Local McDonald's Owners Launch 'One-Fry-at-a-Time' Fund

McDonald's owner/operators throughout the Greater Bay Area today announced the donation of $650,000 as they launch a three-year, $2 million fundraiser to provide seed money to build two new Ronald McDonald Houses in the Bay Area.

Dubbed McDonald's "One-Fry-at-a-Time" fund, McDonald's owners are donating a percentage of sales from every order of French Fries to reach their $2 million goal.

The Ronald McDonald Houses provide a "home away from home" for families of seriously ill children receiving treatment at nearby hospitals. In the Bay Area, the Ronald McDonald House in San Francisco and the Ronald McDonald House at Stanford have served more than 27,000 families.

McDonald's owner/operators support both Ronald McDonald House of San Francisco and Ronald McDonald House at Stanford. The demand for services at each of these Houses has never been greater. Major advances in medical care have made a dramatic impact on the treatment of children's illnesses and injuries; many conditions once considered terminal are now treatable. As a result, the Ronald McDonald Houses have become even more integral to families who must travel far from home to obtain the best medical care for their children.

"When we learned how many more families are in need of the Ronald McDonald Houses, my fellow McDonald's restaurant owners in the Bay Area got together to explore how we could support their efforts," said Scott Rodrick, McDonald's owner in San Francisco, and a member of the Board of Directors of the Ronald McDonald House at Stanford. "Together with our customers, we have an opportunity to raise $2 million for new Houses and make a real difference in the lives of families facing their worst nightmare: a seriously ill child."

Long-standing supporters of programs that enhance the health and well-being of children, local McDonald's owners' "One-Fry-at-a-Time" fund is the largest joint fundraising effort to-date.

"We are tremendously grateful for McDonald's support as we work to accommodate more families," said Ronald McDonald House of San Francisco Executive Director, Lois Moore. "With the help of McDonald's owners and their customers, we'll dramatically increase our ability to serve families in crisis."

"Medical treatments may last a day, a month, or even years. It's a long time to be away from home, or to divide a family, but the Houses offer families a way to stay together," added Ronald McDonald House at Stanford Executive Director, Honey Meir-Levi. "Over the last eight years, the average length of stay at our House has tripled. The longer a family has to be far from home, the more valuable the House becomes. The money donated by McDonald's owners allows us to provide the home these families need."

Ronald McDonald House at Stanford

Ronald McDonald House at Stanford can accommodate 47 families per night and features a communal kitchen and dining room, Children's Activity Room, Teen Recreation Center, Computer Center, family library, and fitness center, in addition to a selection of program offerings that promote a sense of normalcy for each member of the family. Last year alone, 65 percent of the guest rooms were occupied by families staying more than 30 days.

Ronald McDonald House of San Francisco

The Ronald McDonald House of San Francisco has provided more than 60,000 nights of housing to more than 3,500 families since opening in 1989. Families come to the San Francisco House from 52 Californian counties, 42 states, and 25 countries. The average stay for a family is about 16 nights.

For more information on the Ronald McDonald Houses of the Bay Area, please visit www.rmhcbayarea.org, www.ronaldhouse.net and www.ronaldhouse-sf.org.

About Northern California McDonald's Restaurants

The Northern California McDonald's® Cooperative is comprised of individuals who own and operate 255 McDonald's restaurants in the 15-county Bay Area region. Northern California McDonald's owner operators are committed to their communities, supporting programs including the Ronald McDonald House Charities® of the Bay Area and its core programs, the Ronald McDonald House® at Stanford and the Ronald McDonald House® of San Francisco, as well as the RMHC Scholarship program and two Ronald McDonald Care Mobiles, which provide dental services to children on the Peninsula and in Contra Costa County.