At Cardon Children’s Medical Center in Mesa, parents of hospitalized children can be found spending nights on pull-out sofa beds or on nearby chairs. But when a child is admitted long-term, family members wanting to stay close usually have to find a nearby hotel room or commute 20 miles one way into Phoenix to stay at one of two Ronald McDonald Houses.

Ronald McDonald House Charities of Phoenix — with assistance from McDonald’s franchise owners of Phoenix and Northern Arizona — is awarding $215,000 in total college scholarships to 88 Arizona high school students this year.

Girl Scouts from all over Ahwatukee Foothills are coming together to make a difference in the lives of many by adding color and happiness to the walls of the Ronald McDonald House in Phoenix.

Girl Scouts from all over Ahwatukee Foothills are coming together to make a difference in the lives of many by adding color and happiness to the walls of the Ronald McDonald House in Phoenix.

Mesa’s Legacy Elementary School collected more pounds of pop tabs per student than any school in the state in the annual collection to raise funds for Ronald McDonald House of Phoenix.

Geronimo “Jerry” Diaz was named development director at Ronald McDonald House Charities of Phoenix.

Ronald McDonald is approaching middle age, which might explain his sudden conversion to a more healthy lifestyle. New ads for McDonald’s restaurants depict an athletic Ronald McDonald who could run rings around the old baggysuited mascot — who made his TV debut in 1963.

McDonald’s restaurant at 358 E. University in Mesa will host a grand re-opening from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, Jan. 5, to celebrate the restaurant’s extensive remodel.

Eleven months after burning to the ground, a new McDonald's restaurant will reopen Friday at 2838 W. Apache Trail, Apache Junction.

The Ahwatukee McDonald's, 4750 E. Warner Road, at 48th Street and Warner Road, will host a grand opening Jan. 28 to show off a new look. Local elected officials will receive an "Open Door Tour" of the newly remodeled restaurant and assist in a ribbon cutting ceremony at noon on Jan. 28. The restaurant also plans several family-friendly activities to celebrate the grand opening, which will include:

Ronald McDonald may want to trade in his red clodhoppers for Gucci loafers when he makes the rounds of his namesake Mesa eateries.

Two East Valley McDonald’s restaurants are hosting literacy events Saturday in celebration of Día del Niño (Day of the Child).

Want to enjoy a free breakfast before Thanksgiving and maybe take home a turkey?

Recent Skyline High School graduate Sophia Ottleben of Mesa was awarded a $100,000 scholarship last week during a celebration at the Ronald McDonald House Charities July board meeting.