Over 14 million kids and counting: McDonald's strengthens its commitment to help Filipino children through Ronald McDonald House Charities

Its main fundraising initiatives Happy Meal and Stripes Run celebrate milestone anniversaries this year.

MANILA, PHILIPPINES — McDonald’s Philippines has helped in making a difference in the lives of Filipino children by giving back through its charity of choice— Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) Philippines. In a press conference held on November 7, 2019 in McDonald’s McKinley West, it strengthened its commitment to continuously support RMHC.

The press conference not only aimed to give a better understanding of how McDonald’s has and will continue to support RMHC and its programs, but also revealed its newest RMHC celebrity ambassador— Alden Richards. McDonald’s Happy Meal and Stripes Run
Through initiatives like Happy Meal and Stripes Run, McDonald’s is able to fund Ronald McDonald Read to Learn program— a beginning reading program in partnership with the Department of Education that aims to improve the literary skills of Filipino students while they are at the beginning stages of learning.

Under the program, educators are trained on Beginning Reading by providing reading kits to grades 1 and 2 learners. For Read to Learn program alone, over 12 million public school students have benefited and over 28,000 educators have been trained.
Since 2003, the iconic Happy Meal has been the biggest contributor of McDonald’s donations to RMHC, with a portion of every Happy Meal purchase being donated. This November 21, Happy Meal celebrates its 40th global anniversary and as a special treat, will be introducing a limited edition-Surprise Happy Meal, featuring favorite throwback toys from the past four decades.

On the other hand, Stripes Run— now on its 10th year— returns on December 1, 2019 at the SM MOA Concert Grounds. Since its first run in 2010, more than 35,000 Stripes Runners have contributed to RMHC. Kids and adults alike are invited to get their red and white striped socks out and run for reading with running categories of 1K, 3K, 5K, and 10K to choose from! 25 years of RMHC and its programs. For 25 years since being established in the country in 1995, RMHC has made a difference in the lives of Filipino children through programs that support their need for shelter, education, and happiness. Aside from the Stripes Run and Happy Meal-supported Read to Learn program, RMHC also provides help to
Filipino children through Ronald McDonald Bahay Bulilit and Ronald McDonald Bigay Tulong programs.

Through the annual Stripes Run, Happy Meal sales contribution, the annual RMHC Golf Tournament, donation canisters in McDonald’s stores, and the newly launched RMHC online portal, funds are continuously raised to expand the reach of the different programs to benefit more Filipino children. RMHC Executive Director Marie Angeles also introduced the newest RMHC celebrity ambassador, Alden Richards, who will help raise awareness on RMHC’s programs and fund-raising initiatives. Kids from the Bahay Bulilit Learning Center in Quirino, Manila were also surprised with a live reading session by Alden and McDonald’s Chief Happiness Officer Ronald McDonald. With one of the books from the Read to

Learn reading kits, Alden gave the kids an engaging and memorable experience— proving he's a perfect fit for the role of RMHC ambassador with the spirit of happiness and giving that he embodies. “Sobrang honored ako to be part of the RMHC family because I’ve seen what they’ve done and what they continue to do to help children all over the country. Excited na ako to encourage more people to help RMHC so we can support more kids,” shares Alden.

Like Alden, you, too, can help give Filipino children a brighter future. Register now for Stripes Run 2019 at https://www.mcdostripesrun.com.ph or in the nearest McDonald’s store to you. You can also purchase the Surprise Happy Meal starting November 21 to relive your childhood days with an iconic McDonald's toy while still giving back.

For more updates, follow McDonald’s Philippines at @McDo_PH on Twitter and Instagram and McDoPH on Facebook. Learn more about RMHC and its programs at https://www.rmhc.org.ph/