Healing Starts Here
Family is the best medicine. When your child's hospital room is your reality day and night, you need space to breathe. The Rooftop Backyard gives that to families, allowing them to stay strong.
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Capital Campaign Progress
$2.2M raised of $3.2M goal
71%
$0
$1.0M to go
$3,200,000
For families with a child in the hospital, Ronald McDonald House Michiana® is a lifeline and a warm refuge just steps away.
94%
of families requested outdoor space
$3.2M
Campaign Goal
365
days of year-round access
See the Vision
Hear from a family about why outdoor healing space matters and how the Rooftop Backyard will change lives.
Family Stays. Even When They Need Fresh Air.
Every day at Beacon Children’s Hospital, parents sit beside their child’s bed fighting an invisible battle: exhaustion, fear, and the desperate need to stay strong. Visitors come and go during a child’s treatment. Family stays for the long haul. Staying close often means never leaving, even when they need a moment to breathe.
Yet one essential element is still missing: a private, restorative outdoor space where families can step outside, recharge, and return within moments. The Rooftop Backyard is our community’s opportunity to provide it.
Help Build this Space
Familly Stays. Even When They Need Fresh Air.
Every day at Beacon Children’s Hospital, parents sit beside their child’s bed fighting an invisible battle: exhaustion, fear, and the desperate need to stay strong. Visitors come and go during a child’s treatment. Family stays for the long haul. Staying close often means never leaving, even when they need a moment to breathe.
Yet one essential element is still missing: a private, restorative outdoor space where families can step outside, recharge, and return within moments. The Rooftop Backyard is our community’s opportunity to provide it.
Families have told us what they need most
"We have often missed and craved outside time during hospital stays and usually have to walk down to Leeper or Howard [Park]. Those are lovely options, but we need to make sure we have a lot of time… It isn’t always feasible."
Mary McDonald
Mother of a Pediatric Patient
What This Space Willl Make Possible
Every element serves a purpose. Every space reflects what families need most.
The Four Seasons Room
A glass-enclosed, climate-controlled space with year-round natural light and outdoor views.
Inclusive Playground
A safe place for siblings and recovering children to run, climb, and laugh together.
Reflection Areas & Fire Pits
Quiet, private spaces for processing difficult news or gathering for warmth under the open sky.
Exercise Room
A dedicated space for families to stay active and relieve stress during long hospital stays.
Greenscapes
Living walls and garden beds that bring nature into the healing environment year-round.
Grilling & Picnic Areas
Outdoor cooking and dining spaces where families can share a meal together.
Private Workspaces
Quiet areas for parents who need to work remotely while staying close to their child.
Your support builds more than a rooftop.
It builds strength. Stability. Hope.
Capital Campaign
$3,200,000
Fully funding the Rooftop Backyard covers construction, amenities, safety, and long-term sustainability.
Campaign Deadline
Help us reach $3.2M by March 2027
Where the Funds Go
Construction of all spaces
Building the rooftop infrastructure from the ground up
Expert design for safety and beauty
Expert design for safety and beauty
Safety & accessibility
Inclusive design for every family member
Long-term maintenance
Ensuring the space thrives for years to come
Capital Campaign
$3,200,000
Fully funding the Rooftop Backyard covers construction, amenities, safety, and long-term sustainability.
Campaign Deadline
Help us reach $3.2M by March 2027
Where the Funds Go
Construction of all spaces
Building the rooftop infrastructure from the ground up
Expert design for safety and beauty
Expert design for safety and beauty
Safety & accessibility
Inclusive design for every family member
Long-term maintenance
Ensuring the space thrives for years to come
That’s why spaces like the Rooftop Backyard matter—keeping families close when they need each other most.
"These families are going through the toughest time in their lives. And when they’re separated, it makes it that much harder."
Doug Mick
Campaign Chair
A Space Like This Would Have Changed Everything
Your donation helps families find the moment of calm they need to keep going. Every gift builds the Rooftop Backyard one step closer to reality.
Campaign Supporters
Thank You to Our Donors
Every gift brings the Rooftop Backyard closer to reality. We are grateful for every contribution.
Thank you to our lead donor,
The Leep Family Foundation
Thank you to our lead donor,
The Leep Family Foundation
Vera Z. Dwyer Charitable Trust
Tire Rack
Community Foundation of St Joseph County
Patricia Brademas
Our founders - Kathleen & David Sparks
Magnus Engineering
Scott & Tara Smith
Amanda & Loren Gadacz
The Tanke Family
Golic Family Foundation
Doug & Karen Mick
DIRECTV
Bob & Kathy White
Amy Murray
Bob & Peggy Krok
Gregg & Nancy Fore
Michael & Sheila Witous
Andrea Halpin
Frank & Carolyn Antonovich
Michigan Gateway Community Foundation
Shannon Wingard
Jared & Sara Huss
Garatoni-Smith Family Foundation
Amy Hill & Paul Ford
Greg & Della Fink
Josh & Brittany Black
Evelyn West
Mark Dobberstein
Jordan & Sarah Hesters
Jacob Alexander
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