26 October 2022, Australia: With just over three weeks to go until McHappy Day, Macca’s has kick started the fundraising with the return of its iconic Silly Socks and Helping Hands.

From today, Aussies can show their support by picking up a pair of Big Mac or French Fries themed Silly Socks or Helping Hands from Macca’s, with all profits going to Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC).

McHappy Day is McDonald’s largest annual fundraiser for Ronald McDonald House Charities, raising vital funds to help seriously ill children and their families across Australia.

Silly Socks and Helping Hands are available in all Macca’s restaurants from now until McHappy Day, which is taking place on Saturday, 19 November at restaurants nationwide.

Barbara Ryan, Chief Executive Officer, Ronald McDonald House Charities Australia, said, “McHappy Day is crucial in helping us continue to support seriously ill or injured children and their families through an incredibly challenging period in their lives.

“Over the next few weeks, we are calling on Aussies to top up their Macca’s order with a pair of Silly Socks or Helping Hands.

“Funds raised will make a real difference to the lives of seriously ill children and their families across Australia – through helping to provide accommodation close to hospitals, a space for the family to come together, tutoring to help with missed schooling, and so much more.”

Over the past 31 years, McHappy Day has raised over $61 million for Ronald McDonald House Charities, with communities across the country proudly showing their support.

This year, Hollywood actress, businesswoman and mother, Eva Mendes, will be in Australia as the 2022 McHappy Day Ambassador. Eva will meet with families staying at Ronald McDonald House Westmead and visit a local McDonald’s restaurant on McHappy Day.

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

• Picking up a pair of $5 Silly Socks or Helping Hands for $2, $10 or $50 from McDonald’s restaurants nationwide or via McDelivery.
• Buying a Big Mac on McHappy Day, Saturday, 19 November, from 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

For more information on McHappy Day, visit www.rmhc.org.au/mchappyday.

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About Ronald McDonald House Charities:
Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) is an independent charity that helps over 46,000 seriously ill children and their families each year.

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 Ronald McDonald Houses keep families close by giving parents and siblings the opportunity to stay together to support their sick loved ones. RMHC currently has 18 Ronald McDonald Houses throughout Australia and accommodated over 9,000 families in 2021. Other Programs include the Ronald McDonald Family Room 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 over 900 children on any given week catch up on missed schooling following a serious illness.
Additionally, The Ronald McDonald Family Retreat Program provides families with seriously ill children a week’s free accommodation at one of five Ronald McDonald Family Retreats across Australia, enabling them to reconnect and enjoy a holiday when they most need it and can least afford it.

More information on RMHC, please visit rmhc.org.au.

About McDonald’s Australia:

Australia’s first McDonald’s restaurant opened in Yagoona, Sydney, in 1971. Today there are over 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 McDonald’s social channels: Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, TikTok or YouTube.