12.31.2002 ET

(CSRwire) OAK BROOK, IL - When participating McDonald's restaurants in more than 100 countries opened their doors on November 20, 2002, Big Macs made a big difference for millions of children in need around the world. McDonald's raised an estimated $15 - 20 million in 24 hours during its first-ever World Children's Day fundraising effort benefiting Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC®) and children's causes worldwide.

"To have raised this much money in such a short period of time is remarkable, especially in today's challenging business and philanthropic environment," said Ken Barun, President and CEO, Ronald McDonald House Charities. "This money will be used to help critical children's needs as determined by our worldwide Charity and local RMHC Chapters in our communities around the world."

According to Barun, funds raised on World Children's Day at McDonald's will provide: aid for orphanages throughout eastern Europe; assistance for close to 70 children's hospitals worldwide; distribution of nearly 150,000 dictionaries to children in rural China; support for 16 new Ronald McDonald Houses around the world; 1,300 hearing aids for children in Mexico; and assistance for approximately 200 children's health organizations worldwide.

In the United States, contributions will support the 134 Ronald McDonald House Charities Chapters across the country and their work in the areas of scholarship programs, Ronald McDonald Houses, Ronald McDonald Care Mobiles and grants to local organizations throughout the country.

World Children's Day was supported by numerous fundraising activities and community events in McDonald's countries around the world. These ranged from traditional donations on specific product and restaurant sales in the U.S., Canada, France and China; to mega children's concerts and festivals in Mexico and Malaysia; to the distribution of critical services and supplies to needy children and families all over the world.

A number of prominent celebrities supported the World Children's Day effort including international superstar Celine Dion, Latin singing sensation Enrique Iglesias, solo artist and pop idol Nick Carter, formerly of the Backstreet Boys, triple-platinum phenomenon Josh Groban, gospel singer Yolanda Adams, and actor Justin Berfield from FOX-TV's Emmy-award winning "Malcolm in the Middle." Grammy-award winning composer, producer and writer, David Foster, who with his wife, Linda Thompson, co-wrote a special song in honor of World Children's Day titled "Aren't They All Our Children." In addition, more than 200 Olympic athletes and civic leaders around the world contributed to World Children's Day fundraising initiatives.

"With the help of many generous people around the world, World Children's Day was the most expansive single-day fundraising event in McDonald's history, probably any company's history," said Barun. "It will enable our Charity to continue efforts to help improve the health and well being of children who desperately need this assistance right now."

The World Children's Day initiative reflects McDonald's long tradition of commitment to the community, begun by founder, Ray Kroc. The launch of World Children's Day in 2002 marked the celebration of what would have been his 100th birthday. The November 20th date coincides with the anniversary of the United Nation's adoption of the Convention on the Rights of the Child on November 20, 1989.

The next McDonald's World Children's Day will take place on Thursday, November 20, 2003.

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.

Ten Ways McDonald's® World Children's Day™ Made A Difference In The World

McDonald's World Children's Day raised an estimated $15-20 million to benefit Ronald McDonald House Charities™ and children's causes around the world. More than 100 countries participated in this unprecedented single-day effort to help children in need right in their own communities. While there are countless examples of how this program helped children around the world, here are just some of the ways World Children's Day made a difference.

In Egypt, World Children's Day funds will help build a new Children's Cancer Hospital in Cairo that will dramatically improve medical care for seriously ill children throughout the Middle East region.

In Mexico, World Children's Day funds supplied vital hearing aids to 1,300 hearing-impaired children.

McDonald's China distributed 150,000 dictionaries to help educate children in isolated areas.

In Canada, the $2.5 million USD raised will benefit Ronald McDonald Children's Charities and 80 local children's causes across the country. These include the Grandview Children's Center in Oshawa, Ontario, which will purchase adaptable bikes for disabled children and the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation.

As a result of World Children's Day, hundreds of premature babies in Malaysia will receive crucial medical care from seven state-of-the-art ventilators and a high-tech incubator, which will be donated to hospitals in areas of high need.

In Turkey, orphans from throughout the country enjoyed special celebrations at their local McDonald's restaurants. World Children's Day funds will benefit orphanages across the country.

Funds raised in Poland will enable Fundacja Ronalda McDonalda to support the building and equipping of the Daily Care Ward at Children's Hospital in Warsaw, serving thousands of sick children from throughout the country.

In the Philippines, World Children's Day funds will support the Ronald McDonald House Charities first Daycare Center, "Bahay-Bulilit." This facility fulfills a strong need among the population of working mothers.

On World Children's Day in Omaha, Nebraska, the local Ronald McDonald House celebrated the birthday of one of its residents -- a 9-year-old girl, who is a triple organ transplant recipient battling lymphoma. In the U.S., the more than $3.2 million raised will benefit Ronald McDonald Houses across the country, which serve as a home-away-from- home for ill children receiving treatment at nearby hospitals, as well as other Ronald McDonald House Charities initiatives.

As a result of a Ronald McDonald House Charities commercial aired during the World Children's Day time period, a young boy about to undergo an amputation surgery was able to have his spirits lifted through a personal conversation with "Emily" -- a girl featured in one of the Charity's documentary-style spots who experienced a similar surgery.

For additional information on results of World Children's Day 2002, please visit www.mcdonalds.com.

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