McDonald’s Owner Operator of the Year

Bryan Colley, The Colley Group

Founder and Chairman Emeritus of Ronald McDonald House of the Greater Hudson Valley

On the faith of a handshake in 2002, Bryan was asked to help bring a Ronald McDonald House to the new Maria Fareri Children’s Hospital project. Even though it was a big challenge, he felt it was also his mission as he was a local McDonald’s owner-operator, a real estate attorney and not afraid of construction. With limited funds available and as the Children’s Hospital was being built, he was able to raise the necessary funds to adapt space on the third floor to support and open an RMH family room with five bedrooms.

Once RMH began operating inside the hospital, it was quickly realized that a bigger facility was needed. Then unfortunately, after two years of operation, the family rooms were flooded by a leak in the ceiling. Fortunately, conversations were already underway to build a free standing 12-room house in the parking lot of the hospital.

Over time, with the help of McDonald’s owner-operators, Starwood Hotels, and members of the community, the necessary funds and in-kind donations were secured to build the House. Now, many years later, Bryan says “I am so proud to see how much we have accomplished and that we serve so many families from the surrounding communities. This is all thanks to the hard work of many – several executive directors, board members, staff, and many wonderful volunteers.”

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