11.19.2002 ET

(CSRwire) OAK BROOK, Ill.- On Wednesday, November 20, 2002, Olympic athletes and coaches across several decades and sports will join McDonald's to raise funds for children in need around the world. More than 200 Olympians plan to visit their local participating McDonald's restaurants in the communities where they live to lend their support for McDonald's World Children's Day, a worldwide fundraising effort benefiting Ronald McDonald House Charities® (RMHC®) and other local children's causes.

Athletes participating in this effort cover a wide range of sports from sailing and kayaking, to basketball and hockey, to gymnastics and tae kwon do. Their Olympic experiences span from as far back as 1940 through the 2002 Olympic Winter Games, and include those training for the 2004 Summer Games in Athens. Together, they will volunteer their time to appear at participating McDonald's restaurants across the U.S. and throughout the world to help raise funds for children on World Children's Day.

"As a long time Olympic sponsor, we know these athletes are best in class both in their athletic achievements and in the contributions they make in their communities around the world," said McDonald's Sports Marketing Director John Lewicki. "We are honored and delighted to have the support of these Olympians on World Children's Day."

Participating U.S. Olympians include:

Bruce Jenner -- decathlon star and gold medallist at the 1976 Olympics
Summer Sanders -- 1992 U.S. Women's Swimming gold medallist
Carl Lewis - Legendary track & field star at the 1984, 1988, 1992 and 1996 Olympic Games, a multi-event gold medallist with nine gold medals, including four from the 1984 Olympics
Julie Foudy -- 1996 U.S. Women's Soccer gold medallist
Ann Hardin Grimes - Olympic swimmer from the 1940 Games
"We appreciate the assistance of the United States Olympic Committee, Olympic Aid and the International Olympic Committee in enabling us to work with these great athletes to raise funds for children in need in more than 100 countries around the world," added Lewicki.

On November 20, participating McDonald's restaurants throughout the U.S. will donate $1 from the sale of every Big Mac® or Egg McMuffin® (sandwich or Extra Value Meal®), Happy Meal® or Mighty Kids Meal® to RMHC (specially priced items excluded). In addition, an exclusive Ronald McDonald® Happy Meal toy will be available on this day only in the U.S., while supplies last.

McDonald's is the world's leading foodservice retailer, with more than 30,000 restaurants serving over 46 million people each day in 121 countries. Approximately 80 percent of McDonald's U.S. restaurants are owned and operated by independent local businessmen and women. World Children's Day is McDonald's first-ever simultaneous global fundraiser in more than 100 countries benefiting children around the world.

Ronald McDonald House Charities, a non-profit, 501(c)3, creates, finds and supports programs that directly improve the health and well being of children through its network of 174 local Chapters currently serving in 44 countries. Named one of America's Top 100 Charities by Worth magazine in 2001 and 2002, the Charity makes grants to not for-profit organizations and provides support to Ronald McDonald Houses and Ronald McDonald Care Mobiles worldwide. To date, Ronald McDonald House Charities' national body and global network of local Chapters have awarded more than $340 million in grants to children's programs.

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