Happy Meal turns 30; Ronald McDonald House gets gift

"Abracadabra, Alla-kazoo!" yelled the familiar red-haired clown as he pulled a colorful handkerchief from a bag.

"That's not a rabbit," he said with a silly grimace.

Ronald McDonald's magic tricks gone comically awry entertained about 90 kids Tuesday afternoon at Lakeview Museum. The gathering was held in celebration of the 30th birthday of the McDonald's Happy Meal, but they weren't just there for a birthday party.

The real reason for the event was the presentation of a large donation from local McDonald's restaurants to Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Illinois. From Jan. 1 to June 30 of this year, restaurants in Peoria, Bloomington-Normal and other area cities put aside a nickel for every Happy Meal sold at their stores, pooling the money into one check for $46,914.05.

"It was very successful," said Bob Dobski, who owns eight McDonald's restaurants in Bloomington-Normal. "The whole McDonald's family has always been big on giving back. . . . It's always been a part of our culture."

Ronald McDonald House of Central Illinois provides families of sick children a place to stay while the kids receive treatment at Springfield hospitals.

Dobski and other McDonald's franchise owners committed $500,000 in July 2008 to construct a Ronald McDonald Charities family suite in the renovated Children's Hospital of Illinois at OSF Saint Francis Medical Center. The money is being paid in $50,000 increments over a 10-year period.

"We've been in Springfield for close to 25 years now, so as the community has grown, we've wanted to get a little more presence here in Peoria," Dobski said.

Situated next to a 60-bed neo-natal intensive care unit, the home-away-from-home will feature six suites for the families of severely ill infants as well as bathrooms, a communal kitchen and a dining room.

The facility is expected to open in summer 2010 with the completion of the Milestone Project, the $234 million expansion and modernization of both St. Francis and its Children's Hospital, St. Francis spokeswoman Shelli Dankoff said.

Dave Lannert, program manager with Pekin Park District's Extreme Summer Day Camp, brought about 33 of his campers to Tuesday's celebration as a reward for good behavior.

"I'm hoping they had fun and realize what they do in camp reflects what they can do when they grow up," Lannert said. "I'm hoping they take back a lot of respect."

The man in the clown shoes, who declined to give his real name and preferred to be known only as "Ronald," said he has been dressing as Ronald McDonald for 29 years.

"They started the Happy Meal without me," he joked.

The jovial clown said he hoped the kids had fun, but he also was glad to be a part of something he considers so important.

"Ronald McDonald House is a cool thing," he said. "Even in tough economic times, we're able to give to the moms, to the dads. It's something I can be proud of."

Five-year-old Ida Wilkes of Peoria laughed playfully as she helped Ronald pull off a few magic tricks.

"It was cool," Ida said, fiddling with her party hat. "He's my best friend."

Patrick Yeagle can be reached at 686-3251 or pyeagle@pjstar.com.