McDonald’s is raking in the public goodwill for its Ronald McDonald’s Houses’ charity, that provides housing for families who need to stay by their hospitalized children — but a recent investigation could change all that.
Corporate Accountability International reported that McDonald’s may take in tons of funding for its cause, but in the end, only gives 20 percent for its operations. The report was titled “Clowning Around With Charity: How McDonald’s Exploits Philanthropy and Targets Children” and tracked the flow of contributions from 2011, United Press International reported.
The basic finding: The charity spent much more money on touting its affiliation with the charity that year than it did in actually donating to keep it running, UPI said.
The charity is located around the nation — and in 50 countries.
But McDonald’s executives are fighting back, calling the findings “shameful and misleading,” UPI reported.
“We hesitate to even dignify it with a comment,” said Bridget Coffing, a senior vice president for corporate relations, in the UPI report. “But that would be a disservice to the McDonald’s employees, franchises, suppliers and customers who have partnered tirelessly to support the tremendous work of Ronald McDonald House Charities. This is a thinly veiled attack on our brand at the expense of the millions of families and organizations who have benefitted from RMHC.”
• Cheryl K. Chumley can be reached at cchumley@washingtontimes.com.
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