May 6, 2009 - McDonald’s Restaurants of Canada Limited celebrated another successful McHappy Day, raising more than $2.8 million during the 16th edition of the company’s longest-running and best-known national fundraising event.  The funds raised will benefit children’s charities across Canada, helping support children in need.

Including this latest McHappy Day milestone, McDonald’s Canada has raised more than $7.1 million in the past year for Ronald McDonald House Charities of Canada and local children’s charities.

“On behalf of McDonald’s Canada, I want to extend our heartfelt thanks to our customers, our franchisees and our crew right across Canada for helping make our 16th McHappy Day a tremendous success,” said John Betts, President, McDonald’s Restaurants of Canada Limited.  “McHappy Day brings together our national restaurant network with local and professional athletes, business associates, politicians, suppliers, media personalities and other local VIPs, all for one simple cause – to help children in need in the communities we serve.”

During McHappy Day, more than 1,400 McDonald’s restaurants across Canada donated $1.00 from every Big Mac® sandwich, McMuffin® sandwich and Happy Meal® sold to local children's charities across Canada. In addition, many restaurants held fundraising events leading up to McHappy Day to lend additional support.

“Giving back to local communities is a longstanding McDonald’s tradition,” said Betts.  “As an integral part of communities across Canada, we hope this marks an unprecedented year of fundraising, not only through our 16th McHappy Day, but through the countless McDonald’s fundraising events held across the country."

Since McHappy Day was first introduced in 1977, the national one-day fundraising event has raised more than $28.7 million for Ronald McDonald House Charities® (RMHC) of Canada, the Ronald McDonald House® program and local children’s charities across Canada.  In addition, McDonald's donates 10 cents from every Happy Meal sold every day in Canada to RMHC which has to date has more than raised $23 million.