Southland High School Seniors Receive More Than $300,000 in College Scholarships From Ronald McDonald House Charities®

LOS ANGELES June 2, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Ronald McDonald House Charities® of Southern California (RMHCSC) awarded $328,000 in scholarship funds to exceptional high school seniors who reside in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino and Ventura counties.

The scholarships were presented during a luncheon at the Pacific Palms Resort Hotel & Conference Center, where students were recognized and applauded by their parents, school counselors and Southern California McDonald's Owner/Operators. Beverly White, reporter for the local KNBC Channel 4 News, served as the event emcee and kicked off the celebration with a heartfelt congratulatory message to the 2012 RMHCSC scholarship class. Featured keynote speaker Yul Kwon, television host and thirteenth season Survivor winner, delivered an inspiring message focused on perseverance in spite of adversity, while addressing the importance of higher education and giving back to the community.

The organization awarded a total of 104 scholarships through its four programs: Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC)/African American Future Achievers, RMHC/Asian Pacific American Students Increasing Achievement (ASIA), RMHC/Hispanic American Commitment to Educational Resources (HACER) and RMHC/Scholars. The selected students may apply their scholarship funds towards tuition, fees and other appropriate educational expenses.

"Every year, we continue to be impressed by the caliber of students that apply for one of our four scholarship programs," said Rob Parker, RMHCSC Chief Executive Officer. "The young men and women that comprise this year's scholarship class are not only role models at home but in their communities, and we couldn't be more honored to support them as they set out to pursue their higher education."

Since 1990, RMHCSC has awarded more than $4.1 million in scholarship funds to local students to help make their dreams of a college education a reality. Funding for these scholarships is made possible through the global and Southern California chapters of RMHC and the fundraising efforts of local McDonald's owner/operators and corporate staff. The McDonald's Operators' Association of Southern California (MOASC) pays for administrative costs of the scholarship programs, including the production and distribution of applications and the recipient recognition event.

For more than 30 years, RMHCSC has been committed to providing comfort, care and support to children and families in Southern California. RMHCSC is dedicated to creating a community where children and their families embrace life and healing with a sense of hope, enthusiasm, courage and joy by operating six Ronald McDonald Houses, Camp Ronald McDonald for Good Times, two Ronald McDonald Family Rooms and a Community Grants Board.

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.

SOURCE Ronald McDonald House Charities