Shopping for RMHC to Help Families Heal Together

OAK BROOK, IL--(Marketwire - Apr 17, 2012) - Between April 16 and June 1, visitors to Ronald McDonald House Charities^® (RMHC^®) site, www.rmhc.org, will find a new and meaningful reason to shop. The nonprofit will spur charitable donations by engaging a younger generation of donors, the Millennials, with a call to action to shop and make symbolic purchases online. This savvy, altruistic generation will virtually enter a Ronald McDonald House^® with the ability to shop and symbolically buy small items that in a Ronald McDonald House would make a big difference providing hope and comfort to help families in need.

Research shows Millennials are naturally inclined to organize and rally around a common mission. They value family and believe that when they act together, small gestures can make a big difference. And this is exactly what RMHC offers; an opportunity to make an impact, a difference through small symbolic gifts. Every symbolic purchase in the Charity's virtual Ronald McDonald House will help families find the strength, stability and vital resources they need to help their child heal. Whether it's a teddy bear, a story book, a spaghetti dinner or a board game, these symbolic purchases will result in a donation that helps the Charity provide comfort, compassion and hope to families who are fighting their child's illness together.

"Over time, we seek to engage and unite donors through online and offline activities. From guerrilla marketing, to storytelling on social media, to an online donation box, to "gamification" and now virtual shopping, our goal is to demonstrate to our donors just how their investment in RMHC is used to support families through our family-centered programs," said Jennifer Blanchard Smith, senior director of Communications and Special Programs, RMHC. "Our organization was built on the idea that there is strength in numbers; many people working together to take away families' worries so they can focus on what's most important, their child. This virtual shopping spree will be one everyone can feel good about."

With the support of the many staff, volunteers, medical community, corporate donors, RMHC Chapters in 57 countries and regions is able to serve more than 4.5 million children every year. In order to fund its programs, like the Ronald McDonald House, the Ronald McDonald Family Room^® and the Ronald McDonald Care Mobile^®, the Charity also needs the support of individuals like you. This is how you can make a difference:

• Shop online at http://rmhc.org/shop/ and make an investment in families served by RMHC.
• Drop spare change in RMHC Donation Boxes at participating McDonald's restaurants.
• "Join RMHC for 1" event day on June 1 by adding one penny, one dime, one quarter or one dollar to the RMHC Donation Boxes at local participating McDonald's restaurants. RSVP on the Charity's Facebook page.
• Collect pop tabs to raise funds and teach kids about philanthropy and the importance of recycling. Some RMHC Chapters raise thousands of dollars with their pop tab collections program.

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 local Chapters in 57 countries and regions, its three core programs, the Ronald McDonald House®, Ronald McDonald Family Room® and Ronald McDonald Care Mobile®, and millions of dollars in grants to support children's programs worldwide, RMHC provides stability and resources to families so they can get and keep their children healthy and happy. All RMHC-supported programs provide a bridge to quality health care and give children and families the time they need together to heal faster and cope better. For more information, visit www.rmhc.org, follow us on Twitter (@RMHC) or like us on Facebook (Facebook.com/RMHC Global).

The following trademarks used herein are owned by McDonald's Corporation and its affiliates: Ronald McDonald House Charities, Ronald McDonald House Charities Logo, RMHC, Ronald McDonald House, Ronald McDonald Family Room, and Ronald McDonald Care Mobile.