Giving Back

Supporting our Communities through 2020

Earlier this year, we pledged $100,000 to Canada Helps: Black Solidarity Fund to help fight intolerance, prejudice, and injustice, and proudly support charities focused on advancing Black Canadians in our communities across Canada.

In May, McDonald’s Canada announced #FriesForGood. This initiative not only provided an opportunity to rally Canadians to help support individuals and families across the country who need it most, but it also showcased McDonald’s unwavering support for Canadian potato farmers. Canadians’ love of our World Famous Fries™ raised over $1.1M for the Canadian Red Cross.

In November, McDonald’s Canada pledged $50,000 to Canada Helps:  Indigenous Peoples Solidarity Fund, including more than 40 Indigenous-led charities from across Canada. These organizations have a range of focus, from social services, arts and culture to health and well-being.

In addition to the initiatives above, McDonald’s Canada, together with its franchisees and suppliers, has been finding big and small ways to support the communities in which it operates:

• Supplied more than 2.7 million free coffees to frontline healthcare and emergency service workers (March 21 to June 28, 2020)
• Over 11,000 meals donated to frontline healthcare workers and essential and emergency services, as well as RMHC® Houses across the country
• More than 325,000 pounds of food donated to local food banks and other charities
• Supported teachers and education support staff with a free medium McCafé® Premium Roast coffee or tea on World Teachers’ Day (October 5, 2020)

Local Community Programs

How We Give Back

Whether it’s supporting a local sports league, helping talented young athletes, or taking steps to improve our neighbourhoods, our support reflects our commitment to our communities. And through Ronald McDonald Houses and Ronald McDonald Family Rooms, we serve families in over 440 local communities across Canada every year.

A Valued Community Partner

Approximately 85% of McDonald’s restaurants in Canada are independently owned and operated by a local McDonald’s franchisee. Your local McDonald’s franchisee may be involved in programs supporting local community programs, senior citizens’ groups, safety awareness campaigns, literacy and scholarship programs, environmental efforts and athletic teams. Visit your local McDonald’s restaurant’s Community Board to find out more about the programs they support.

McHappy Day®

On the first Wednesday of every May, McDonald’s restaurants across Canada come together with their communities to support local children’s charities. This one-day fundraising event also supports the 15 Ronald McDonald Houses and 16 Ronald McDonald Family Rooms across Canada that help over 30,000 families stay together as their children are being treated at a nearby hospital. First established in 1977, McHappy Day is a long-standing Canadian tradition and is at the heart of who we are and what we do at McDonald’s Canada.

Supporting Community Growth

Every day, we provide countless benefits to our many guests, our more than 90,000 employees, and the communities we live in. McDonald’s offers employment and career opportunities, support for charitable organizations and tax revenues for public services. Each McDonald’s restaurant represents between 50 and 100 jobs to a community.

Partners in Disaster Preparedness

As disasters hit more and more Canadians, McDonald’s has stepped up to help protect the communities we serve. In 2016, our #BigMacforFortMac campaign raised more than $1 million for the people of Fort McMurray after devastating wildfire. But we wanted to do more. That’s why McDonald’s Canada has joined the Canadian Red Cross in their disaster preparedness and response program, working together to make sure support will always be there for Canadians and communities across the country.

Canadian Red Cross

At McDonald’s Canada, being part of the community means uplifting people every day, especially when they need it most. That’s why McDonald’s is proud to partner with the Canadian Red Cross to help keep communities strong when an emergency strikes. The partnership between McDonald's and the Red Cross involves support for investments in disaster preparedness and includes opportunities for engagement with McDonald's franchisees, restaurant teams and corporate employees.