WORLD  CHILDREN'S  DAY^TM    KICKS OFF NOVEMBER 10
WITH FUNDRAISER TO BENEFIT  CHILDREN'S CHARITIES

Kicking off November 10, all McDonald's restaurants in North Carolina, the US, and more than 100 countries, join together to launch the World Children's Day campaign, a simultaneous fundraiser for children in their communities.
"In North Carolina, we're delighted to give customers a convenient and meaningful way to help make a difference in the lives of children in their own communities," said Ann Stanton, a local owner/operator of McDonald's restaurants and board member of Ronald McDonald House Charities.  "Thanks to the response from our local communities, this fundraiser is a huge success in elevating awareness about critical children's issues and raising dollars for local children's charities."
 
The goal of World Children's Day at McDonald's is to help children right in their own communities and enable people worldwide to contribute to children in need.  Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC) of North Carolina will directly benefit from funds raised on World Children's Day.  This is the umbrella organization that helps support the area's four Ronald McDonald Houses in Chapel Hill, Durham, Greenville, Winston-Salem, soon to be Charlotte, in addition to other children's charities.

The community can participate in World Children's Day through the Give a Hand program.  From November 10 through November 19 all McDonald's restaurants are selling $1 paper, post-it style notes with the imprint of children's and Ronald McDonald's hands. All proceeds from the hands will benefit children's charities. The signed "hands" are displayed on the walls of McDonald's restaurants and serve as an impressive showcase of the community's collective desire to lend a hand and support their local organizations benefiting children.

McDonald's and its Owner/Operators, suppliers and customers from around the world, have raised nearly $75 million for RMHC and other children's causes over the program's first four years. Area residents can join in helping local children by visiting any McDonald's from November 17 through November 19.  In the Carolinas, a portion of proceeds from every Extra Value Meal, Happy Meal® and Mighty Kids Meal® purchased November 17-19 will be donated to Ronald McDonald House Charities.  
"By simply visiting any local McDonald's restaurants from November 10-19, people everywhere have the opportunity to join in this worldwide effort to help children," said Stanton. "As a beneficiary of this fundraiser, Ronald McDonald House Charities of North Carolina can continue to grow its mission of directly improving the health and well being of children throughout the state."

About RMHC
Ronald McDonald House Charities, a non-profit, 501 (c)(3) corporation, creates, finds and supports programs that directly improve the health and well being of children. Its programs are grassroots-driven to enable the Charity to offer help where children need it most: right in their own communities.  Each year, RMHC of NC reaches out to dozens of not-for-profit agencies in need of funding, extending beyond the support of North Carolina's four Ronald McDonald Houses.
RMHC makes an immediate, positive impact on children's lives through its global network of local Chapters in nearly 50 countries and its three core programs: the Ronald McDonald House®, Ronald McDonald Family Room and Ronald McDonald Care Mobile. RMHC and its global network of local Chapters have awarded more than $440 million in grants and program services to children's programs around the world. 

About McDonald's
McDonald's USA, LLC is the leading foodservice provider in the United States serving a variety of wholesome foods made from quality ingredients to millions of customers every day. More than 80 percent of McDonald's 13,700 U.S. restaurants are independently owned and operated by local franchisees. For more information about McDonald's visit www.mcdonalds.com.  For more information about Ronald McDonald House Charities and its programs, visit www.rmhc.org.  For the local North Carolina RMHC Chapter, please visit www.rmhcofnc.org

"The South Greenville Elementary School performs at a McDonald's restaurant on World Children's Day in Greenville, NC."
Visit the Ronald McDonald House Charities web site.