Ken and I own and operate 53 McDonald’s restaurants in the Greater Houston Area, Waco and Beaumont. Along with our three children, who collectively own an additional 15 restaurants, the Kades Family is the fourth-largest McDonald’s Owner Operator organization in the United States. In addition to our business ventures, Ken also serves as Chairman of ORC Insurance Group, which provides employee accident protection insurance for more than 1,000 McDonald’s restaurants in the state of Texas and serves on the Board of NOIT, the National Operator’s Insurance Team, which oversees property and liability insurance for 14,000 McDonald’s restaurants nationwide. I serve on the Board of Holocaust Museum Houston and the Houston Arts Alliance, as well as donate my time and resources to numerous other charitable organizations throughout the country, including the Alley Theatre in Houston where Ken is president-elect.
We opened our first McDonald’s restaurant in Texas City, launching the family business in 1982. While many people may think of McDonald’s as a corporate monolith, we are instead, a collection of independent business entrepreneurs. There are 64 other independent McDonald’s owner/operators in the Greater Houston Area. While each of our situations and businesses is unique, we all face similar challenges and work every day to help each other succeed. Of utmost importance is the fact that we universally share a single “McFamily” belief that extends not only to our McDonald’s neighbors in this region, but across Texas, the United States, and the globe. After more than five decades in the McDonald’s system, we are proud to say the Golden Arches shine brightest in times of great crisis and need, not only for our customers, but also for our employees, our community partners, and the many charitable and public service organizations we support.
Being the largest and best-known restaurant brand in the world, we are actively making many hard decisions and are busy initiating innovative programs to help solve this current crisis. McDonald’s is continuing operations, providing income for our employees, and serving the public, even with increasingly restrictive “stay at home” orders in place. In a time of “social distancing,” our drive-thru’s, McDelivery, and carryout options have never been a more significant resource to our neighbors than now. They are maintaining a connection to the public in a time when we are being forced apart. We are proud to be considered an essential business and are taking this responsibility very seriously.
Our top priority in a time like this is the safety and stability of our employees and our customers. We understand the role we play in the communities where we live and operate. We know people are turning to us for a sense of normalcy. In the aftermath of Hurricane Harvey in 2017, McDonald’s world-class supply chain allowed us to relight the Arches quickly, bringing much-needed comfort to customers, vital resources for first responders, and income and security for our employees, who we refer to as our “crew.” As we did in those dark days, many of our Kades Corporation-owned restaurants are now providing free Extra Value Meals for first responders and we’re working with our fellow Houston area owner/operators on several other community initiatives to help support those who need it most during this Coronavirus crisis. This sense of obligation is a natural extension of our philosophy of philanthropy and community involvement. At our restaurants, we are also hosting Coffee with a Cop and McTeacher’s Nights regularly and are committing time and financial resources to the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Greater Houston/Galveston, Ronald McDonald House Houston, and Ronald McDonald House Galveston. It is in our DNA to help wherever and whenever we can.
Another great concern in the coming days and weeks is meeting the needs of our employees. With curfews and closed dining rooms, the demand for working hours is clearly outpacing availability, yet we are striving to staff as many employees as we possibly can while understanding the rules in place are designed to flatten the curve of infection and serve the greater good. On a voluntary basis, Ken and I are offering two weeks paid leave to all our 3,000 + employees affected by Coronavirus and/or to those who have family members who are ill. To date, we have avoided furloughs and layoffs. In addition, The Kades Corporation continues to offer our employees interest-free loans, as we have done for the last 38 years. When we use the term “McFamily,” we mean it.
We all believe in the McDonald’s system. We have built our careers in it. Our three children have made their careers in it. We are in this together from the front counter to the back office.
In this time of incredible need, we also ask everyone to join us in helping the most vulnerable in our communities, including the Ronald McDonald House Houston (https://rmhhouston.org) and the Ronald McDonald House Charities of Greater Houston/Galveston (https://www.rmhcghg.org). These 2 wonderful organizations are helping to support children that are among the most at-risk of all. Help us fulfill their life-saving missions to serve parents and children.
And we ask you to stop by whenever you see the Golden Arches alight across the Greater Houston area! We look forward to serving you!
Be well, and stay safe!
Best regards,
Mady Kades
Owner, McDonald’s Restaurants
Houston, Beaumont, Waco
Member, West Houston Women’s Chamber of Commerce