McDonald’s® Canada Celebrates it's 17th McHappy Day
05-04-2010
Communities across Canada raise funds in support of local children's charities
TORONTO, ON (May 4, 2010) – On Wednesday May 5th, McDonald’s restaurants across Canada will celebrate the 17th edition of McHappy Day, the company’s longest-running and best-known national fundraising event. As part of this one-day fundraising initiative, local McDonald’s restaurants across the country will donate $1 from every Big Mac® sandwich, McMuffin® sandwich and Happy Meal® sold to local children’s charities across Canada, helping children in need. To provide additional support, many restaurants held local fundraising events leading up to McHappy Day.
“At McDonald’s Canada, we have always been committed to giving back to the communities we serve,” said John Betts, President, McDonald’s Restaurants of Canada Limited. “One of our most well-known fundraising events is McHappy Day, which brings together our employees, our customers, our suppliers, and special guests in support of local charities dedicated to improving the lives of children in communities large and small right across Canada.”
Since its inception in 1977, McHappy Day has raised more than $28 million for Ronald McDonald House Charities® (RMHC) of Canada, the Ronald McDonald House® program and hundreds of other local children’s charities.
“I’m excited to celebrate our 17th McHappy Day, a proud Canadian tradition since 1977,” said George A. Cohon, Founder, McDonald's Restaurants of Canada Limited and McDonald's Russia. “As a result of this event’s great success in Canada, McHappy Day will now be celebrated annually worldwide – uniting McDonald’s restaurants around the world in support of children in need.”
As part of the McHappy Day celebrations, McDonald’s franchisees and employees will be joined by a variety of special guests, sports and media personalities, politicians, and entertainers as they roll up their sleeves to work behind the counter and show their support in local McDonald’s restaurants across the country.
Canadians can show their support online by going to McDonald’s Canada’s Facebook fan page (http://www.facebook.com/McDonaldsCanada) and confirming their attendance for McHappy Day. To get exciting McHappy Day updates from across the country, Canadians on Twitter are encouraged to follow McDonald’s Canada (www.twitter.com/McD_Canada). Starting on McHappy Day, Canadians can also text MCHAPPY to 30333* and make a $5 donation to RMHC Canada.
About McDonald’s Canada
McDonald’s is the leading foodservice company in the world. McDonald’s Restaurants of Canada Limited and its Canadian franchisees own and operate more than 1,400 restaurants and employ more than 77,000 Canadians coast to coast. Approximately 75 per cent of McDonald’s Canadian restaurants are locally owned and operated by independent entrepreneurs. For more information about McDonald’s Canada, visit the company’s website at www.mcdonalds.ca.