McDonald’s Launches Ronald Scholars™ Program

To Award $1.6 Million In Scholarships

HARTFORD, CT — McDonald’s restaurants in Connecticut and nationwide will officially launch the year-long Ronald Scholars™ program on Friday, December 24, 1999, giving parents and children the gift of education this holiday season and beyond. McDonald’s Ronald Scholars will offer up to $1.6 million in scholarship money to kids during the year 2000, with seven $25,000 scholarships available from December 24 to 30, 1999, and four $25,000 scholarships during each Happy Meal program in 2000.

The Ronald Scholars program will feature a game piece in specially marked Happy Meal toy bags through December 2000. The game piece will reveal either an instant win prize of $25,000 in scholarship money or an educational fun fact. Participating McDonald’s restaurants will include one toy and one game piece while supplies last in each specially marked Happy meal. To kick off Ronald Scholars from December 24 to 30, 1999, or while supplies last, Happy Meals will feature two special McDonald’s-themed toys – a Happy meal Box which transforms into a computer and a fry box which becomes a cellular phone.

“McDonald’s has always believed in the value of education for kids,” explains Roger Facey, a McDonald’s Owner/Operator in Connecticut. “Through Ronald Scholars, we will provide funds for their education – feeding them both in mind and in body.” Locally, McDonald’s restaurants actively support educational opportunities for children such as the annual Connecticut Association of Schools/Connecticut Interscholastic Athletic Conference Scholar-Athlete and Scholar-Leader Awards, as well as the HACER scholarship for Hispanic students. In addition, McDonald’s supports the local chapter of Ronald McDonald House Charities, which provides funding to non-profit organizations for a variety of projects including educational programs and computer labs.