'Amazing': Former Knights star's huge donation to Ronald McDonald House

The Advertiser

a day ago

The MacDougall Foundation will give $2 million for the expansion of Ronald McDonald House in Newcastle.
Former Newcastle Knights star Adam MacDougall and his wife Belinda, known for creating the Man Shake and Lady Shake, own the foundation.
The money will go towards stage one of the "Building a Bigger Heart" project.
The first stage includes three self-contained family units, with a second stage to add eight more.
Ronald McDonald House, which is on the grounds of John Hunter Children's Hospital, currently has 12 rooms and six self-contained units.
Donna Horsey, head fundraiser at Ronald McDonald House Charities Northern NSW, said "we're currently turning families away".
"We want to make sure we don't have to say no to any family."
Ronald McDonald House Northern NSW CEO Ross Bingham said "we are incredibly grateful" to the MacDougalls.
"This extremely generous gift will make a world of difference for hundreds of families, giving them a home away from home so they can be near their sick child in hospital," Mr Bingham said.
Ms Horsey added that the donation was "absolutely amazing".
"It means the world."
The MacDougalls co-founded Cranky Health in their garage in 2013, which led to their successful meal replacement shakes.
They sold 70 per cent of the business in 2022. Mr MacDougall is listed among Australia's wealthiest 250 people with a $650 million fortune.
"We had the Man Shake for 10 years. We had always donated a certain amount of our revenue to charities," he said.
The foundation enabled them to "have an ongoing ability to help people in need".
"I think good businesses set out to make a difference and be good corporate citizens and good people," he said.
"If you can help, you should help."
He had heard stories of people with sick children having to sleep in their cars at John Hunter.
"It's heartbreaking," he said.
The couple have two daughters Harlow, 10, and Mili, 8.
"We're trying to teach our kids at a young age about giving back. One day they'll take over the foundation," Mrs MacDougall said.
She said the foundation's goal was to "help anybody or charity that is struggling in all sorts of areas".
"Being local, we look at Newcastle-based projects first. We do have a passion for mental health, kids and the Salvation Army."
Mr MacDougall said the $2 million donation to Ronald McDonald House would enable "others to come on board for the second stage, which is pretty cool."
The couple started their nutrition business after Adam's best mate Dennis died of a heart attack in his 40s.
"We thought if we could change one person's life, maybe they could change somebody else's," he said.
While the success of their business was a team effort, Adam said "I was lucky I had Belinda".
"She had been very successful in business previously. She's really smart. I was lucky to stand on her shoulders.
"Any great business has co-founders. I found a good one who was also my wife. She instilled a lot of belief in me."
Belinda came up with the famous Man Shake name.
"Adam said it was the worst name I've ever heard. I still remind him to this day."
The MacDougall Foundation will give $2 million for the expansion of Ronald McDonald House in Newcastle.
Former Newcastle Knights star Adam MacDougall and his wife Belinda, known for creating the Man Shake and Lady Shake, own the foundation.
The money will go towards stage one of the "Building a Bigger Heart" project.
The first stage includes three self-contained family units, with a second stage to add eight more.
Ronald McDonald House, which is on the grounds of John Hunter Children's Hospital, currently has 12 rooms and six self-contained units.
Donna Horsey, head fundraiser at Ronald McDonald House Charities Northern NSW, said "we're currently turning families away".
"We want to make sure we don't have to say no to any family."
Ronald McDonald House Northern NSW CEO Ross Bingham said "we are incredibly grateful" to the MacDougalls.
"This extremely generous gift will make a world of difference for hundreds of families, giving them a home away from home so they can be near their sick child in hospital," Mr Bingham said.
Ms Horsey added that the donation was "absolutely amazing".
"It means the world."
The MacDougalls co-founded Cranky Health in their garage in 2013, which led to their successful meal replacement shakes.
They sold 70 per cent of the business in 2022. Mr MacDougall is listed among Australia's wealthiest 250 people with a $650 million fortune.
"We had the Man Shake for 10 years. We had always donated a certain amount of our revenue to charities," he said.
The foundation enabled them to "have an ongoing ability to help people in need".
"I think good businesses set out to make a difference and be good corporate citizens and good people," he said.
"If you can help, you should help."
He had heard stories of people with sick children having to sleep in their cars at John Hunter.
"It's heartbreaking," he said.
The couple have two daughters Harlow, 10, and Mili, 8.
"We're trying to teach our kids at a young age about giving back. One day they'll take over the foundation," Mrs MacDougall said.
She said the foundation's goal was to "help anybody or charity that is struggling in all sorts of areas".
"Being local, we look at Newcastle-based projects first. We do have a passion for mental health, kids and the Salvation Army."
Mr MacDougall said the $2 million donation to Ronald McDonald House would enable "others to come on board for the second stage, which is pretty cool."
The couple started their nutrition business after Adam's best mate Dennis died of a heart attack in his 40s.
"We thought if we could change one person's life, maybe they could change somebody else's," he said.
While the success of their business was a team effort, Adam said "I was lucky I had Belinda".
"She had been very successful in business previously. She's really smart. I was lucky to stand on her shoulders.
"Any great business has co-founders. I found a good one who was also my wife. She instilled a lot of belief in me."
Belinda came up with the famous Man Shake name.
