On April 17, 2026, the familiar golden arches of McDonald’s took on a deeper meaning in Pittsburgh and Morgantown, as Pittsburgh Penguins alternate captain Evgeni Malkin and local McDonald’s restaurants announced an $86,620 donation to the Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) of Pittsburgh and Morgantown. The donation, part of Malkin’s 2025-26 “I’m Score for Kids” initiative, represents a significant boost to the charity’s ability to serve families whose children are undergoing medical treatment far from home.
Malkin, who notched 61 points during the 2025-26 NHL regular season, pledged $710 for each point scored—totaling $43,310. Local McDonald’s restaurants matched his generosity dollar for dollar, bringing the season’s total to $86,620. According to RMHC, the partnership has now yielded a grand total of $370,620 in donations since it began before the 2022-23 season. “We are deeply grateful for the continued commitment and generosity shown through this special initiative. Having this support brings comfort and reassurance to families who are facing a difficult medical journey,” said Eleanor Reigel, CEO of Ronald McDonald House Charities of Pittsburgh and Morgantown, as reported by the Penguins’ official release.
The funds directly support RMHC’s mission: providing a home away from home for families traveling to seek medical care for their children. In 2025 alone, the Pittsburgh and Morgantown houses served 822 families, offering a combined 21,059 nights of stay. These families hailed from 42 counties in West Virginia, 41 in Pennsylvania, 37 states, and five countries, with stays ranging from a few days to several months. The support is more than just financial—it’s a lifeline for parents who need to be close to their sick children while also having access to warm meals, daily essentials, and a safe, comforting environment.
Matt Alamo, a Pittsburgh-area McDonald’s Owner/Operator, emphasized the community’s role in making these donations possible. “McDonald’s Owner-Operators in Western Pennsylvania are honored to work alongside Evgeni Malkin to make a difference for families who need a place to call home while their children receive medical care,” he said. Alamo also credited loyal customers for their ongoing support, highlighting other initiatives like the Round-Up program and donations from every Shamrock Shake sold. “Our customers continue to stand by our side in supporting our longtime partner, Ronald McDonald House.”
The impact of McDonald’s in these communities extends beyond philanthropy. All 207 McDonald’s restaurants in the Three Rivers area are locally owned and operated, employing between 50 and 100 community residents each. These businesses are woven into the fabric of their neighborhoods, supporting local causes and providing jobs to thousands.
But while McDonald’s and its franchisees in Pennsylvania and West Virginia are making headlines for their charitable giving, the brand’s presence in another region has sparked a very different kind of attention—this time in Western North Carolina, where politics, protest, and fast food have collided in a uniquely American drama.
For months leading up to April 2026, Candler resident Leslie Boyd and a small group of activists regularly gathered outside McDonald’s franchises owned by U.S. Representative Chuck Edwards. Their Sunday protests, often featuring costumes of McDonald’s characters like Grimace or the Grinch, were aimed at drawing attention to Edwards’ positions on the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program and health care. Boyd, a longtime progressive activist and co-founder of the Asheville Fights Back Network, was no stranger to public demonstrations. Her homemade sign—"Don’t Feed the Congressman! Boycott this McDonald’s"—became a staple at the gatherings, as reported by The Assembly NC.
The protests were mostly peaceful and stayed on public sidewalks. Passersby would honk, give thumbs up, or occasionally flash a less friendly gesture. But things escalated on March 15, 2026, when about 40 activists—including members of Persist Hendersonville and the Asheville-based band Brass Your Heart—entered one of Edwards’ six McDonald’s locations in Hendersonville. They performed a protest song set to the tune of “When The Saints Go Marching In,” marching around the restaurant and handing out dollar bills to staff. “We went in and we played a song, we kind of marched around, and the patrons seemed to enjoy it,” Boyd recalled. “They were clapping and laughing.”
However, the demonstration was cut short when someone announced the police had been called. The group quickly exited, but the incident had lasting consequences. Three weeks later, Boyd received a certified letter from Edwards’ business office. The letter, signed by the congressman’s wife Teresa Edwards, informed her that she was banned from all six McDonald’s franchises owned by the C. Edwards Group in Hendersonville, Canton, Flat Rock, and Brevard, as well as from Edwards’ office on Main Street, Hendersonville. “Please note that if you are seen in person or on video surveillance on the premises of any of the above locations, law enforcement will be immediately notified, and you will be charged with trespassing,” the letter warned.
Boyd’s reaction was a mix of surprise and amusement. “For almost half a second, I was intimidated,” she said. “And then I realized I’d won something. I was exhilarated. I couldn’t stop laughing.” She posted a photo of the letter on Facebook, where it was shared more than 100 times. The ban, she says, is “no skin off my nose”—she hasn’t eaten at McDonald’s in 25 years. She plans to continue protesting on public sidewalks outside Edwards’ franchises “as often as I can. I think we need to do it ‘til Election Day.”
For Boyd, the protest is as much personal as it is political. Her son Mike died from colon cancer in 2008 after being denied insurance due to a pre-existing condition. She recounted a conversation with Edwards when he was a state legislator. “His first question was whether my son had a job when he got sick,” Boyd said. “Nobody had asked me that before. And I was stunned. I said, ‘Are you implying that my son was too lazy to deserve to live?’ He said, ‘No, but you know, a lot of people just want a handout.’” Edwards’ office did not respond to multiple requests for comment, according to The Assembly NC.
Edwards owns six McDonald’s restaurants in Western North Carolina, but for some, these locations have become a focal point for the region’s simmering debates over health care, food security, and the intersection of business and politics. As Election Day approaches, Boyd and her fellow activists show no sign of backing down, determined to keep their cause in the public eye.
From the rinks of Pittsburgh to the sidewalks of Hendersonville, McDonald’s franchises are at the heart of very different community stories—one of generosity and comfort, the other of protest and political expression. In both cases, the iconic fast-food chain finds itself at the crossroads of local life, shaping and reflecting the values, conflicts, and hopes of the people it serves.