SECU Family House at UNC Hospitals

Who We Are: A Brief History

The vision for SECU Family House was kindled in 2001 by a small group of volunteers who recognized the need for extending lodging, hospitality, hope, and support to families of critical care patients. The leading light was Dr. Mark Johnson who, as director of UNC Hospitals’ Liver Transplant program, daily witnessed the need for such a facility. Mark’s parents, Paula and Bob Johnson, together with a few other key organizers, visited similar hospitality houses in Pittsburgh and Atlanta, sought support from hospital and university administrators, and recruited prominent community members to help advance the cause.

The state of North Carolina, through UNC-Chapel Hill, joined the effort with a 20-year lease at $25 per year on a  5.85 acre site immediately adjoining the Ronald McDonald House of Chapel Hill. In May 2005, the State Employee’s Credit Union via the NC SECU Foundation made a $2 million challenge grant to Family House. Through the efforts of many dedicated and compassionate folks, that challenge was met and the dream began to take shape.

In addition to the SECU Foundation, major gifts came from the State of North Carolina, William G. and Gray Clark, UNC Hospitals, Blue Cross and Blue Shield of North Carolina Foundation, the Kate B. Reynolds Charitable Trust, Amgen, the Duke Endowment, RBC Centura, Wachovia, UNC Hospitals’ Volunteer Association, the Anna Family/Resolute Companies Charitable Fund, Wittenbach Business Systems and many others who are representative of the people we serve across North Carolina.

Ground was broken in late 2006 and construction for SECU Family House was underway. Nearly fifteen months later, in March of 2008, SECU Family House became a member of the National Association of Hospitality Houses (NAHHH) and opened wide its doors to patients from all over North Carolina–and beyond–served by UNC. Thousands of patients from the oncology, burn, eating disorders, trauma, and transplant units, as well as their families and caregivers, now experience many comforts of home while they receive extended medical care.

Currently, SECU Family House is supported by a Board of Directors comprised of community volunteers, UNC medical personnel, and members of the business community. Full-time staff, a live-in resident manager, housekeeper, and several part-time weekend managers ensure that there is support on site 24 hours a day, 365 days a year. More than 70 active volunteers help keep the House running, neat, and organized.

Join our mission and help us serve the patients and families who find a temporary home among us. Whether you are interested in serving as a volunteer, donor, or community supporter in general, we invite you to join us in providing active and intentional hospitality to our guests.