy and works as a sculptor and artist, creating and selling his artwork. “It was like angels sent me there,” Renee said. “That place gave me rest when I didn’t know how I was going to keep going. It will always hold a special place in my heart.”
