Singapore, November 7, 2007 For the first time ever, 1,000 “McFamily" members, comprising McDonald’s staff and family members, will be thronging the streets on November 11 (Sunday) from 9am to 2pm, to help raise funds for the Ronald McDonald Children’s Charity (RMCC).

Taking the initiative to raise funds for RMCC, promote staff volunteerism and family togetherness, McDonald’s rallied its McFamily ie. staff members, to bring their family members to lend a hand in fun activities that support the RMCC cause. Called McDonald’s Hand in Hand FUNdraising Day, the event demonstrates McDonald’s commitment to children’s wellbeing and giving back to the community and is an invitation for everyone to join hands with RMCC to help sick children from needy families by purchasing a RMCC magnetic bookmark at $2 each.

“At McDonald’s, we believe strongly in giving back to the community. Every child is entitled to grow up strong, healthy and happy.  RMCC’s mission is to provide hope and support to sick children whose families cannot afford the medical treatment they need. Through the inaugural Hand in Hand FUNdraising Day, we hope that members of the public would help us help these children through RMCC," says Mr Bob Beard, President, Ronald McDonald Children’s Charity.

To launch Hand in Hand FUNdraising Day, Ronald McDonald, Power 98 and 88.3JIA deejays will be at McDonald’s Ang Mo Kio Centre to cheer on the McFamily members. The deejays will also file roving reports from Toa Payoh Hub, outside Wisma Atria on Orchard Road, Tampines Interchange and Choa Chu Kang Lot 1.

Keep a lookout for McFamily members on Sunday, November 11, taking to the streets to sell magnetic bookmarks to raise funds for RMCC. Proceeds go towards helping sick children from needy families. Support RMCC by getting a bookmark at $2 each, available islandwide!

 

About Ronald McDonald Children’s Charity

In Singapore, the cornerstone of McDonald's community relations programme is the Ronald McDonald Children's Charity (RMCC). The RMCC was incepted in October 1989 under the auspices of the National Council of Social Services (NCSS).

In 1998, the administration of RMCC fund was transferred from National Council of Social Services to KK Women's and Children's Hospital (KKH). And as of November 1999, RMCC attained its charity status under the Charities Act, 1994. To date, RMCC has helped more than 700 needy sick children from needy families with close to S$4 million in financial grants. While the five most common requests for funding through these years were for medical consumables (medicines and drugs), nutritional supplements, handicap aids, leukemia treatment and surgery, RMCC funding has also supported bone marrow transplants, treatment for congenital heart ailments, cochlear implants as well as growth hormone therapy.

RMCC also supports the Ronald McDonald Family Room (RMFR) in Singapore which occupies one of the closed wards in KK Women’s and Children’s Hospital’s Women’s Wing. It provides a “home away from home" within the hospital for the families of children undergoing treatment.  With 12 bedrooms including two family suites, an adult/children’s library, a children’s playroom, TV lounge, two ‘quiet rooms’, a pantry, dining area and internet corner, RMFR allows parents or family members a place of respite in close proximity to their sick child in the hospital.

Funds for RMCC are raised from the sale of McDonald's Happy Meals (five-cents from each Happy Meal sold), contributions from the McDonald's family, suppliers and members of the public, and fundraising events such as World Children’s Day and Hand in Hand FUNdraising Day.