McDonald's franchisee signs off with parting gift to West Midlands charity
Doug Wright MBE is today signing off from McDonald’s after four decades with a huge parting gift to a West Midlands charity.
The preeminent West Midlands business figure – who announced last month that he is selling his 26 McDonald’s restaurants – is marking his last day with the fast food giant by announcing a significant six-figure donation to the Kids’ Village charity.
Mr Wright (pictured) also chairs the charity which is building the UK’s first holiday village to provide free breaks for critically ill children and their families.
His significant donation will fund one of the 10 four-bedroom lodges that will house families at the site at Wychnor, near Lichfield, in Staffordshire.
Reflecting on his last day with McDonald’s, some 44 years after he started work with the corporation as a 93p-an-hour cleaner, Mr Wright said: “It’s the end of an era as today marks my last day with McDonald’s.
“It’s the only job I have ever had and I feel incredibly lucky and grateful to have been under the arches for my entire working life.
“I’ve loved every minute and will now enjoy now being a customer at McDonald’s.
“I’ve been overwhelmed by the messages I’ve received since announcing my departure – particularly from the West Midlands business community.”
On his donation to Kids’ Village charity, he added: “The West Midlands has been so good to me, therefore my parting gift is to make this donation to an exceptional charity which is going to have a significant impact on the lives of families from our region and beyond.
“It will enable sick children and their families to stay at Kids’ Village for the next 100 years.”
Kids’ Village is the brainchild of Sam Fletcher-Goodwin, from Lichfield, who was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer called Rhabdomyosarcoma when she was nine.
During her illness Sam and her family visited the Give Kids The World Village resort in Florida – an experience which has inspired her to create Kids’ Village.
With Mr Wright on board as chairman, Kids’ Village launched a £5m capital appeal to build the UK’s first holiday village for critically ill children.
So far, £2.1m has been pledged, with just over £1m still needed to enable a part-opening in 2027, when the charity will begin providing magical, free holidays to families in need.
Katrina Cooke, CEO of Kids’ Village, said: “I’d like to thank Doug for his extraordinary generosity to Kids' Village.
“This gift will help us build a place where critically ill children and their families can enjoy a transformational holiday, with a much-needed break from hospital and the chance to make happy, magical memories together.
“On behalf of everyone at Kids' Village, a heartfelt thank you, Doug.”
