On December 16th, local McDonald’s Owner/Operators visited RMHC New York Metro in New Hyde Park to present the region’s four Ronald McDonald Houses with two checks. The checks totaled nearly $2 million encompassing the region’s Fry Tax and Round Up for RMHC.
From New Brunswick to New Hyde Park
The check presentation was facilitated by Matthew Campo, Chief Executive Officer of RMHC New York Metro (New Hyde Park). We were happy to welcome representatives from the three other local Ronald McDonald Houses who benefit from McDonald’s giving. Brittany Moretti, Executive Director of RMH Greater Hudson Valley, Alex D’Angelo, Senior Major Gifts Officer of RMH New York, and Linda Bakos, Director of Finance and Administration for RMH Central & Northern New Jersey were in attendance.
Our Forever Partner
Local McDonald’s Owner/Operators in attendance included: Peter & Katie Hunt Rotolo, Laurel Hendel Frew, Brian Hairston, Josh & Maria Kaufman, Chris Cottrell and Maria Sullivan. Through their leadership, passionate crew members and managers support sick children and families in their community by asking customers to round up at check-out. Round Up for RMHC is a popular and easy way for customers to give back. Simply by rounding up their total to the nearest dollar, customers are supporting local families dealing with a pediatric medical crisis.
In addition to ‘Round Up for RMHC,’ McDonald’s Owner/Operators contribute one penny per pound of fries sold through the Fry Tax. Like Round Up, Fry Tax donations are distributed to the four Ronald McDonald House organizations in the region. and directly support sick children and families.
History of McDonald’s Partnership
McDonalds and its franchisees have supported Ronald McDonald House Charities since it was founded in 1974. The first Ronald McDonald House was opened through partnership between the Philadelphia Eagles player Fred Hill, and local Philadelphia McDonald’s Franchisees in support of Dr. Audrey Evans—head of the Pediatric Oncology Unit at Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia—who dreamed of a house that could serve as a temporary residence and place of respite for families of children being treated at her hospital. Famously, local Philadelphia restaurants sold Shamrock Shakes and proceeds were used to build the first House. Since then, RMHC has grown into a global organization that is active in more than 60 countries and regions around the world, supporting over 380 House programs and over 270 Family Room programs worldwide.
Since 1986, Ronald McDonald House Charities New York Metro has had its doors open for families with sick children, transforming family-centered care in the New York Metro region. Over the years, RMHC New York Metro has expanded its programs in New Hyde Park and launched new programs in Stony Brook. In 2013 RMHC opened its first Family Room at Stony Brook Hospital adjacent to NICU. Then, in 2022, we opened a second Family Room inside Stony Brook Children’s Hospital. In 2023, we announced plans to build a 30-bedroom Ronald McDonald House in Suffolk County, where our programs will help even more families on Long Island access the best medical care for their children.