Three Philadelphia Region Student- Athletes Selected to Play in 2011 McDonald's All American® Basketball Games in Chicago

PHILADELPHIA, Feb. 11, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- The McDonald's® All American High School Basketball Selection Committee announced the 34th All American High School Basketball Boys Team and the 10th All American High School Basketball Girls Team during a February 10 selection show on ESPNU.  Of the 48 players selected from across the country, three are from the Philadelphia Region.  Rakeem Christmas of Academy of the New Church in Bryn Athyn, PA was named to the Boys East Team, while Briyona Canty of Trenton Catholic Academy in Hamilton, NJ and Betnijah Laney of Smyrna High School in Smyrna, DE were named to the Girls East Team.

"We are proud to support the achievements of our local student-athletes, Rakeem Christmas, Briyona Canty, and Betnijah Laney," said John Durante, president, McDonald's Restaurants of the Greater Philadelphia Regions Owner/Operator Association. "Not only are these young stars among the top basketball players in the country, but their efforts in Chicago will contribute to raising awareness of an important cause in Ronald McDonald House Charities."

The 2011 All American Games will tip-off in Chicago on Wednesday, March 30, 2011, at the United Center.  The Girls Game begins at 7:30 p.m. ET and will broadcast live on ESPNU.  The Boys Game begins at 10:00 p.m. ET and will air live on ESPN.  Tickets are available through Ticketmaster or charge-by-phone at 1-866-909-GAME. Proceeds from ticket sales of the 2011 Games will help build the world's largest Ronald McDonald House in Chicago. For more information, visit www.rmhccni.org.

Every athlete who participates in the McDonald's All American Games visits the host city's local Ronald McDonald House Charities® (RMHC®) chapter during Game-week. This year's host chapter is RMHC of Chicagoland & Northwest Indiana. Millions of dollars have been raised since the Games were first played in 1978.

Prior to travelling to Chicago, the local finalists will be recognized during mini-press conferences at their alma mater elementary schools.  The student-athletes will answer questions from elementary students and compete in a three-point shootout to raise funds for the Ronald McDonald Houses of Philadelphia, Southern New Jersey, and Delaware.

Since 1978, 791 male players and 216 female players have competed in the McDonald's All American Games, forming an elite list that reads like a "Who's Who" in basketball history. McDonald's All American athletes include basketball greats Magic Johnson, LeBron James, Dwight Howard, Carmelo Anthony, Kevin Durant, Derrick Rose, Seimone Augustus, Candace Parker, among others.

For a complete list of players and more information on the McDonald's All American Games and RMHC, please visit www.mcdonaldsallamerican.com. To request a media credentials request form, please contact Chas Kurtz at (215) 790-4386 or [email protected] by March 15, 2011.

About McDonald's

McDonald's USA, LLC, is the leading foodservice provider in the United States serving a variety of wholesome foods made from quality ingredients to millions of customers every day. More than 80 percent of McDonald's 14,000 U.S. restaurants are independently owned and operated by local franchisees. There are nearly 300 McDonald's restaurants in the Greater Philadelphia Region.  For more information on McDonald's visit www.mcdonalds.com or log on at any of the 10,000 Wi-Fi enabled McDonald's U.S. restaurants. Visit www.mcstate.com for local restaurant, career and program information.  Follow us on Twitter @McDPhilly for the latest news, info, events and promotions, and find us on Facebook at www.facebook.com/mcdonalds.

About RMHC

RMHC of the Philadelphia Region, Inc. grants hundreds of thousands of dollars per year to support local non-profit programs that directly improve the health and well-being of children. In addition, RMHC supports four scholarship programs for high school seniors; the Philadelphia, Southern New Jersey and Delaware Ronald McDonald Houses; the St. Christopher's Foundation for Children Ronald McDonald Care Mobile; and 13 Ronald McDonald Family Rooms in area hospitals.  The charity receives its support from McDonald's Corporation, McDonald's Owner/Operators, corporate donors and McDonald's customers.  For more information, visit www.rmhc.org.

SOURCE McDonald's