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McHappy Day brings back thousands of SMILES!

On September 22, 2021, McDonald’s restaurants in Elmvale and Midland partnered with the Georgian Bay General Hospital (GBGH) Foundation for McHappy Day®.  The one-day event raised $20,000 – $10,000 of which will be donated to the GBGH Foundation’s Impact Fund, addressing the highest priority capital needs at GBGH. The other half of funds raised support Ronald McDonald House Charities Toronto.

“We are so proud of our teams for their incredible efforts this year,” says Mark Cruden, owner of the McDonald’s restaurants in Midland & Elmvale. “With so many challenges facing everyone this year – staffing shortages, public health requirements and very wet weather – everyone really pulled together to make a difference for our charity partners.”

In 2018, Mark & Carol Cruden, owners of the McDonald’s restaurants in Midland and Elmvale, began a partnership with the GBGH Foundation to direct a portion of McHappy Day® proceeds to help the local hospital’s smallest patients.  Funds from the campaign have helped to build a children’s play area in the newly redeveloped ED at GBGH, and will help to purchase items for the hospital’s Birthing Unit.

“We are so fortunate to have the continued support of such passionate community supporters like Mark & Carol Cruden,” shares Nicole Kraftscik, executive director, GBGH Foundation.  “They work so hard, and truly bring the community together to maximize the collective impact for our hospital and RMHC. Plus, they are kind, generous and humble people, so it is a delight to work with them.”

 

Meet our new Business Cares Ambassadors

Our Business Cares program is empowering community-minded organizations to support the GBGH Foundation in whatever ways work best for their unique business.  We have been fortunate to have many local businesses join us, collectively raising more than $50,000 last year.

This year, three of our Business Cares partners have stepped up to help others find unique ways to grow their business by supporting the GBGH Foundation.  Get to know them (and their Business Cares strategy) below, and if you’d like to connect with one of them, please contact Victoria Evans, Community Giving Officer (evansv@gbgh.on.ca or 705-526-1300 ext.5344).  To learn more about Business Cares, click here.

Jenna Lorette, from The Mortgage Centre, makes a donation to the GBGH Foundation on the close of each mortgage in honour of the mortgage client (amount varies by mortgage amount).

“As Business Cares partners, we are investing in healthcare for our whole community.” ~ Jenna Lorette

 

 

Roberta Courtemanche is self-employed, and has chosen to donate a portion of her commission from the sale of Group Benefit Plans to the GBGH Foundation.

“I love the Business Cares program because it allows me to customize my donations to the scale of my business. By tying my giving to my new group benefits plans as well as my group benefits plan renewals, I am able to give when I receive income at various times during the calendar year. This way it is affordable to me, my family and my business.” ~ Roberta Courtemanche

 

Janice Stone is passionate about helping women, and she has chosen to donate 10% of her Ignite Your Confidence Digital Academy registration fee to the GBGH Foundation.

“As a wife, mom, stepmom, and now grandma, I am so grateful for our local hospital and the care it gives not only my family but also my community.  The opportunity to combine the gift of what my business provides for me to support a hospital that cares so well for the people I love is a privilege.” ~ Janice Stone