John Legend Opens Up on His Strong ‘Support System’ as He Celebrates 50 Years of Ronald McDonald House Charities

RMHC is marking their 50th anniversary of the first-ever Ronald McDonald House opening on Tuesday, Oct. 15, with the help of the EGOT winner

John Legend. Photo: Jamie McCarthy/Getty

With a good support system, John Legend knows that he and his family can overcome any obstacle that might come their way.

In an exclusive interview with PEOPLE, the EGOT winner, 45, opens up about his long involvement with Ronald McDonald House Charities — including helping the organization celebrate their 50th anniversary on Tuesday, Oct. 15.

To mark the monumental milestone, RMHC is teaming up with Legend, who hosted a “50 Years of Ohana” event in Hawaii, and is also set to perform at the RMHC Global 50th Anniversary Gala in Chicago on Nov. 16.

John Legend Partners with Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) to Celebrate the 50th Anniversary of the First Ronald McDonald House.Marco Garcia/Getty

“Ronald McDonald House Charities have been doing amazing work for 50 years, and I’ve been able to witness firsthand how meaningful the work is for families who are going through medical issues with their young ones,” Legend explains to PEOPLE.

“And I’ve gotten to spend time with a lot of the families, both in Los Angeles and in Hawaii. And I’ve been so impressed with the work that RMHC has been doing and I’m so excited to help them celebrate this 50 years. It really affected so many people’s lives and provided comfort and support for people going through some of the toughest times, and I really want to honor that and I’m glad we’re celebrating 50 years.”

Last month Legend opened up to PEOPLE about his 6-year-old son Miles’ Type 1 diabetes diagnosis, and the star — who is also dad to daughters Luna, 8, and Esti, 20 months, and son Wren, 15 months (with his wife Chrissy Teigen) — knows how crucial it is for families to have others to lean on others while navigating health challenges.

“We’re so fortunate to have the folks at the Children’s Hospital in Los Angeles and health professionals at our school and just a wonderful team to help us,” the My Favorite Dream singer says. “It’s really important for families when they’re going through medical challenges to have that support system.”

As for those who have been impacted by the work RMHC does, Legend emphasizes that it’s like having a home away from home.

“Sometimes they’re coming from cities that don’t have as many resources available to them, so they have to bring their families to a big city like L.A. or Honolulu, and they have to live there for a while. And RMHC is so supportive in giving them a place to stay and a support system to help them get through a really challenging time,” he says.

Chrissy Teigen and John Legend.Matthew Stockman/Getty

Moving forward, Legend and his family are focused on educating each other about different treatment options — and the singer says he is grateful to “our entire village” who have been learning about Miles’ diagnosis and offering a helping hand when needed.

Global President and CEO at Ronald McDonald House Charities, Katie Fitzgerald, explained in a press release that it was an honor to partner with Legend for their anniversary.

“On behalf of RMHC and our global system, we’re incredibly honored to partner with John Legend to celebrate the past 50 years of impact and the future of the organization,” Fitzgerald said. “RMHC has cared for families so they can care for theirs, yet the need for our programs continues to substantially increase around the world. We’re 50 years young and our work has just begun!”

Since 1974, RMHC has cared for tens of millions of families, offering more than 1,000 programs around the world that provide essential services to families when children need healthcare. Learn more about how RMHC ensures the best health outcomes for their children on their donation website.