By g.r. mattox

Because her commitment to helping children from underserved communities has been so consistent and strong, Linda Dunham was elected Chairman of the Ronald McDonald House Charities Board of Trustees, this past January. The charity, which includes a global network of local chapters in 48 countries, has awarded more than $400 million dollars in grants and program services worldwide. Dunham is the first McDonald franchise operator, or African-American woman to hold the position.

She’s distinguished herself over 14 years on the board as a caring individual committed to children introducing and supporting programs that in some way made their lives better. "In my gut it’s my responsibility to give back," she explained. "You can’t receive blessings in this world and not do that."

One of the first scholarship programs she was able to get funding for was aimed at encouraging students studying in the health care professions at Historically Black Colleges and Universities to pursue their careers in underserved communities. Most recently she helped to provide funding for the Museum of the African Diaspora, an interactive depository that will connect children all over the world.

Dunham stands shoulder to shoulder with her husband, Lee, who brought the first McDonald’s franchise to New York City in 1973. Together they run TCB Management Corp., which now owns six McDonald’s in New York and New Jersey. She joined him in their business in 1986, after 17 years at what was Chemical Bank (now JPMorgan Chase), bringing tremendous skills especially in the area of finance.

Being a franchise enterprise is itself a sacrifice, and in order to be a success, Linda and Lee together gave it there all. "You really have to be passionate about going into business," she says. "When times get tough, if you don’t love what you’re doing you can easily lose focus, walk away and fail."

Linda oversees the administrative, personnel, philantrophic and financial aspects of their enterprise while Lee handles day-to-day operations.

"It was a challenge years ago," she says with a chuckle, remembering him telling her that she was there to take the business to the next level. "Working with my husband is not difficult at all, now, because we found out early on that we each had to have certain areas of responsibility to cover."

Always aware of the importance of giving back, Dunham has supported many local cultural and educational programs as well as being a member of about a half-dozen high level community boards. While her recent election as Chairman will further pull her in a thousand different directions, she is confident she can balance it all. "I’m not going to let accepting this job take me away from the other things that are important."

Being a part of a family business and an advocate for education is something Linda Dunham learned from her parents. They drove her and her siblings 10-miles daily from their home on the outskirts of Charlotte, NC into the city because her mother insisted that they get the best education possible. After the kids were in school, her mom went to school , then taught her and her sister what she learned in her shorthand classes.

Her father’s family owned funeral homes in Charlotte, NC. What she learned there is you don’t go into business for the power and money: "Go into business to be of service to others as well; to share your knowledge and bring somebody along."

As Chairman, she wants to reconnect franchise owners to the Board to spur growth. "If we can get them to once again feel that this is their charity," she said, "I think we’ll go a long way into creating greater awareness, as well as raising even more money to help the kids and growing the charity."

After thought and prayer, Linda Dunham carries out her mission because of the difference she can make and the perspective she can give. "In my gut, it’s my responsibility to give back," she continues. "You can’t receive blessings in this world and not do that. I don’t think I could do what I do without a strong faith in God. I’m no one special, but I’m special in the sight of God."

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