Archive photo: An empty hospital corridor, not a Ronald McDonald House New York facility. Van Mailian/Pexels (cropped)
Ronald McDonald House New York says it has been awarded a $1.5 million grant to develop and test an AI-powered information hub for families caring for children with cancer and other serious illnesses.
The October 28 announcement describes a planned three-year pilot funded by RBC Foundation USA. It does not announce a finished tool available for families to use today.
What would families use it for?
The proposed Family Navigation Hub is meant to provide round-the-clock information in multiple languages about the organization’s services, transportation, meals, wellness programs and community resources.
RMH-NY says families currently rely on paper flyers and bulletin boards for this information. The planned hub is for families staying at RMH-NY, not a new public medical advice service.
What happens during the pilot?
The organization says it will develop, test and evaluate the hub with families and staff, and gather family feedback as the work proceeds. It plans to add more personalized guidance and support over time.
RMH-NY says the grant will also support practical AI skills and digital confidence among staff. By the end of the three-year initiative, it aims to have a functioning hub and a record of findings that other Ronald McDonald Houses could use.
The grant follows RBC Foundation USA’s separate, earlier three-year commitment of $1.05 million for RMH-NY’s health equity program. The new announcement concerns the $1.5 million pilot, not a new combined grant.
RMH-NY provides temporary housing and support for children and their families during treatment. Its Manhattan house has 95 guest rooms, including six post-transplant suites, according to the organization.
JBizNews Desk | New York
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