McDonald’s Canada has just celebrated 40 years since the inception of McHappy Day, raising a record-breaking $5.6 million for Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) and other children charities in the process.
Notable Life went to Ronald McDonald House in Toronto, one of 15 Ronald McDonald Houses across the country, to see how McHappy Day benefits the over 30,000 families who call a Ronald McDonald House or Ronald McDonald Family Room, home. We got to see this impact first-hand and our experience made its mark — McHappy Day is achieving something really special.
RMHC Toronto is a beautiful home, located on McCaul Street, just west of University Avenue where many hospitals are. It houses 81 families and is always at capacity, meaning there are always at least 81 kids on a healing journey.
The families who are living at Ronald McDonald House have a sick kid in the family, but we could tell their experience was made warmer with a beautiful tranquility garden, a super-cool gymnasium (sponsored by the Toronto Blue Jays!) for the kids to run around in, and caring accommodations to live life as normally as possible.
McHappy Day is a 40-year old initiative by George Cohon, Founder of McDonald’s Canada and Ronald McDonald House Charities Canada.
Cohon celebrated his 80th birthday at Ronald McDonald House in Toronto last week, meaning he’s been helping Canadian families in need for half his life. Since Cohon founded McHappy Day, McDonald’s Canada has raised over $66 million dollars for Canadian families in need of extra help.
One dollar from every Big Mac, Happy Meal or hot McCafé beverage sold on McHappy Day goes towards supporting families – from over 1,800 communities across Canada –of sick children. The $1 contributes to family life in amazing ways: it pays for long-term accommodations for families who live out of town, toys and books to help kids be kids, and for a beautiful kitchen for RMHC families to cook and enjoy tasty meals together.
Canadians who love their favourite menu items on McHappy Day also help Ronald McDonald House Charities with the 10-cent Happy Meal program and coin boxes in restaurants throughout the year. In fact, McDonald’s is committed to be a socially responsible company.
After engaging first-hand with the families at Ronald McDonald House Charities, Notable Life is very proud of our fondness for Big Macs and large french fries — in fact, we’re already hungry for McHappy Day 2018.
