McDonald’s Venezuela aims to raise donations through 95,000 charity hearts

Arcos Dorados Venezuela has launched the ninth edition of ‘Gracias de Corazón’ (‘Thanks from the Heart’) at all McDonald’s restaurants in the country. The campaign aims to reach 95,000 hearts, each representing a donation equivalent to one US dollar, to support programmes run by Casa Ronald McDonald Venezuela and the Asociación Civil Buena Voluntad.

A campaign powered by the franchise network

The initiative, reported by Contrapunto on 21 October 2026, is running continuously with the participation of Arcos Dorados and its franchisee network. Its national reach allows donations to be collected through several of the brand’s service formats, not just its restaurants.

Hearts are also available at McDonald’s dessert centres, McCafé outlets and Automac drive-throughs across Venezuela. The two beneficiary organisations’ head offices in Caracas are also taking part.

The figure of 95,000 hearts is the target for this edition, not a fundraising total already achieved. The donation mechanism is straightforward: each heart purchased represents a contribution equivalent to one US dollar.

For Venezuela’s franchise community, the campaign illustrates how the company, franchisees and charitable organisations can work together. In this case, the commercial network also serves as an access point for an initiative supporting children’s health, food provision and access to employment.

Casa Ronald: accommodation and food support

One priority for this edition is to support the assistance both organisations have provided to people affected by the earthquakes on 24 June. This comes alongside their ongoing programmes for their regular beneficiaries.

Casa Ronald McDonald Venezuela provides accommodation and support for children from other parts of the country who need medical treatment, together with their families. This year, it has also used its dining facilities to distribute food to shelters, healthcare centres and households.

In partnership with Arcos Dorados Venezuela, the organisation has supported more than 8,300 children and their families over two decades of operation. This record reflects the established support programme to which the campaign will contribute.

Figures for 2025 give a sense of its recent activity: Casa Ronald welcomed 454 children and 603 accompanying family members or carers, making 1,057 beneficiaries in total. The organisation recorded a monthly average of 38 children and an occupancy rate of 75%. These figures relate to the organisation’s services and are separate from the donation target announced for this ninth campaign.

Training and pathways into work with Buena Voluntad

Part of the funds raised will go towards initiatives run by the Asociación Civil Buena Voluntad to help young people and adults with disabilities enter employment. Beneficiaries include participants from La Guaira.

The ‘Conectando Talento’ (‘Connecting Talent’) programme enables people from other parts of the country to access online training. When they need to travel to Caracas for an in-person assessment, they can stay at Casa Ronald McDonald. The two beneficiary organisations therefore also work together to support participants who need to travel to the capital.

Buena Voluntad is also developing a training scheme to equip residents of La Guaira affected by the earthquakes with workplace skills.

Over its four years as a beneficiary of ‘Gracias de Corazón’, the association has reached 344 young people from other parts of the country. In addition, 240 participants with various disabilities receive regular support in Caracas. These figures cover different areas of provision and illustrate the geographical reach of its programmes.

Where to take part

As well as at McDonald’s outlets, supporters can purchase hearts at Casa Ronald McDonald’s head office in Valle Arriba, Caracas, and at Buena Voluntad’s offices in Los Samanes, also in the capital.

The campaign thus brings several needs together under one appeal: supporting families during children’s medical treatment, helping to distribute food, and facilitating training, social inclusion and access to employment.

In practice: anyone wishing to contribute can visit a participating location and ask for a heart. Each one represents a donation equivalent to one US dollar to support the two organisations’ programmes.