Olympic Greats Mike Eruzione and Johann Olav Koss Join McDonald's® World Champion Crew for Dedication of New Salt Lake City Ronald McDonald House®
Apartment Facility Exclusively Designed For Long-Term Care
PRNewswire
SALT LAKE CITY, Utah
Feb 18, 2002
Against the global backdrop of the 2002 Olympic Winter Games, Mike Eruzione, Johann Olav Koss and McDonald's World Champion Crew gathered today to dedicate a new Ronald McDonald House in Salt Lake City. Among the first-of-its-kind, this new House features private apartments to address the needs of families whose children are immune-compromised and require long-term care. It is located at 130 South 800 East, just four blocks from Salt Lake City's first Ronald McDonald House.
"This new Ronald McDonald House will provide comfort and care to families throughout Salt Lake City and to families who will travel here from around the world for their special medical needs," said Ken Barun, President and CEO of Ronald McDonald House Charities®. "It's very exciting to be dedicating this Ronald McDonald House, the 215th to open in the world, surrounded by the spirit and international atmosphere of the 2002 Olympic Winter Games."
The new Salt Lake House offers 15 private apartments for families whose children are immune-compromised and require ongoing treatment. To help ease their financial burden, families can stay at the House virtually free of charge.
Work on the house began in August 2001 and the facility will officially be ready for families next month.
During the dedication ceremony, Olympic champions Mike Eruzione, captain of the gold medal 1980 U.S. Men's Hockey Team, and Johann Olav Koss, four-time gold medalist in speed skating from Norway, emphasized the importance of being good at what you do, but also being good to others. McDonald's World Champion Crew were honored as well for their outstanding job performance and achievements.
"McDonald's World Champion Crew embody the Olympic ideals and values of excellence, determination, commitment and hard work," said Eruzione. "These outstanding individuals will remember their experience at these Olympic Winter Games for the rest of their lives."
Just as the world's athletes competed for a coveted slot on their country's Olympic team, McDonald's 1.3 million crew at 29,000 restaurants in 121 countries competed for a spot on McDonald's World Champion Crew team. These 400 top-performers from five continents were chosen based on criteria such as service, speed, accuracy, personality and teamwork, which reflect the operational requirements at all McDonald's restaurants.
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 worldwide. Its goal is to make an immediate, positive impact on as many children as possible through its global network of 171 local Charities in 44 countries.
In addition to its cornerstone Ronald McDonald House and Ronald McDonald Care Mobile programs, the Charity makes grants to not-for-profit organizations to help children everywhere. To date, Ronald McDonald House Charities' national body and global network of local Chapters have awarded more than $300 million in grants to children's programs worldwide.
The Salt Lake Games mark McDonald's third Olympic Games as a TOP Global Sponsor and the fourth as the Official Restaurant of the Olympic Games. McDonald's is the world's leading foodservice retailer with more than 29,000 restaurants, serving nearly 46 million people each day in 121 countries. More than 80 percent of McDonald's restaurants around the world are owned and operated by independent, local businessmen and women.
SOURCE: McDonald's Corporation
Contact: Joanne Jacobs of McDonald's, +1-630-623-7943,
joanne.jacobs@mcd.com , or On-site, +1-630-697-7346, or Kate Sansone,
+1-312-596-3507, kate_sansone@chi.bm.com , or On-site, +1-773-251-1185, for
McDonald's