RMHC Hosts Annual Global Effort to Collect Small Change to Help Keep Families Together in Recognition of the RMHC Day of Change

OAK BROOK, IL--(Marketwired - Oct 6, 2015) - Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC), a global non-profit that creates, finds and supports programs that directly improve the health and well-being of children, is celebrating its annual RMHC Day of Change. At participating McDonald's restaurants, supporters are encouraged to drop their spare change into a donation box to aid RMHC in its commitment to keep families with critically-ill children together and provide them with needed comfort and access to critical health care services. A small donation can help give families a place to rest and refresh in an environment that feels like home.

Last year, more than $54 million was collected through RMHC Donation Boxes worldwide. Day of Change is the Charity's annual call-to-action to support the Donation Box program and also marks the opening of the first Ronald McDonald House in Philadelphia in 1974. A full Donation Box could mean the following:

• One night at a Ronald McDonald House for a family while their child receives medical treatment;
• A dental screening for a child aboard a Ronald McDonald Care Mobile; and
• Meals and snacks and a comfortable place to rest, just steps from their child in a Ronald McDonald Family Room

"For families with children in need of critical medical care, the thought of being more than a few steps from their bedside seems too far," said Sheila Musolino, chief operating officer, RMHC. "The Donation Box program is our largest fundraiser, and today we celebrate the impact those contributions have made to families worldwide and ask that others become part of this critical effort to help more families cope and heal together."

As part of the celebration, the Charity is asking fans to post photos in support of RMHC families on its Facebook and Twitter using #DayofChangeforRMHC. RMHC programs provide stability and vital resources to nearly six million families in more than 63 countries and regions through three core programs that include 353 Ronald McDonald Houses, 196 Ronald McDonald Family Rooms and 50 Ronald McDonald Care Mobiles. Currently, 35 percent of local Chapters are expanding their programs to meet the increasing demand for these critical services, which includes introducing new Chapters and programs in areas like China and the Middle East.

About Ronald McDonald House Charities
Ronald McDonald House Charities® (RMHC®), a non-profit, 501 (c) (3) corporation, creates, finds and supports programs that directly improve the health and well-being of children. Through its global network of 300 Chapters in more than 63 countries and regions, its three core programs, the Ronald McDonald House®, the Ronald McDonald Family Room® and the Ronald McDonald Care Mobile®, and millions of dollars in grants to support children's programs worldwide, RMHC provides stability and vital resources to families so they can get and keep their children healthy and happy. All RMHC-operated and supported programs, enable family-centered care, provide a bridge to quality health care, are a vital part of the health care continuum and give children and families the time they need to heal and cope better together.