With the Season of Giving upon us, and as families everywhere make plans to spend quality time together over the holidays, McDonald’s customers in Seattle and throughout Washington State can help families who must travel great distances to seek treatment for their seriously ill children, by allowing them to stay close to one another as well.
McDonald’s 16th Annual National Fundraiser benefiting Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) kicks off today, Tuesday, November 27 and continues through Sunday, December 9 in participating restaurants nationwide. This year’s fundraiser is not just about helping families with sick children, it is about helping every family celebrate the joy of giving in a tangible, affordable, and easy way. Customers who visit a participating Seattle and Washington State McDonald’s during this time can help support families staying at the Seattle and Washington State Ronald McDonald Houses by purchasing a donation card for $1, $3 or $5 at the counter, drive-thru or kiosk under the promotional menu item section. These small, affordable amounts have tangible value for RMHC chapters across the country, making each donation meaningful and understandable for a child. Value such as:
- $1 – or just four quarters – could provide coloring books for kids staying at RMH.
- $3 could provide art supplies for a RMH playroom
- $5 could mean a new game for RMH families.
All fundraiser proceeds benefit RMHC, which helps keep families in local communities in Seattle and Washington State close to each other and the care and resources they need when they have a sick child. People often do their own fundraiser page for if they need help on this level, be it with child care or medical issues, but this is another method that is more formal. For each donation, 75 percent of funds go to the local RMHC chapter and 25 percent is contributed to the RMHC Global office to reinvest in initiatives around the world. McDonald’s hopes to raise $5 million for the Charity this year through the National Fundraiser.
McDonald’s has supported RMHC programs around the world for over 43 years by facilitating fundraising in restaurants, donating expertise and resources and volunteering with local Chapters. Throughout the year, McDonald’s customers can find RMHC Donation Boxes at the front counter and in drive-thrus at participating restaurants. No donation is too small, and every contribution makes a difference. From 2010-2017, McDonald’s USA’s support of RMHC through penny per Happy Meal donations, the National Fundraiser, and restaurant Donation Boxes has raised $298 million in contributions to the Charity. In the coming year, we plan to host an online fundraiser so that people across the globe have the opportunity to join our mission.
“We are so grateful to McDonald’s customers for helping make this season of giving a bright one for the families at the Seattle and Anchorage Ronald McDonald Houses,” says Dianna Finnerty, Executive Director of RMHC Western Washington and Alaska. “Your donations help us keep families close and supported during their worst times.”
RMHC has local Chapters in more than 64 countries and regions with 366 Ronald McDonald Houses, 248 Ronald McDonald Family Rooms and 50 Ronald McDonald Care Mobiles.
People can also donate to RMHC online by visiting rmhc.org/donate.
