PBS Launches Fall Season with Ronald McDonald House Charities®' Concert For World Children's Day

Beginning August 7, The Concert for World Children's Day will air as a featured entertainment special on PBS through its network of 171 member stations. Originally broadcast on ABC, the critically acclaimed Concert and TV Special was the centerpiece of World Children's Day at McDonald's, an unprecedented global fundraiser to benefit Ronald McDonald House Charities® (RMHC) and vital children's causes around the world. "It was truly heartwarming to see the overwhelming celebrity support for our Charity and World Children's Day," said Ken Barun, President and CEO of RMHC and one of the creators of the show.

The star-studded Concert features classic performances by Celine Dion, Peter Cetera, Enrique Iglesias, Nick Carter, Josh Groban, Yolanda Adams and others under the musical direction of 14-time Grammy winning producer, David Foster. Capping off the program is the Emmy nominated "Aren't They All Our Children", written specifically for World Children's Day by David Foster and Linda Thompson.

PBS will also offer the 2-hour DVD of the Concert and a VHS of the Concert broadcast as part of their pledge program August 7-30.

Says Barun, "Through the PBS broadcast, McDonald's and RMHC will continue to bring awareness to the World Children's Day Message and the ongoing initiative. We are excited to have our program being telecast to such a diverse and influential audience."

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 through its network of 179 local Chapters currently serving in 46 countries. Named one of America's Top 100 Charities by Worth magazine in 2001 and 2002, the Charity makes grants to not-for-profit organizations and provides support to Ronald McDonald Houses and Ronald McDonald Care Mobiles worldwide. To date, Ronald McDonald House Charities' national body and global network of local Chapters have awarded more than $380 million in grants to children's programs.

For more information on the Charity, visit www.rmhc.org .

Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/19990916/MCDLOGO
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SOURCE: McDonald's Corporation

CONTACT: Joan Koury of PBS, +1-703-739-5364, fax, +1-703-739-5134,
jkoury@pbs.org , or Joanne Jacobs of McDonald's, +1-630-623-7943, fax,
+1-630-623-5814, joanne.jacobs@mcd.com

Web site: http://www.rmhc.org/
http://www.mcdonalds.com/