Local McDonald’s restaurants and their customers in the upper Midwest will again turn Shamrock Shake season into a lifeline for families. Since 2014, “ShamROCK THE HOUSE!” has raised more than $1 million to help keep loved ones together at a nearby Ronald McDonald House when a child is undergoing medical treatment — and this year, communities are invited back to build on that impact.
From March 6-17, McDonald’s owner/operators of more than 260 participating restaurants across Minnesota, North Dakota, western Wisconsin and Ironwood, Michigan will again donate 25 cents from every Shamrock Shake sold to Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) locations throughout the region.
Customers have helped owner/operators raise $1,060,516 since 2014 to help families stay together while their seriously ill or injured children receive critical medical care at nearby hospitals.
“This fundraiser has become a meaningful annual tradition for our customers and communities,” said Twin Cities owner/operator Tom Duval, president of the McDonald’s North Star Alliance (NSA). “Surpassing the $1 million mark is a testament to the generosity of our customers. Every Shamrock Shake purchased helps keep families close when it matters most.”
Customers can participate in the fundraiser simply by visiting a participating McDonald’s restaurant between March 6-17 and ordering any size Shamrock Shake.
NSA restaurants support four chapters: RMHC-Upper Midwest, with five locations (one Ronald McDonald House in Duluth, two in Minneapolis and two Ronald McDonald Family Rooms in St. Paul); Ronald McDonald House Southeastern MN & Western WI (home to Minnesota’s largest Ronald McDonald House, in Rochester and a Ronald McDonald Family Room that opened in February); Fargo’s RMHC of the Red River Valley (a Ronald McDonald House and Ronald McDonald Family Room); and RMHC of Bismarck, ND (a Ronald McDonald House and Ronald McDonald Care Mobile, a dental clinic on wheels providing dental care to underserved children).
In 2025, these locations combined to provide a home-away-from-home at no cost for more than 8,200 families who had to travel for specialized pediatric medical treatment. The RMHC facilities provided more than 42,000 nights of free lodging and 125,000 meals, while saving over $10 million in costs on everyday expenses like food and household items.
In addition to ShamROCK the House, NSA restaurants support RMHC through Round-Up for RMHC, in-store donation canisters and owner/operators’ local community initiatives.
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