The charity famous for its red Christmas kettles is getting a record donation from the woman behind the golden arches.
The estate of Joan Kroc, the McDonald’s heiress, said Tuesday it is giving an estimated $1.5 billion to the Salvation Army to build community centers. It’s the largest single donation ever given to a charitable organization.
The Salvation Army, which promises “soup, soap and salvation,” was a favorite of her husband, Ray Kroc, who died in 1984. He was a bell-ringer for the charity in the 1950s and ’60s. “He used to bring coffee and hamburgers to kettle workers,” said W. Todd Bassett, national commander of the organization.
The exact size of the gift won’t be known until administration of Kroc’s estate is complete, which could take several months.
The money will be used to build about 25 to 30 community centers across the country similar to the Ray and Joan Kroc Corps Community Center. That facility opened in San Diego in June 2002 after a $92 million gift by Kroc to the Salvation Army.
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Compiled from RedEye news services and edited by Lara Weber (lweber@tribune.com) and alBerto trevino (atrevino@tribune.com)
