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Local McDonald’s operator Doug Dooley spotlighted for charitable contributions to Ronald McDonald House

Dooley’s restaurants have provided Ronald McDonald House with over $88,000 in donations in the last 10 years
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The Ronald McDonald House in Saskatoon. (supplied)

For Family Day this year, the Ronald McDonald House put the spotlight on Moose Jaw’s local McDonald’s franchisee Doug Dooley for all the charitable work he and his business have done to help families in Saskatchewan.

Dooley is the owner and operator of the two McDonald’s restaurants in Moose Jaw as well as in Swift Current, and his franchise locations have provided the Ronald McDonald House Charities Saskatchewan with over $88,000 in direct donations in the last 10 years. 

This impressive contribution total represents all of the funds raised at Dooley’s McDonald’s from the annual McHappy Day fundraiser, as well as the year-round coin box and round-up program — in which customers can round up the total of their order in support of Ronald McDonald House.

But these campaigns are not the only fundraising efforts the McDonald’s owner in Moose Jaw takes part in. 

Dooley is one of many franchisees who donate a portion of the sales from every Happy Meal and cookie at his locations toward the Ronald McDonald House, an ongoing charitable program that ultimately comes straight from his business’s profit.

The national Fries For Good campaign also contributed donations this year, with a portion of every order of fries sold during a period in November donated back to RMHC, including those sold at Moose Jaw and Swift Current locations.

Dooley works behind the scenes to support other special fundraising events and campaigns the RMHC puts on each year, including efforts like putting the charity in contact with a local Moose Jaw couple who made a $10,000 personal donation at the end of 2020.

Tammy Forrester, CEO of RMHC Saskatchewan, expressed gratitude for both Dooley and the city of Moose Jaw’s ongoing contributions that help support the Ronald McDonald House — and, in turn, families in need here in Saskatchewan. 

“It's just wonderful to know that we have a donor that supports our facility and our organization every year without question, without negotiation,” said Forrester. “And I think it's really important that people know that their local McDonald’s is such a supportive and wonderful donor for us.”

All of the funds raised in Saskatchewan by franchisees like Dooley support the House in Saskatoon. Saskatchewan McDonald’s operators raise around $500,000 annually, which provides about 27 per cent of the charity’s operating costs each year. 

“It gives us that base funding that allows us to run programs so we can support families,” said Forrester.

Forrester shared that 38 families from the Moose Jaw area have utilized the Ronald McDonald House in the past two years, staying for a combined total of 226 nights. 

This includes the Petit family, whose story was highlighted as part of the 2019 McHappy Day campaign.

The family shared that they have used the Ronald McDonald House when travelling with their young daughter Kimberly, born with Down Syndrome, to various medical appointments in Regina, Saskatoon and even Edmonton.  

“Kimberly does not walk nor talk yet and is being followed by many health professionals: pediatrician, speech therapist, physical therapist as well as dietitians,” said the family, in a written statement through RMHC Saskatchewan. “We have stayed at the Ronald McDonald House in both Saskatoon and Edmonton — both being a great support system for our family. It is an amazing place to stay.”

McDonald’s restaurants — including Moose Jaw — in Saskatchewan have granted over $5 million to the RMHC Saskatchewan House and Prince Albert Family Room in the last decade, allowing the charity to support over 1,700 families each year.

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