Old McDonald's wife leaves $1.5bn to Salvation Army

The Salvation Army has been left more than $1.5bn (€1.19bn) by Joan Kroc, the late widow of the founder of McDonalds.

The Salvation Army said trustees of the estate have estimated that the gift could be in excess of $1.5bn.

The exact amount will not be known until administration of Mrs Kroc’s estate is complete.

The gift was for development of community centres across the US.

“We are obviously thrilled, but genuinely humbled by the exceptional generosity of Joan Kroc,” said Todd Bassett, US national commander of The Salvation Army.

“We recognise the deep sense of trust she has placed into our hands with this gift,” he said.

“Mrs Kroc was a wonderful friend of The Salvation Army and we miss her. Her passion for children and families, and her hope for community peace will live on forever through this incredible gift.”

Mrs Kroc died in October, and the Salvation Army is among several organisations that have received bequests from her estate.

Bassett said the donation to his organisation specifies that half the money be placed in an endowment with the earnings used as income to partially support operation of the centres.

The other half is for construction of the new centres.

None of the gift is to be used for existing programmes, services or administrative costs, he said.