"Adam said it was the worst name I've ever heard. I still remind him to this day."
The MacDougall Foundation will give $2 million for the expansion of Ronald McDonald House in Newcastle.
Former Newcastle Knights star Adam MacDougall and his wife Belinda, known for creating the Man Shake and Lady Shake, own the foundation.
The money will go towards stage one of the "Building a Bigger Heart" project.
The first stage includes three self-contained family units, with a second stage to add eight more.
Ronald McDonald House, which is on the grounds of John Hunter Children's Hospital, currently has 12 rooms and six self-contained units.
Donna Horsey, head fundraiser at Ronald McDonald House Charities Northern NSW, said "we're currently turning families away".
"We want to make sure we don't have to say no to any family."
Ronald McDonald House Northern NSW CEO Ross Bingham said "we are incredibly grateful" to the MacDougalls.
"This extremely generous gift will make a world of difference for hundreds of families, giving them a home away from home so they can be near their sick child in hospital," Mr Bingham said.
Ms Horsey added that the donation was "absolutely amazing".
"It means the world."
The MacDougalls co-founded Cranky Health in their garage in 2013, which led to their successful meal replacement shakes.
They sold 70 per cent of the business in 2022. Mr MacDougall is listed among Australia's wealthiest 250 people with a $650 million fortune.
"We had the Man Shake for 10 years. We had always donated a certain amount of our revenue to charities," he said.
The foundation enabled them to "have an ongoing ability to help people in need".
"I think good businesses set out to make a difference and be good corporate citizens and good people," he said.
"If you can help, you should help."
He had heard stories of people with sick children having to sleep in their cars at John Hunter.
"It's heartbreaking," he said.
The couple have two daughters Harlow, 10, and Mili, 8.
"We're trying to teach our kids at a young age about giving back. One day they'll take over the foundation," Mrs MacDougall said.
She said the foundation's goal was to "help anybody or charity that is struggling in all sorts of areas".
"Being local, we look at Newcastle-based projects first. We do have a passion for mental health, kids and the Salvation Army."
Mr MacDougall said the $2 million donation to Ronald McDonald House would enable "others to come on board for the second stage, which is pretty cool."
The couple started their nutrition business after Adam's best mate Dennis died of a heart attack in his 40s.
"We thought if we could change one person's life, maybe they could change somebody else's," he said.
While the success of their business was a team effort, Adam said "I was lucky I had Belinda".
"She had been very successful in business previously. She's really smart. I was lucky to stand on her shoulders.
"Any great business has co-founders. I found a good one who was also my wife. She instilled a lot of belief in me."
Belinda came up with the famous Man Shake name.
"Adam said it was the worst name I've ever heard. I still remind him to this day."
The MacDougall Foundation will give $2 million for the expansion of Ronald McDonald House in Newcastle.
Former Newcastle Knights star Adam MacDougall and his wife Belinda, known for creating the Man Shake and Lady Shake, own the foundation.
The money will go towards stage one of the "Building a Bigger Heart" project.
The first stage includes three self-contained family units, with a second stage to add eight more.
Ronald McDonald House, which is on the grounds of John Hunter Children's Hospital, currently has 12 rooms and six self-contained units.
Donna Horsey, head fundraiser at Ronald McDonald House Charities Northern NSW, said "we're currently turning families away".
"We want to make sure we don't have to say no to any family."
Ronald McDonald House Northern NSW CEO Ross Bingham said "we are incredibly grateful" to the MacDougalls.
"This extremely generous gift will make a world of difference for hundreds of families, giving them a home away from home so they can be near their sick child in hospital," Mr Bingham said.
Ms Horsey added that the donation was "absolutely amazing".
"It means the world."
The MacDougalls co-founded Cranky Health in their garage in 2013, which led to their successful meal replacement shakes.
They sold 70 per cent of the business in 2022. Mr MacDougall is listed among Australia's wealthiest 250 people with a $650 million fortune.
"We had the Man Shake for 10 years. We had always donated a certain amount of our revenue to charities," he said.
The foundation enabled them to "have an ongoing ability to help people in need".
"I think good businesses set out to make a difference and be good corporate citizens and good people," he said.
"If you can help, you should help."
He had heard stories of people with sick children having to sleep in their cars at John Hunter.
"It's heartbreaking," he said.
The couple have two daughters Harlow, 10, and Mili, 8.
"We're trying to teach our kids at a young age about giving back. One day they'll take over the foundation," Mrs MacDougall said.
She said the foundation's goal was to "help anybody or charity that is struggling in all sorts of areas".
"Being local, we look at Newcastle-based projects first. We do have a passion for mental health, kids and the Salvation Army."
Mr MacDougall said the $2 million donation to Ronald McDonald House would enable "others to come on board for the second stage, which is pretty cool."
The couple started their nutrition business after Adam's best mate Dennis died of a heart attack in his 40s.
"We thought if we could change one person's life, maybe they could change somebody else's," he said.
While the success of their business was a team effort, Adam said "I was lucky I had Belinda".
"She had been very successful in business previously. She's really smart. I was lucky to stand on her shoulders.
"Any great business has co-founders. I found a good one who was also my wife. She instilled a lot of belief in me."
Belinda came up with the famous Man Shake name.
"Adam said it was the worst name I've ever heard. I still remind him to this day."