Greg Oden and McDonald’s of Oregon and SW Washington have teamed up for a two-year partnership in support of local community programs and organizations including Ronald McDonald House Charities.

As part of the announcement, McDonald’s owner/operators stated their fundraising goal of $80,000 through donating a portion of the proceeds from every hot or iced coffee purchase. To date, McDonald’s and its customers in Oregon and SW Washington have raised more than $25,000. Oden noted that he has been responsible for a small portion of that total.

“I’m not that big of a coffee guy,” Oden said, “but every now and then I do enjoy a good vanilla iced coffee.”

After the partnership announcement Oden, along with McDonald’s Owner/Operator and Co-Op President Doug Walker, toured the Ronald McDonald House near Emanuel Hospital, which includes a Trail Blazers sponsored room.

“I’m honored that McDonald’s restaurants throughout Oregon and SW Washington have asked me to join forces to show support for local communities, and to hopefully make a positive impact on the health and well-being of children right here in our own backyard,” said Oden.

“When I was in high school I got to go to visit the Ronald McDonald House. They do a lot of good for the community, so it’s something that I wanted to get involved with.”

In addition to showing support for the local Ronald McDonald Houses, Oden will be visiting several outreach programs that McDonald’s supports in the community such as McTeacher’s Nights with local schools and other youth oriented activities.

“We can’t think of a better local ‘larger than life’ person who is such a positive role model for so many kids, to lend a hand to the families who stay at the local Ronald McDonald Houses,” said Doug Wacker. “We feel the fit with McDonald’s will be a great one and appreciate the long term commitments by both parties.”

About Ronald McDonald House Charities®

Both the Portland and Bend chapters of Ronald McDonald House Charities provide a "home away from home" for families and their seriously ill or injured children who travel far to receive medical treatment. There are two Ronald McDonald Houses in Portland and one in Bend.

Ronald McDonald House Charities of Oregon and Southwest Washington, www.rmhcoregon.org

Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Oregon, www.rmhcofcentraloregon.org

Go here to learn more about the Trail Blazers efforts to Make it Better.