Making families happy: Canadians unite across the country on McHappy Day®

More than $5 million raised and thousands of smiles delivered from coast-to-coast

TORONTO, May 9, 2016 /CNW/ - This year's McHappy Day united neighbours at McDonald's restaurants across the country to raise a record-setting more than $5 million in support of Ronald McDonald Houses and other local children's charities.

"This long-standing Canadian tradition was another success and we are thankful to our people, franchisees and their employees, guests and suppliers for helping make McHappy Day 2016 meaningful for local families and children in need across the country," said John Betts, President and CEO, McDonald's Canada. "McHappy Day continues to be at the heart of who we are and what we do at McDonald's Canada."

On McHappy Day, guests participated at more than 1,400 McDonald's restaurants across Canada where one dollar from every Big Mac® sandwich, Happy Meal® and hot McCafé® beverage sold was donated to benefit Ronald McDonald Houses and other local children's charities. In addition, many restaurants ran fundraising events and activities in their local communities throughout the year to generate additional funds for their charities of choice.

Since first introducing Canadians and the world to McHappy Day in 1977, the one-day national fundraiser has raised more than $55.6 million to support local charities dedicated to making a difference in the lives of families in need. McDonald's extends this happiness throughout the year, donating 10 cents from every Happy Meal sold every day in Canada to Ronald McDonald House Charities® (RMHC®) Canada.

"McHappy Day truly is our happiest day of the year! This longstanding Canadian tradition captures the care and generosity of our founding and forever partners at McDonald's and their remarkable guests, crew and local communities who all come together in support of families," said Cathy Loblaw, President and CEO, RMHC Canada. "Together, we are helping more than 20,000 families stay close each year who are staying at a Ronald McDonald House while their sick child heals at a nearby hospital. Thank you McHappy Day."

About McDonald's Canada
In 1967, Canadians welcomed the first McDonald's restaurant to Richmond, British Columbia. Today, McDonald's Restaurants of Canada Limited has become part of the Canadian fabric, serving close to three million guests every day. Together with our franchisees, we proudly employ nearly 90,000 people from coast-to-coast and approximately 85 per cent of McDonald's 1,400 Canadian restaurants are locally owned and operated by independent entrepreneurs. Of the almost $1 billion we spend on food, more than 85 per cent is purchased from suppliers in Canada. For more information on McDonald's Canada visit McDonalds.ca.

About Ronald McDonald House Charities® (RMHC®) Canada 
In 1982, Ronald McDonald House Charities Canada was founded to be the everlasting organization of support for Ronald McDonald Houses and their programs in Canada. The 14 Ronald McDonald Houses provide a home for out-of-town families whose children are being treated at a nearby hospital. Completing our circle of support for Canadian families are 13 Ronald McDonald Family Rooms, which provide a caring place for families to rest and recharge right inside the hospital, as well as 2 Ronald McDonald Care Mobiles, mobile health units that help to bring medical care to vulnerable communities in Alberta. 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 House Charities, and McDonald's guests generously support Ronald McDonald House families by donating at the coinbox in their local McDonald's restaurant. For more information on RMHC Canada, visit www.rmhc.ca.

SOURCE McDonald's Canada

Adam Grachnik, McDonald's Canada, [email protected], 416-446-3354; Jennifer Wasley, Weber Shandwick, 416-642-7903, [email protected]; McDonald's Media Relations Line, [email protected], 1-877-786-3342