News

McDonald’s marks 40th anniversary of flagship charity

October 7, 2014

McDonald's and Ronald McDonald House Charities are celebrating 40 years this month. To kick off the celebration, a social media campaign begins Oct. 8, encouraging followers to share RMHC-related stories and photos using #forRMHC.

McDonald's restaurants will also host a variety of initiatives around the world to further support the anniversary of the opening of the first Ronald McDonald House, all starting on or around Oct. 15. In the US, McDonald’s will host the 'RMHC Day of Change' where customers are encouraged to collect and donate their change in RMHC Donation Boxes located on the front counters and drive-thrus of participating restaurants.

"Some people may think a handful of spare change is insignificant, but every penny counts when we're making an impact on the lives of children and families going through challenging times," RMHC CEO J.C. Gonzalez-Mendez said in a news releae. "In fact, last year alone McDonald's customers generously gave more than $50 million through the RMHC Donation Box programs worldwide, which could have helped to provide a 'home away from home' to more than 8,000 families each night. And this year, if each McDonald's customer dropped a penny into an RMHC Donation Box each time they visited, the Charity could raise more than $250 million to support RMHC children and families globally."

McDonald's partnership with RMHC began in 1974 with one child, Kim Hill, who battled leukemia. The Hill family's struggle to remain close to their daughter while receiving treatment inspired a doctor, a professional football team and and McDonald's to collaborate and build the first Ronald McDonald House, located in Philadelphia.