Tuesday September 27, 2022: McHappy Day is set to take place on Saturday, November 19 with Hollywood actress, businesswoman and mother, Eva Mendes, touching down in Australia to return as the National McHappy Day Ambassador in 2022.

McHappy Day is the largest annual fundraiser for Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC), which helps seriously ill and injured children and their families stay together while receiving medical care in a nearby hospital.

Mendes, who was the virtual McHappy Day Ambassador in 2020, is in Australia to meet families staying at Ronald McDonald House and will visit a local McDonald’s restaurant on McHappy Day.

Mendes, who re-joins previous alumni ambassadors Naomi Watts, Katie Holmes and Eva Longoria, said: “I am incredibly honoured to once again partner with McDonald’s to raise awareness of McHappy Day and support the truly invaluable work of Ronald McDonald House Charities.

“RMHC is a charity that is close to my heart after my cousin stayed at a Ronald McDonald House while her baby was undergoing treatment. After speaking with my cousin and other parents during my time as Ambassador in 2020, I can see the wonderful impact RMHC has on so many families during an incredibly challenging period of their life.”

Speaking of her trip to Australia, Mendes said she was planning on spending time with families who have been supported by Ronald McDonald House Charities.

“I’m looking forward to meeting with some of the incredible families staying at a Ronald McDonald House, listening to their inspirational stories and witnessing first-hand the life-changing support services provided by RMHC.

“McHappy Day is a wonderful way for Aussies to support RMHC and families of seriously ill and injured children.”

Aussies looking to support this year’s McHappy Day can drop into their local Macca’s from October 26 to pick up a pair of Silly Socks or Helping Hands. And on McHappy Day, $2 from every Big Mac sold goes directly to Ronald McDonald House Charities.

McDonald’s launched McHappy Day in Australia in 1991 to help raise essential funds for Ronald McDonald House Charities. There are now 18 Ronald McDonald Houses nationally, with the charity caring for more than 46,000 families every year.

Ronald McDonald House Charities Australia CEO, Barbara Ryan said: “We are so excited that Eva is once again lending her support to McHappy Day and joining us on the ground after previously taking on the Ambassador role from afar.

“For more than three decades, McHappy Day has raised over $61 million to help keep Australian families of seriously ill and injured children together in their time of need. We’re calling for everyone’s support again this year to enable us to continue to help where and when it’s needed most,” said Barbara.

In addition to providing a home away from home, Ronald McDonald House Charities also runs Family Rooms, Family Retreats and a national Learning Program to support families through their child’s challenging hospital journey and recovery.

Australians can support this year’s McHappy Day fundraiser by:

• During McHappy Time (from October 26) – Picking up a pair of $5 Silly Socks, or Helping Hands for $2, $10 or $50 from their local Macca’s or via McDelivery.

• On McHappy Day (Saturday, November 19) – Buying a Big Mac from their local Macca’s or via McDelivery, with $2 from every Big Mac sold going directly to RMHC.

• Making a donation online by visiting www.rmhc.org.au/give

A highly sought-after actress, Mendes has starred on TV and movie screens around the globe since the late 1990s. Her breakthrough role in Training Day alongside Denzel Washington launched a decorated career that eventually led to her defining performance in blockbuster romcom, Hitch. Other credits include Ghost Rider, which she spent seven months filming in Melbourne. On a recent career break to parent her two children, Mendes lent her voice to beloved Australian children’s program Bluey, a role her daughters were particularly excited to watch their Mum play.

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For interview requests with Eva Mendes, please contact:

Nikki Wirkerman on nikkiw@enthral.com.au or +61 414 446 582.

For interview requests with RMHC CEO Barbara Ryan, please contact:

Sarah Meenan on sarah.meenan@thisismango.com.au or +61 434 672 260.

Notes to editors:

Key Dates:

• McHappy Time begins on 26th October 2022.

• McHappy Day is being held on Saturday, November 19, 2022.

About Ronald McDonald House Charities

Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) is an independent charity that helps seriously ill children and their families.

The cornerstone program of RMHC, the Ronald McDonald House, provides a ‘home away from home’ for families of seriously ill and injured children being treated at nearby hospitals. The Houses keep families close by giving parents and siblings the opportunity to stay together to support their sick loved ones. RMHC currently has 18 Houses throughout Australia accommodating more than 9,000 families annually.

Other Programs include the Ronald McDonald Family Room Program which provides a relaxing haven

within hospitals giving families a break from the stress of many hours spent by their child’s bedside, and

the Ronald McDonald Learning Program, which currently helps an average of over 900 children on any given week catch up on missed education. Helping students get back on track, build their confidence and make the transition back to school much easier

Additionally, The Ronald McDonald Family Retreat Program provides families with seriously ill children a week’s free accommodation at one of five Family Retreats across Australia, enabling them to relax, reset and enjoy special moments together.

About McDonald’s Australia

Australia’s first McDonald’s restaurant opened in Yagoona, Sydney, in 1971. Today there are more than 1,025 McDonald’s restaurants across Australia, nearly 85 percent of which are franchised and run by local businessmen and women. The organisation employs more than 110,000 people in restaurants and corporate offices Australia-wide and is the largest employer of youth in the country. McDonald’s creates more than 3,000 new jobs each year and spends over $40 million per annum on training and people development. For more information visit www.mcdonalds.com.au or www.facebook.com/McDonaldsAU. McDonald’s is also on Twitter – check us out at twitter.com/maccas.