OAK BROOK, Ill. — Thirty-five years ago, the first Ronald McDonald House opened its doors in Philadelphia to provide a "home away from home" for families with seriously ill children. Today, McDonald's and Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) kick-off an anniversary celebration to commemorate the important milestone and their long-standing commitment to helping children and families, the company has announced.
Beginning today, RMHC and McDonald's are inviting people to share their stories of how RMHC has touched their lives, the life of someone they know or their personal stories of inspiration through a dedicated "Share.Give.Hope" campaign Web page.
Visitors can share and read personal accounts of hope and inspiration, post comments to stories listed on the site and become part of a network of individuals who've been through similar experiences.
The anniversary celebration will culminate in November during McHappy Day, McDonald's largest annual fundraiser for the Charity. RMHC and McDonald's will feature one of the stories submitted online in a national print advertising campaign for RMHC, inspiring others to help support children and families around the world.
People also can show their support for RMHC by sending a 35th Anniversary e-card to friends and family, inviting them to share their own inspirational words online. In addition, visitors can download an RMHC 'badge' to place on their personal blog or social networking site, further demonstrating their support for the charity.
Celebrity Friends of RMHC will be joining RMHC and McDonald's in celebrating the 35th Anniversary by engaging their followers on Twitter. The Celebrity Friends — Holly Robinson Peete, June Ambrose and Al Roker — will be tweeting about the 35th Anniversary and their personal support of the charity, while encouraging their followers to share their own inspirational stories with others.
The first Ronald McDonald House opened its doors in Philadelphia in 1974, largely due to the fundraising efforts of local McDonald's franchisees and McDonald's Corp., who donated proceeds from the sales of Shamrock Shakes. Since then, RMHC has grown to be an international non-profit organization.
