The Wellington Phoenix have partnered with McDonald’s to raise awareness and much-needed funds for Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC®) New Zealand.
The Phoenix will wear a bespoke RMHC kit for their round 24 A-League men’s match against Western Sydney Wanderers at Sky Stadium on Saturday, March 29.
Each player’s shirt will feature the name of a child and the number of nights they stayed at a Ronald McDonald House.
The match-worn kits will be auctioned off post-match with all proceeds going to RMHC, whose core mission is to keep families together when their child is in a hospital away from home, by providing free accommodation and support.
To make an even bigger impact, McDonald’s restaurants will match every donation made via kiosks and Drive-Thru from March 24th – 30th. Customers can support RMHC by rounding up their order to the nearest dollar or adding a $1 donation at checkout.
Paladin Sports will also donate $10 from each replica RMHC kit sold to Ronald McDonald House Charities New Zealand.
For families like the Harpers, long-time Wellington Phoenix supporters, this match carries extra meaning.
Mark Harper stayed with his son Oscar at Ronald McDonald House in Auckland for 204 nights while Oscar received medical treatment, so knows firsthand the impact RMHC has.
“Ronald McDonald House was our home away from home when Oscar needed medical treatment in Auckland,” Mark Harper said. “The support we received was incredible, and we’ll never forget it.”
Oscar was thrilled to learn his favourite team would be playing in support of RMHC – and even more excited for the chance to walk out onto the pitch with Phoenix forward Marco Rojas and represent the thousands of children like him across Aotearoa.
“This means the world to our family. This is more than a game; it’s a cause that helps families like ours every day.”
Wellington Phoenix general manager David Dome says the club is honoured to be able to support RMHC.
“We’re incredibly proud to dedicate our annual charity match to Ronald McDonald House Charities and shine a light on the important work they do,” Dome said.
“The Nix have been visiting and supporting Ronald McDonald House Wellington for years, so it’s great to be able to play for them.
“We are calling on our fans to get behind this game and help make a real difference for families in need.”
McDonald’s New Zealand is looking forward to bringing together two of its partners for such a positive cause.
“The Nix already had a connection with Ronald McDonald House Wellington when we came on board as a sponsor, which was fantastic,” said Simon Kenny, Head of Impact and Communications at McDonald’s New Zealand.
“So, the charity round was a natural way to further support RMHC and the work they do.
“With the Macca’s Match, our franchisees are encouraging customers to help us to raise funds for RMHC to meet the growing demand from families around New Zealand.”
Wayne Howett, CEO of RMHC New Zealand, says they are honoured to receive support from McDonald’s and Wellington Phoenix for this year’s charity match, which will make a meaningful difference for families facing challenging times.
“When a child is seriously ill, the last thing a family should have to worry about is where they will stay,” Howett said.
“Many of our families travel hundreds of kilometres for their child’s treatment, and having a place to call home near the hospital is invaluable.
“With the continued support of McDonald’s and Wellington Phoenix, we can ease the burden on these families and help them focus on what truly matters – being together during their toughest times.”
About Ronald McDonald House Charities New Zealand®
RMHC® New Zealand is a for-purpose, not-for-profit organisation with the core mission to provide families with accommodation and support when their child is in a hospital away from home.
The Ronald McDonald House and Ronald McDonald Family Room programmes take care of the practical things in life so families with a child undergoing medical treatment can focus on spending time together.
Each year we offer over 3,500 families across New Zealand accommodation and support free of charge. This helps to relieve stresses like paying for a place to sleep near the hospital, organising family meals and needing a friendly ear to listen on tough days.
Simply, we give families with a hospitalised child what they need most — each other.
