OAK BROOK, IL. - February 3, 2009 - Ronald McDonald House Charities(R) Board of Trustees elected Donna W. Hyland, President and Chief Executive Officer of Children's Healthcare of Atlanta to serve on the Board of Trustees.

"We are very fortunate that the RMHC Board of Trustees is made up of such a committed, caring group of business and community leaders who share our vision of helping children around the world," said Marty Coyne, president and CEO of RMHC, "We welcome the addition of Donna Hyland to our Board. She brings a unique health care perspective, which is so critical to the work we do. We know she will greatly impact our mission to improve the health and well being of children."

Donna Hyland is President and Chief Executive Officer of Children's Healthcare of Atlanta. Prior to her current role, she held the positions of Chief Financial Officer and then Chief Operating Officer at Children's. During her tenure, she has overseen monumental growth and achievement at the hospital. She was instrumental in the 1998 merger of Egleston Children's Health Care System and Scottish Rite Children's Medical Center that led to the formation of what is now one of the top three pediatric hospitals in the country. She also helped transition Hughes Spalding Children's Hospital into the Children's family in 2006. Hyland was named one of the 2007 Women of Excellence by Business to Business magazine, and being named President and CEO of Children's has given Hyland the distinct honor of being the only female CEO among the top 25 hospitals in Atlanta.

In addition to her new role as Board member of RMHC, Hyland also serves as a Board member of the Metro Atlanta Chamber of Commerce, Metro Atlanta YMCA and the Georgia Partnership for Excellence in Education. In addition, Hyland has also chaired a Task Force within the Commission for a New Georgia at the Governor's request and previously served on the Health Strategies Council.

Prior to joining Children's, Hyland was employed by American Medical International and The Home Depot. She attended the University of Kentucky and Western Kentucky University and is a certified public accountant.

Hyland and her husband, Paul, reside in Atlanta with their two children.

Hyland's nomination was accepted during the winter Board of Trustee meeting held in December.

About RMHC
Ronald McDonald House Charities, a non-profit, 501 (c)(3) corporation, creates, finds and supports programs that directly improve the health and well being of children. Families and children being cared for at seventy-three percent of the most prestigious children's hospitals in the world benefit from one or more of the RMHC core programs. Its programs are grassroots-driven to enable the Charity to offer help where children need it most - right in their own communities. RMHC makes an immediate, positive impact on children's lives through its global network of local Chapters in 52 countries and its three core programs: the Ronald McDonald House(R), Ronald McDonald Family Room(R) and Ronald McDonald Care Mobile(R). RMHC and its global network of local Chapters have awarded more than $460 million in grants and program services to children's programs around the world. These programs and grants provide a bridge to accessible health care and allow families more time together, which helps in the healing process. For more information, visit www.rmhc.org.

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