McHappy Day funds hospital family rooms for Niagara families

“Nothing in the world can take the place of persistence,” Michael Keaton says playing McDonald’s empire-builder Ray Kroc in ‘The Founder,’ and Niagara families with sick children often need that exact kind of persistence which McHappy Day donations help sustain.

A portion of food and beverage sales on May 6 went to Ronald McDonald House programs that serve Niagara families through the Ronald McDonald Family Room at the Marotta Family Hospital in St. Catharines and Ronald McDonald House in Hamilton.

The money supports access to prepared meals, a kitchen and lodging with specialized medical equipment for families whose children need hospital care.

The Fort Erie McDonald’s on Garrison Road and the Ridgeway McDonald’s on Gorham Road were among Niagara restaurants in franchise owner Matthew Katz’s group raising money through the annual campaign.

A charity sale held ahead of McHappy Day at the Fort Erie McDonald’s on April 18 and 19, along with sales of McHappy Day hearts, socks and raffle tickets, also raised money for the family room in St. Catharines.

Anne Molnar, community relations representative for Katz’s Niagara restaurants, told Fort Erie Radio money raised in Niagara goes first to Ronald McDonald House in Hamilton, then gets directed where it is needed, including the St. Catharines room.

“It’s just giving them that extra relief where possible,” said Molnar.

The hospital family room gives parents and caregivers a place to rest, eat and stay close to a child in care, including families dealing with stays in the neonatal intensive care unit.

The Hamilton house also supports Niagara families who need to remain near McMaster Children’s Hospital.

Molnar said that about 30 per cent of people who stay there come from Niagara.

Across Canada, the Ronald McDonald House network supported 32,253 families in 2025, but the Molnar says demand still exceeds available space.

“It’s one of those places that you don’t really know the full extent of how wonderful it is until you know someone or had to use this charity yourself,” said Molnar.

“Hopefully you never have to use it yourself, because it’s one of those places–under the circumstances–you never have to, but more people have a connection to the house than you realize.”

Local restaurants tied to Katz’s group raised money in Fort Erie, Ridgeway, Niagara Falls, Niagara-on-the-Lake and Fonthill.

The campaign continues beyond McHappy Day, with a charity golf tournament scheduled for August 20.

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