“I love the atmosphere and the uniqueness that each House creates. They are all so special, and no two Houses are alike,” says Jason Brown, American figure skater and Olympic medalist.

Jason Brown and his skating students visit our Ronald McDonald House near Scottish Rite.

Jason visited our Ronald McDonald House near Scottish Rite recently, with a sweet surprise in tow – 20 large bags full of stuffed animals for donation! Jason also brought along a few students from a figure skating camp he held.

“There is a tradition in the sport of figure skating where fans will throw stuffed animals onto the ice after our performances, to show their love and support,” Jason explains. “I wanted to figure out a way to pay it forward and give back to the communities in which I was competing.”

Atlanta Ronald McDonald House Charities isn’t the only chapter to receive a visit from Jason. “I have had the privilege of visiting RMHC chapters all over the world! Chicago, New York City, Winston Salem, Colorado Springs, Grenoble, Helsinki, Vancouver, Montreal, Sapporo, Tokyo, Nagoya, Taipei and now, of course, Atlanta!”

With his stuff animal collections, Jason hopes to bring more awareness to RMHC, connecting his fans and students to their local Ronald McDonald Houses. “It’s a great way for fans to give back and support a local cause.”

Visiting each RMHC House continues to inspire Jason. “It has provided me with a humbling amount of perspective and has shown me what real strength and courage looks like.”

Jason started figure skating at the age of 5 in his hometown of Highland Park, Illinois. With an amazing performance at the 2014 U.S. National Championships, Jason secured his spot on the U.S. Olympic team. At the Sochi Winter Olympics, Brown helped the U.S. Team win a bronze medal.

Known for his infectious personality, Jason has become a fan favorite in the figure skating community, and now, the Ronald McDonald House Charities community!