Peoria Standard

The Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) will receive more funding thanks to an amendment to the Illinois Income Tax Act, supporting the organization's efforts in improving the health and well-being of children and their families.

State Sens. Win Stoller (R-Peoria), David Koehler (D-Pekin), and Rachelle Crowe (D-Maryville) sponsored Senate bill 81, which took effect earlier this month.

“The [RMHC] of Central Illinois is a valuable part of our community that services over 29 counties in our region,” Stoller said. “The critical services that they provide to families dealing with the hardships of a sick child cannot be overstated.”

This additional funding comes from state residents by checking a box on their state income form.

"The new tax checkoff that this legislation creates will help ensure that the [RMHC] are able to continue their vital work for the families of sick children," Stoller wrote in a Facebook post. "It is my honor to assist them with their mission of keeping families together while their child receives treatment."

People all over the world have benefited from RMHC's assistance.

The organization has three programs, which are: the Ronald McDonald House Programs, which helps families relax when traveling for medical care; Ronald McDonald Family Room Programs, which lets families escape from stressful medical environments; and Ronald McDonald Care Mobile Programs, which gives children and families access to medical treatment on the go.