McDonald's® Canada Aims to Deliver Smiles to Thousands of Canadian Families on McHappy Day®
Company Added
Company Removed
Apply to Request List

McDonald's® Canada Aims to Deliver Smiles to Thousands of Canadian Families on McHappy Day®

Over 1,400 restaurants nationwide set to raise funds for Ronald McDonald Houses and other local children's charities.

TORONTO, ONTARIO - (Marketwired - May 6, 2015) - Today, McDonald's Canada and its franchisees are celebrating McHappy Day - a nationwide fundraising event where $1 from every Big Mac® sandwich, Happy Meal® and any sized hot McCafé® beverage sold will be donated to Canada's 14 Ronald McDonald Houses and other local children's charities across Canada.

This year marks the 22nd McHappy Day, which raised more than $4.2 million last year. As part of the day's celebrations, McDonald's Canada, its franchise owners and their respective employees will be joined by a variety of special guests. Athletes, media personalities, local dignitaries and celebrities work side-by-side with McDonald's restaurant teams and franchisees to raise money for Canadian families and their children.

"Families are at the heart of who we are and what we do at McDonald's Canada," said John E. Betts, President and CEO of McDonald's Canada. "We're there with families during their everyday moments, their celebratory moments, and through Ronald McDonald Houses, even their most difficult moments. On McHappy Day, every dollar raised helps us continue to make a difference in the lives of children across the country."

First celebrated in Canada and established by George Cohon, founder of McDonald's Canada and Ronald McDonald House Charities® (RMHC®) Canada and Russia, McHappy Day is now a renowned worldwide fundraising event.

"In 1977 we had a vision of communities across Canada coming together in support of families and children," said Cohon. "Canadians have embraced that vision and continue to lend a hand on McHappy Day, allowing families to find support and a home-away-from-home at one of our 14 Ronald McDonald Houses and 11 Ronald McDonald Family Rooms."

McDonald's Canada's community involvement efforts are year-round and extend beyond McHappy Day. Since 2004, the company and its franchisees have raised more than $50 million for RMHC Canada by donating 10 cents from the sale of every Happy Meal, and each time you drop some change in a coin box at McDonald's restaurants, you are supporting Ronald McDonald Houses and local families. These funds help over 20,000 Canadian families every year stay at Ronald McDonald Houses across Canada while their children are being treated at nearby hospitals.

"Since we opened the doors to the first Canadian Ronald McDonald House in 1981, 269,916 families of sick children have found comfort at a critical moment in their lives - the moment when their lives shift to focus on the one thing that matters most, healing their sick child," said Cathy Loblaw, President and CEO, RMHC Canada. "McDonald's Canada's incredible support as our founding and forever partner is most magical on McHappy Day when our families and Houses get to see just how much Canadians care."

Today, 14 Ronald McDonald Houses in Canada support over 20,000 families each year. By 2015, the Canadian Ronald McDonald House network of programs and support will reach 27,000 children and families annually. Completing the circle of support for Canadian families are 11 Ronald McDonald Family Rooms, which provide an oasis of calm and support right inside the walls of the hospital, as well as the Ronald McDonald Care Mobile® program in Calgary, Alberta.

About Ronald McDonald House Charities® (RMHC®) Canada

In 1982, Ronald McDonald House Charities Canada was founded to be the everlasting organization that would support Ronald McDonald Houses and their programs in Canada. Canada's 14 Ronald McDonald Houses provide a home for out of town families with sick children being treated at a nearby hospital. Completing our circle of support for Canadian families are 11 Ronald McDonald Family Rooms, which provide an oasis of calm and support right inside the walls of the hospital, as well as the Ronald McDonald Care Mobile® program in Calgary, Alberta. In 2013, the 14 Ronald McDonald Houses, 11 Ronald McDonald Family Rooms and two Ronald McDonald Care Mobiles served 23,409 families. By 2015, the Canadian Ronald McDonald House network of programs and support will reach 27,000 children and families annually. As RMHC's largest donor, McDonald's Restaurants of Canada Limited and its franchisees donate 10 cents from every Happy Meal® sold to Ronald McDonald Houses and every time customers donate change in a coin box at McDonald's they're helping support Ronald McDonald Houses in Canada. For more information on RMHC Canada, visit: www.rmhc.ca or follow us on Twiitter (@RMHCCanada) and Facebook (Facebook.com/RMHCCanada).

About McDonald's Canada

McDonald's is the leading foodservice company in the world. McDonald's Restaurants of Canada Limited and its Canadian franchisees own and operate more than 1,400 restaurants with more than 85,000 employees from coast-to-coast. Approximately 80 per cent of McDonald's Canadian restaurants are locally owned and operated by independent entrepreneurs. For more information about McDonald's Canada, visit www.mcdonalds.ca or follow us on Twitter (@McD_Canada), Facebook (Facebook.com/McDonaldscanada) and Instagram (Instagram.com/mcdonaldscanada) for updates on our business, promotions and menu items.

SOURCE McDonald's Canada

Contact:

McDonald's Media Relations Line
1-877-786-3342

###

Comments:

comments powered by Disqus
Share This Page

Subscribe to our Newsletters