Celebrities ‘Take Orders’ on McHappy Day to Raise over $2M
for Australia’s Seriously ill Children
Rachael Finch, Kylie Gillies and Michael Slater Serve Up Smiles to
McDonald’s Customers
McHappy Day, one of Australia’s longest running charity days
raised over $2million
for Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) on Saturday 14 November. More than
800 celebrities and local VIPs donned aprons and took drive-thru orders at close to
800 McDonald’s restaurants across Australia, including Celebrity Masterchef
contestant Rachael Finch, The Morning Show host Kylie Gillies and Home and Away
cast members who adopted a store on Sydney’s Northern Beaches.
McHappy Day is the largest annual fundraising event for Ronald McDonald House
Charities (RMHC), an independent charity that creates, finds and supports programs
across Australia that help seriously ill children and their families.
“We are extremely thankful for the amazing turnout and community support this
year,” said Malcolm Coutts, CEO, Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC).
“Because McDonald’s Australia pays all administration and management costs for
RMHC, every dollar donated goes directly to programs benefiting seriously ill
children and their families. This year the Ronald McDonald Houses
provided a
home away from home for over 5,000 families. McHappy Day donations will enable
us to help even more families in 2010.”
Celebrities who worked in-restaurant on the day also included former Australian
cricketer Michael Slater, Bondi Vet
Dr Chris Brown, Bondi
Rescue surf lifesavers,
Getaway presenter Jason Dundas, Collingwood AFL player Tarkyn Lockyer, former
Olymipic swimmer Elka Graham, former Australian cricketer Justin Langer and even
the cast of the hit musical Wicked.
“As a former McDonald’s employee, it
was great fun to be in the restaurant on
McHappy Day! Although it felt strange to be autographing takeaway orders at the
drive-thru –
I’ve never been asked to do that before!,” said Rachael Finch, McHappy
Day Ambassador and Celebrity Masterchef contestant.
On McHappy Day, $1 from every Big Mac, 10 cents from every Happy Meal, $2 from
every McCafé Byron Bay Cookie House box and profits from every $3 Crazy Straw
went directly to RMHC. Further contributions were made by the community via
In the past 18 years, money raised on McHappy Day has gone towards RMHC
programs such as building and maintaining 13 Ronald McDonald Houses across
the country (which provide a home-away-from-home for the families of seriously ill
children being treated at nearby hospitals); the establishment of the Ronald
McDonald Learning Program which provides free tuition for children who have
missed lengthy periods of
schooling due to serious illness; the RMHC Cord Blood
Bank program, which provides life-saving cord blood used mainly to treat childhood
cancers; and the establishment of five Ronald McDonald Family Retreats.
For further information, or to arrange an interview or photo, please contact:
Meghann Dengate
Rebecca Cressman
Professional Public Relations
Professional Public Relations
(02) 9818 09311 / 0409 901 809
(02) 9818 0905 / 0402 671 011
mdengate@ppr.com.au
rcressman@ppr.com.au
Fast Facts – McHappy Day and Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC):
In Australia:
Ronald McDonald Houses are a home away from home and give families the opportunity to
stay together to support their sick child.
Today there are 13 Ronald McDonald Houses across Australia providing affordable
accommodation for families with seriously ill children being treated in nearby major women’s
and children’s hospitals in each state.
Since 1981, Ronald McDonald Houses have provided over 62,300 families with more than 1.7
million bed nights.
This year the Ronald McDonald Houses
will provide a home away from home for over 5,000
families.
NEWS 
