Buying a burger and fries on Thursday, May 8 at select McDonald’s restaurants in Northumberland County will help support treatment services for children with special needs.
For the second year in a row, McDonald’s restaurants in Port Hope and Cobourg have chosen Five Counties Children’s Centre as the local charity to benefit from “McHappy Day.”
Every year, McDonald’s restaurants across Canada support local children’s charities by donating a portion of proceeds from every food and beverage item sold on McHappy Day. In 2024, McHappy Day raised $8.9 million across Canada for the Ronald McDonald House Charities, as well as local children’s charities.
Last year was the first year that Five Counties was as the beneficiary of McHappy Day in Northumberland County. The centre is looking forward to another successful fundraiser this year.
“McHappy Day was an amazing event last year at McDonald’s locations in Port Hope and Cobourg, raising the most funds ever for kids’ charities,” Bill Eekhof, communications coordinator for Five Counties, told kawarthaNOW.
“We had tremendous support from Five Counties staff, volunteers, supporters and many other organizations who came out to assist us at McHappy Day.”
Eekhof said Five Counties is “extremely grateful” for Lisa Wilson, owner of the McDonald’s locations in Cobourg and Port Hope, and her entire team for again selecting Five Counties as the local children’s charity to benefit in 2025.
“Our hope this year is to see many people come out again on May 8 to show their support by stopping by at a local McDonald’s to dine in or take out,” Eekhof added. “McHappy Day is a lot of fun in raising the profile of Five Counties in Northumberland and raising funds that assist Five Counties in being able to see more kids and reduce wait times for important treatment services in our community.”
In 2024, McHappy Day in Cobourg and Port Hope raised a best-ever total of $30,000 to support kids’ charities. Approximately three-quarters of this total — $22,500 — went to support Five Counties in providing treatment services for children and youth with physical, developmental and communication needs in Northumberland.
The balance of approximately $7,500 went to Ronald McDonald House Charities, which provides out-of-town families with a place to stay while their child is being treated in hospital.
“We are thrilled to again have Five Counties Children’s Centre as our designated charity for 2025,” said Wilson in a media release. “Our amazing teams in Port Hope and Cobourg look forward to serving our guests and supporting Five Counties Children’s Centre and Ronald McDonald House Charities as they make a difference for the children and families in our communities.”
Five Counties CEO Scott Pepin is thankful the local children’s treatment centre — which has supported children and youth with physical, developmental, and communications needs for five decades — will again benefit from McHappy Day.
“Lisa and her entire team at McDonald’s were gracious and enthusiastic hosts for McHappy Day in 2024, and Five Counties feels very privileged to again partner on the event in 2025,” Pepin said.
“We hope to repeat the success of 2024 and encourage everyone to come out to McHappy Day on May 8 to enjoy a McDonald’s meal or treat, knowing that (their) purchase will support Five Counties in its work treating children and youth in Northumberland County,” Pepin added.
To support Five Counties, community members can visit McDonald’s in Cobourg or Port Hope on McHappy Day. A portion of proceeds from every food and beverage item sold all day will be donated to Five Counties and Ronald McDonald House Charities. Five Counties staff, volunteers, families and supporters will also be at the McDonald’s locations that day to collect additional donations and thank visitors.
Five Counties is marking its 50th anniversary this year. In 2024, nearly 1,600 children and youth in Northumberland benefited from its programs, including physiotherapy, occupational therapy, speech and language therapy, and other treatment services.
