COLUMBUS, OH (MARION COUNTY NOW)—Tuesday afternoon, five national champion Ohio State football players – Kayden McDonald, Jeremiah Smith, Julian Sayin, Will Smith, and Beau Atkinson – joined forces for a great cause. This fall, the five Buckeyes will serve as the faces of a campaign with Ronald McDonald House Charities across Ohio encouraging McDonald’s customers to ‘Round-Up for RMHC.’
“We are incredibly grateful to Kayden, Jeremiah, Julian, Will, and Beau for using their voices and influence to support the families we serve,” said Dee Anders, CEO of Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Ohio. “Their participation in this campaign will help raise awareness and bring smiles to the faces of families going through some of their most difficult moments. It means the world to us.”
The five players volunteered their time and efforts for the commercial, hoping to make a difference in the lives of families facing challenging times and help bring awareness of a simple way to support the charity. Kayden McDonald, an official Ronald McDonald House ambassador, has spent time at the House, meeting families and lifting their spirits, and was an integral part in gathering his teammates for the video shoot.
“I want to give back to the kids,” McDonald said. “I was once a young kid. Me being at the House and being with the kids…I just want to make their day. Being an Ohio State football player, you have the platform to give back and that’s my goal.”
The commercial will also highlight the Round-Up for RMHC initiative – a simple way for McDonald’s customers to make a big impact. When dining at participating McDonald’s locations, guests can choose to “Round-Up” their total to the nearest dollar, with the extra change going directly to support local RMHC programs like the Columbus Ronald McDonald House.
Ronald McDonald House Charities of Central Ohio operates the largest Ronald McDonald House in the world, located just steps from Nationwide Children’s Hospital. The House offers free lodging, daily meals, laundry services, and a supportive community for families with seriously ill or injured children. In 2024 alone, RMHC of Central Ohio served more than 4,500 families, helping them stay close to their children during hospital stays – at no cost to them.
