McHappy Day makes a ‘huge difference’ for tiny patients in Orillia

‘We are raising funds for the most needy children in our community,’ says co-owner of 13 McDonald’s restaurants in Orillia and region

McHappy Day is a joyous day for families in Orillia as part of the proceeds of the fundraiser will be directed to the neonatal intensive care unit at Orillia Soldiers’ Memorial Hospital (OSMH).

It’s the 32nd year, the national McDonald’s fundraiser supports sick children across Canada through funding local children’s charities and its 16 Ronald McDonald Houses across Canada.

One hundred per cent of merchandise sales and 10 per cent of all food sales support the causes today, May 6. The fundraiser started April 28 through the sale of socks, hats, paper hearts and other items in stores and online.

In Orillia, the three McDonald’s restaurants — on Highway 12 at Murphy Road, inside Walmart and 320 Memorial Ave. — are donating five per cent of food sales to the OSMH neonatal intensive care unit (NICU) and five per cent to Ronald McDonald House Toronto.

“We should raise between $100,000 to $150,000 over the marketplace,” said Jason O’Neill, who with his wife Jennifer O’Neill, own 13 McDonald’s restaurants in Orillia, Barrie and Bradford.

“We are raising funds for the most needy children in our community,” he said.

“Right now, four out of five families do not get into (Ronald McDonald House) due to capacity constraints, but we are going to be doubling the capacity over the next few years and same with the NICU. We are supporting that across the whole market as they need that extra support,” said O’Neill.

For the past 13 years, Orillia McDonald’s restaurants have chosen OSMH as their charity of choice. More than $130,000 has been raised to support local infants  and children.

Ian Mishkel, interim president and CEO of the OSMH Foundation, said McHappy Day funds make a “huge difference.”

“We have a lot of money to raise both for the maintenance for the hospital as it is today and preparation for the hospital that will open in the next 10 years or so and it’s going to take very dollar,” Mishkel said. “Equipment in the NICU needs to be both replaced and updated and there will be a preparation for doubling or tripling our capacity when the new hospital opens.”

Laura Ferris, director of surgical services and regional women and children’s programs at OSMH, said she is “incredibly grateful” for the support.

“In a NICU we require quite a bit of technology in order to safely care for patients and technology is always improving so support from McHappy Day really allows us to be able to purchase the newest technology to support our patients,” she said. 

Ronald McDonald houses serve as a home away from home for families staying close to where their children receive medical treatment. There are also 21 Ronald McDonald Family Rooms inside hospitals.

McHappy Day was created by George Cohon, the founder of McDonald’s Canada, as a way for the company and its franchisees to give back to their communities.