9.02.2004 ET

(CSRwire) SAN FRANCISCO - VolunteerMatch, the nonprofit dedicated to making it easier for anyone to find a rewarding way to volunteer, has partnered with McDonald's Corporation, the world's leading food service retailer, to help engage McDonald's employees in volunteer opportunities throughout the United States.

With VolunteerMatch's corporate service, McDonald's entire U.S.-based workforce can now access the VolunteerMatch network of nearly 30,000 nonprofit volunteer organizations, and any McDonald's employee can use VolunteerMatch to receive a list of volunteer opportunities based on individual interests and ZIP code.

"McDonald's has a heritage of giving back to the communities we serve. Partnering with VolunteerMatch reinforces that commitment," said Jim Skinner, McDonald's Vice Chairman. "We hope that working with VolunteerMatch will allow our employees to find and support new volunteer opportunities across the U.S."

In addition to McDonald's, VolunteerMatch also helps make it easier for employees of companies like Dell Computer, Washington Mutual, and Microsoft to volunteer, and for national nonprofit organizations like The American Red Cross and National CASA to recruit volunteers locally, regionally and nationally.

The new partnership also makes it easier for Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC), a non-profit, 501(c)3, to find and receive volunteer support. Nationwide, RMHC has more than 130 local Chapters. Each year, more than 30,000 volunteers around the world donate more than three million hours of time to help RMHC achieve its mission. Adding these affiliates to the VolunteerMatch network will attract even more volunteer attention, both from McDonald's employees and from the general public.

VolunteerMatch's corporate service not only helps engage corporate America in volunteer activity, it also helps VolunteerMatch realize financial sustainability for its free public services, which connect volunteers with the organizations that need them, creating positive relationships that transform communities nationwide.

About VolunteerMatch
VolunteerMatch is a nonprofit organization with a mission to help everyone find a fulfilling way to volunteer, and its online volunteering services support a community of nonprofits, volunteers and corporations committed to civic engagement. Since 1998, this community has helped nearly 30,000 community service organizations throughout the U.S. attract over 1,700,000 volunteer referrals, earning VolunteerMatch worldwide acclaim, as well as recognition from both the Smithsonian Institution and The White House.

About McDonald's
McDonald's is the world's leading food service retailer with more than 30,000 local McDonald's restaurants serving 47 million customers each day in more than 100 countries. More than 70 percent of McDonald's restaurants around the world are owned and operated by independent, local businessmen and women.

About Ronald McDonald House Charities
RMHC, a nonprofit, 501(c)3, 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. RMHC fulfills its mission by creating programs that address targeted needs, and by supporting these programs through its global network of 181 local Chapters in 47 countries. RMHC and its local Chapters have awarded more than $400 million in grants and program services to children's programs around the world. For more information about Ronald McDonald House Charities, visit www.rmhc.org.

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