Southern California McDonald's® Restaurants Help Customers "Give A Hand®" to Families in Need

LOS ANGELES, Nov. 10, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Southern California McDonald's® restaurants are celebrating McHappy Day® in support of the global and local chapters of Ronald McDonald House Charities® (RMHC®), the company's "Charity of Choice" for 37 years. Beginning today through November 20, residents in Southern California are invited to visit a participating McDonald's restaurant to show their support for local families in need by purchasing a paper "Give A Hand" in denominations of $1, $3, or $5. All proceeds from the "Give A Hand" fundraiser will support RMHC.

"This season McDonald's customers and employees come together once again to support Ronald McDonald House Charities in helping thousands of local families," said Michael Mangione, McDonald's owner/operator and president, McDonald's Operators' Association of Southern California (MOASC). "We are proud to support this cause and encourage our customers to participate in the 'Give A Hand' fundraiser to continue working together as a community to provide comfort for local families with seriously ill children."

In addition to the in-restaurant fundraising program, customers can also participate in the "Give A Hand" online sweepstakes. Customers are invited to write messages of support for RMHC on their hand, take a picture, and submit it online via @McDonalds Twitter page for the chance to help RMHC and win prizes.

Each day throughout the campaign, three winners will be selected from the submitted hand photos to receive a McDonald's-branded prize pack, $250 cash prize, and a $500 donation in their name to their local RMHC Chapter. More information on the sweepstakes can be found at http://bit.ly/mcdgah. See Official Rules for details. No Purchase Necessary.

McDonald's commitment to RMHC and local charitable programs in Southern California extends beyond the annual "Give A Hand" fundraiser. As part of the company's ongoing support of the Charity, McDonald's donates a portion of the proceeds from the sale of each Happy Meal® and Mighty Kids Meal® purchased in participating U.S. restaurants every day.

Additionally, McDonald's also provides in-restaurant Donation Boxes to benefit RMHC. Last year alone McDonald's customers raised nearly $25 million nationwide for RMHC through the in-restaurant Donation Boxes.

Social responsibility has been a fundamental part of McDonald's business for more than 50 years. McDonald's actions are grounded in founder Ray Kroc's legacy of giving back to the local communities in which it serves. With a shared history that dates back to McDonald's support in the creation of the first Ronald McDonald House in 1974, McDonald's has supported RMHC and its mission to improve the health and well-being of children around the world. McHappy Day is McDonald's signature event for RMHC, and an important day to call attention to the needs of children around the world.

About MOASC

McDonald's Operators' Association of Southern California (MOASC) is comprised of more than 600 franchised and company-owned McDonald's restaurants in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino and Ventura counties. Follow us on Twitter: @McDonalds_SoCal.  

About Ronald McDonald House Charities

Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC), an independent non-profit 501 (c) (3) corporation, creates, finds and supports programs that directly improve the health and well-being of children. Through its global network of local Chapters in 54 countries and regions, its three core programs, the Ronald McDonald House®, Ronald McDonald Family Room® and Ronald McDonald Care Mobile®, and millions of dollars in grants to support children's programs worldwide, RMHC provides stability and resources to families so they can get and keep their children healthy and happy. All RMHC-supported programs provide a bridge to quality health care and give children and families the time they need together to heal faster and cope better. For more information, visit www.rmhc.org, follow RMHC on Twitter (@RMHC), or like RMHC on Facebook (Facebook.com/RMHC Global).

Contact:  Micholl Azenon/Lisa Van Lund
Porter Novelli
(323) 762-2500
[email protected]

SOURCE McDonald's of Southern California