Canadians step up (to the counter) and help raise more than $4.2 million on the 21st McHappy Day®

McDonald's® restaurants nationwide raise money in support of Ronald McDonald Houses and other local children's charities

TORONTO, May 9, 2014 /CNW/ - McDonald's® Canada and its franchisees raised more than $4.2 million on the 21st McHappy Day - a much-anticipated national fundraising event to support Ronald McDonald Houses and other local children's charities.

The funds raised in communities across Canada will help support local children's charities across the country, including Ronald McDonald House®, which supports Canadian families and their sick children. Thanks to medical advances, more and more children are winning their battles but the healing is taking longer, with more treatments, over longer periods of time. Research now shows that sick children heal faster when their families are with them,¹ and Ronald McDonald Houses enable families to stay by their child's side during a medical crisis.

Including funds from Wednesday's McHappy Day fundraising event, McDonald's Canada and its franchisees have raised more than $9 million in the past year for Ronald McDonald House Charities® (RMHC®) Canada, and other local children's charities.

"McHappy Day came to life thanks to all of our guests, suppliers and community partners who once again showed their overwhelming support," said John Betts, President and CEO, McDonald's Canada. "Every dollar raised helps us to continue to make a difference in the lives of children across the country."

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

"McHappy Day is a celebration of the generosity of McDonald's and Canadians.  We are so grateful for the support  given to the Ronald McDonald Houses through McHappy Day; it has helped us to provide a home away from home for nearly 250,000 families with sick children across Canada, since Canada's first Ronald McDonald House opened in 1981," said Cathy Loblaw, President and CEO, RMHC.  "Together, we are able to support Canadian families as they focus on what matters most, healing their sick child."

Since McHappy Day was first introduced in 1977, the national one-day fundraising event has raised more than $46 million for RMHC, Ronald McDonald Houses and local children's charities across Canada. In addition, McDonald's donates 10 cents from every Happy Meal sold every day in Canada to RMHC and has raised a further $46.9 million to-date. As a result of the continued success of McHappy Day in Canada, it is now a renowned world-wide fundraising event bringing McDonald's restaurants together to support children in need.

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. Ronald McDonald Houses provide a home away from home for out of town families with sick children being treated at a nearby hospital. Completing our circle of support for Canadian families are 9 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 2012, the 14 Ronald McDonald Houses, 9 Ronald McDonald Family Rooms and 2 Ronald McDonald Care Mobiles served 13,327 families. By the end of 2014 that support will grow to serving over 20,000 families. As RMHC's largest donor, McDonald's Restaurants of Canada Limited and its franchisees also donate 10 cents from every Happy Meal® sold to Ronald McDonald Houses across Canada. For more information on RMHC Canada, visit: www.rmhc.ca.

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 and employ more than 85,000 employees 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) and Facebook (Facebook.com/McDonaldsCanada) for updates on our business, promotions and menu items.

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¹ Forsythe, P. New practices in the transitional care center improve outcomes for babies and their families. Journal of Perinatology. 1998;18(6 Pt 2 Su):S13-17

SOURCE: McDonald's Restaurants of Canada Ltd.

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