In 1992 an association, called the Associação de Apoio à Criança com Neoplasia (AACN-RJ) (Association of Support of Children with Neoplasia), was formed by people from various segments of the community concerned with humanizing and supporting the treatment of infant-juvenile cancer in Rio de Janeiro. In 1994 the AACN-RJ inaugurated the first Ronald McDonald House in Latin America, in the district of Maracanã, in Rio.

Since its opening, the Ronald McDonald House has served and improved the quality of life of more than 2,000 children, and has increased the cancer cure rate. Its work has also reduced the number of hospital infections and decreased treatment drop-out rates resulting from lack of family resources. The House is built to be a ‘home away from home' and is served by over 600 trained volunteers who take turns in four shifts of three hours each day.