Five charities in Oshawa and Clarington set to receive $80,000
Published June 13, 2024 at 3:14 pm
McDonald’s restaurants in Oshawa and Clarington raised $80,000 from McHappy Day on May 8, with five charities receiving their cheques this week.
This year was the 30th McHappy Day in Canada, raising $8.9 million across the country. Since the first McHappy Day in 1977 McDonald’s restaurants of Canada have raised more than $100 million for Ronald McDonald House Charities and local children’s charities.
Steve Wilson, who operates eight locations in Oshawa, Bowmanville and Newcastle, was on hand with his management team to present Ronald McDonald House Charities and four local organizations with the proceeds from the annual charity drive.
Ronald McDonald House received $24,000, while $15,750 was awarded to The Denise House and Big Brothers Big Sisters of South-West Durham. Bethesda House and Big Brothers Big Sisters of Clarington each received $12,250.
Wilson’s parents became McDonald’s owner/operators in 1975, opening their first restaurant on Ritson Road in Oshawa. Wilson and his sisters soon followed in their parents’ footsteps.
“This is a journey that our family is on,” Wilson told Ronald McDonald’s House in 2021. “McDonald’s is really unique in that way – they encourage the multi-generational approach. McDonald’s is really all about family.”
Diane Dickson-Kailan, the board president of Denise House, a shelter supporting victims of gender-based violence, said she was “grateful” for the support from the community and from “our friends at McDonald’s restaurants.
“McHappy Day is a wonderful Canadian tradition that provides funds for local charities such as ours. We will be using the funds for a new childrens’ play area at the shelter.”
Charities in north Durham also benefitted from McHappy Day, with Jennifer Ashleigh Children’s Charity, Precious Minds, and Big Brothers Big Sisters of North Durham (along with Ronald McDonald House Charities) receiving their share of $52,000 raised during the drive at restaurants in Port Perry and Uxbridge.
Ten per cent all sales May 8 are awarded to local charities across Canada.
Denise House