Joan Kroc's Legacy
Why did Mrs. Kroc pick The Salvation Army?
Mrs. Kroc and her husband Ray - founder of McDonald's - were long-time supporters of The Salvation Army. During the 1950's and 60's, Ray volunteered as a bellringer and used to deliver hot coffee and hamburgers from his Golden Arches restaurant to bellringers along Michigan Avenue in downtown Chicago. Mrs. Kroc remembered hearing her family talk around the dinner table about how The Salvation Army helped people during the depression and has had a favorable impression ever since. She made her first large gift - in excess of $90 million - several years ago to establish the first Ray and Joan Kroc Corps Community Center in San Diego. That center opened two years ago to great success and Mrs. Kroc visited often. She felt that the center exceeded her own expectations and was an ideal vehicle for her vision.
How will the donation be used?
Mrs. Kroc's gift will be used exclusively to build and partially endow an estimated 25 to 30 community centers across the United States - similar to the existing Ray and Joan Kroc Corps Community Center in San Diego. Her gift stipulates that half the money must be used only for construction of the centers; the other half of the money must be allocated for an endowment, the interest of which will be used to partially support operation of the centers. None of the gift may be used to financially support existing Salvation Army programs and services.
Call (619) 269-1585 to receive a copy of the Ray & Joan Kroc Corps Community Center Program Guide.