Saturday is McHappy Day and a chance to support Ronald McDonald House Charities to help keep families together when their child is sick or injured.
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All McDonald’s stores in the Illawarra area taking part and supporting the charity that helps so many families can be as simple buying a Big Mac from midnight Friday.
Mat Criado is the McHappy Day coordinator at McDonald’s Warilla and has put weeks of planning into ensuring the community day runs smoothly and is enjoyable for everyone.
McHappy Day is one of the busiest and best days of the year at McDonald’s and the Dwarte family owned Warilla and Warrawong stores always rank among the top fundraisers in Australia.
Mr Criado is the product quality manager at the Warilla store and has been part of its McHappy activities for the last five years.
“We will have full staff everywhere,” he said.
“We are going to have face-painting set up outside and balloon artists inside. We want to ensure it is a really fun family day and easy for everyone to enjoy and support such a great cause. We want to raise as much money as we can for Ronald McDonald House.”
Glenn Dwarte said three years ago McDonald’s Warrawong raised the most money of any restaurant in Australia.
“Then two years Warilla beat Warrawong to raise the most money in Australia. And last year Warrawong raised the most money for NSW and the ACT and finished second in Australia,” he said.
Among the celebrities helping out nationally this year is Naomi Watts who is encouraging support to a charity that really makes a difference.
“I have enjoyed understanding all the help they provide to families across Australia, but particularly those from rural and regional areas so they can stay close to loved ones in their time of need,” Watts said.
Executive officer of Ronald McDonald House Greater Western Sydney executive officer Belinda Woolford said McHappy Day was a great community day.
“Our biggest fundraising day of the year and truly helps make a difference for families in their time of need,” she said.
“Since it first started in 1991, McHappy Day has raised more than $42 million for RMHC and over $4 million in 2017. Donations can now be made for McHappy Day at https://www.rmhc.org.au/mchappyday.
But there are many other ways to help raise funds:
- $2 from every Big Mac sold on McHappy Day goes directly to Ronald McDonald House Charities
- Buying a pair of McHappy Day socks for $5 or $2, $5, $10 or $50 Helping Hands
- Making a gold coin donation with one of our Bucket Brigades on McHappy Day on Saturday and Sunday
- Purchasing a 600mL Cool Ridge Water for the next 12 months, 10 cents from each bottle will go to RMHC
In 2017 Ronald McDonald House Charities made a difference in many ways by:
- Providing more than 300,000 nights of accommodation or “bed nights” for over 9,000 families
- Nearly 30,000 families visited its Family Rooms
- 330 families were able to use our Family Retreats
- More than 1,300 students were able to be included in the learning program on any given week
- Donations fund programs including Ronald McDonald Houses, Ronald McDonald Family Rooms, Ronald McDonald Learning Program, and the Ronald McDonald Family Retreats.