Ronald McDonald House Charities Canada

Ronald McDonald House Charities Canada is a non-profit organisation that gives a home to families with seriously ill children who must leave their own homes in order to seek medical attention at a nearby hospital. There are currently fourteen Ronald McDonald Houses as well as six Family Rooms in Canada that are funded 100% by McDonald’s Canada. These houses provide a home away from home to over 10,000 families and their sick loved one. McDonald's has committed to financially supporting all of the Ronald McDonald Houses administrative and operating costs.^[1]

Objective

When a child is diagnosed with a critical illness, they are not always able to get the right medical attention where they originally reside. When families have to travel to out of town hospitals in order to get the medical assistance required; may it be tests, treatments or therapy, Ronald McDonald House provides these families with an affordable, comforting, and loving environment while their child is in care at a nearby hospital.^[2] Founded by George Cohon, the first Canadian Ronald McDonald House opened its door in 1981 in the city of Toronto.^[3]

Donations

Each Ronald McDonald House is independently operated by its own charitable organization within its community. These Houses rely on the support of corporate donors as well as individual donors in order to be able to provide the families with the best environment possible.

Corporate donors provide Ronald McDonald Houses with the essential amenities needed in order to provide families with a comfortable stay. In addition to this, they also help through funding, in-kind donations and volunteering. The corporate donors that are currently involved with the Ronald McDonald House Charities Canada are Benjamin Moore, Bissell, Coca Cola, Cossette, Ecolab, Electrolux, Ikon, Kruger Products, Microsoft, Moneris, Sealy and Sharp.^[4]

McHappy Day

McDonald restaurants all over the country give back to the community by celebrating McHappy Day, a fundraising event that collects funds for Ronald McDonald Houses. $1 for every BigMac sandwich, Happy Meal and hot McCafé that is sold will be donated to local children charities. McHappy. The fundraiser attracts McDonald’s owners/operators, local celebrity, radio stations, politicians as well as Ronald McDonald House volunteers and staff, all of which how donate their time to help a good cause. Since its creation in 1977, the annual fundraiser has raised over $35 million for its beneficiaries nationwide.^[5]

Coin box

McDonald restaurant are making yearlong contributions to Canada’s Ronald McDonald House Charities, a coin box placed in front of every cash register in efforts to collect public donations from customers.^[6]

Happy Meals

McDonald’s also donates 10 cents of each happy meal sold in Canada to the Ronald McDonald House Charity; over $34 million so far have been collected.^[7]

Houses

Ronald McDonald Houses were created to provide a “home away from home” environment for families to live in while there ill child is being treated at a nearby hospital. They are a non-profit organization that creates “community houses” that a run many on donations given by members of the community. These Houses offer a warm and welcome place to stay where families can find support while dealing with the emotional distress of having their sick child in the hospital. Because these houses are in such high demand, Ronald McDonald Houses are not always able to accommodate all of the families that are in need of a place to stay. Ronald McDonald House Charities are currently able to lodge a total of 219 families across Canada. However they are expanding, relocating or renovating houses in order to provide accommodations for many more families to come. They plan to more than double their available space by 2014, expanding to 465 available bedrooms across Canada.^[8]

British-Columbia

The Ronald McDonald House in British-Columbia has helped over 11 00 families since its opening in 1983, averaging about 400 families per year. Affiliated with BC’s Children’s Hospital, this House provides programs such a Breakfast Express, Home for Dinner as well as many Arts & Crafts for the children.^[9]

Northern Alberta

Open in 1985, The Ronald McDonald House in Northern Alberta is a home to 872 families a year and has been home to over 13,700 families since it opened its doors. Hosting programs such as Science Experiment, Recreation, Physical Movement, Campouts and Craft Nights, the volunteer and staff try to make the patients of Stollery Children’s Hospital, Royal Alexandra, Glen Rose, Grey Nuns and Miseria Acordia as comfortable as possible.^[10]

Central Alberta

One of the newest House’s in Canada has been host to approximately 33,000 families since its opening in February 2012. Children who are staying at The Ronald McDonald House of Central Alberta are treated at Red Deer Regional Hospital Centre.^[11]

Southern Alberta

Opened in 1985, The Ronald McDonald House of Southern Alberta has been a home away from home for 389 families and their sick loved one every year. In order to make the patients from Alberta’s Children Hospital, Foothills, Rockyview and Peter Loughneed as comfortable as possible during their stay, education coordinators as well as programs such as Let’s Do Lunch and Home for Dinner have been put in place by staff and volunteers.^[12]

Saskatchewan

Having helped a total of over 16,000 families since it opened its doors in 1985, The Ronald McDonald House in Saskatchewan hosts many events and fundraisers in order to accommodate the average of 661 families that stay with them per year. Children staying in this residence are treated at the Royal University Hospital.^[13]

Manitoba

The Ronald McDonald House of Manitoba, open in 1984 has been home to an average of 500 families per year; 14,300 since its opening. The sick children that reside here are treated at Winnipeg Children’s hospital as well as St-Boniface Hospital. These patients and their families are treated to many home cooked meals thanks to the program Home for Dinner.^[14]

Southwestern Ontario

Since its opening in 1985, this Ronald McDonald House has lodged over 10,000 families whose sick family member is being treated at either the Children’s Hospital, St. Joseph’s Health Centre, Parkwood or University. Over 552 families per year are greeted by staff and volunteers who provide them with home cooked meals.^[15]

Hamilton

The Ronald McDonald House in Hamilton has helped over 1,325 families since its opening in 1993, averaging at over 700 families per year. Affiliated with McMaster Children Hospital, this House provides home cooked meals for its residents.^[16]

Toronto

Open in 1981, The Ronald McDonald House in Toronto is a home to 246 families per year. Hosting programs such as Expressive Arts, Child Life, Home for Dinner and Play Program, the volunteers and staff try to make the patients of The Hospital for Sick Children (Sick Kids), Mount Sinai Hospital as happy as possible.^[17]

Ottawa

Having helped a total of over 13,000 families since it opened its doors in 1984, The Ronald McDonald House in Ottawa promotes many programs such as Teddy Bear Program, Yoga, Meditation, and Massage Time in order to accommodate the average of 500families that stay with them per year. Children staying in this residence are treated at the Children’s Hospital of Eastern Ontario and the Ottawa Hospital.^[18]

Montreal

Since its opening in 1982, this Ronald McDonald House has lodged over 1,068 families whose sick family member is being treated at either the Ste. Justine, Montreal Children’s or Shriner’s Hospital. The staff and volunteers provide the families with Meal Programs and Knitting Programs.^[19]

Quebec City

Opened in 1988, The Ronald McDonald House of Quebec City has been a home away from home for 2,000 families and their sick loved one every year making it the most trafficked House in Canada. The patients that stay in this House are treated at Centre Hospitalier de L’Université Laval^[20]

Atlantic Canada

The Ronald McDonald House of Atlantic Canada, open in 1982 has been home to an average of 1,030 families per year; 29,000 since its opening. The sick children that reside here are treated at IWK Health Centre and QEII.^[21]

Newfoundland and Labrador

One of the newest House’s in Canada has been host to over 500 families thus far since its opening in 2012. Children who are staying at The Ronald McDonald House of Central Alberta are treated at Janeway Children’s Health and Rehabilitation Centre.^[22]

References

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