Our McDonald’s Relationship

RMHC Founding & Forever Mission Partner since 1974

From the moment the first Ronald McDonald House in Philadelphia, PA, opened, the entire McDonald’s system (owner/operators, suppliers, employees, and customers) has helped us support families with sick children by providing stability and vital resources.

Locally, the Buffalo Ronald McDonald House opened its doors to families in 1983 with the encouragement and support of 11 local McDonald’s Owner/Operators and their 67 restaurants in Western New York and Northwestern Pennsylvania.

We are tremendously grateful for the support of the McDonald’s Owners and Operators, who spearhead promotional and fundraising events on our behalf. Their efforts generate a significant portion of the House’s annual operating revenue.

McDonald’s continues to provide vital foundational support to RMHC of WNY through the following activities:

• Customers can donate their spare change in RMHC donation boxes and canisters.
• Offering customers the choice to Round-Up their total for RMHC.
• Donating one cent from the sale of every Happy Meal to support local RMHC of WNY programs and services.
• Donating products to help keep the Ronald McDonald Family Room, Hospitality Carts, and the Ronald McDonald House well stocked.
• Donating food and volunteer time for the Annual 5K Run post-run picnic.
• For 22 years, Owner/Operator Sandy Hafner and her team hosted the Ronald McDonald Golf Classic, which raised over $1,000,000 for our families,
• Owner/Operator Rico Francani held the first House Holiday Concert to benefit the House in December 2008. Since then, the holiday concerts have generated $500,000 to benefit families at the House,
• Various product promotions, such as the Shamrock Shake and Buffalo Chill!

Several local Owners/Operators also serve as volunteers on our Board of Directors and committees and along with McDonald’s employees participate in many local RMHC of WNY fundraising events.