Pendeli Pediatric Hospital Patients Receive Gift of 'Ronald McDonald® Open Arms Playroom'

In the spirit of the Olympic Games, today McDonald's Corporation (NYSE: MCD) and Ronald McDonald House Charities made their first-ever donation of a playroom for a pediatric hospital in Athens at Pendeli Pediatric Hospital for use by its patients and their families.

(Photo: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20040826/CGTH019 )

"McDonald's® has a long history of giving back to the communities in which we do business," said Ilias Malamas, Managing Director, McDonald's Hellas. "This playroom will serve as a legacy, celebrating the goodwill brought about during the ATHENS 2004 Olympic Games."

"Ronald McDonald House Charities is committed to improving the well-being of children throughout the world, which is why this is such a natural partnership with Anichti Agalia and Pendeli Pediatric Hospital," added Ken Barun, President and Chief Executive Officer, Ronald McDonald House Charities. "As a Worldwide Olympic Partner, McDonald's and our charity are proud to be able to support Athens with a lasting, meaningful donation."

The "Ronald McDonald Open Arms Playroom" was officially opened by McDonald's executives, Takis Athanassoulis, Pendeli Pediatric Hospital president and Giolanda Vlachou, president of Anichti Agalia, a Greek charitable organization that will manage the playroom for patients and their families. Patients currently staying at the hospital were the first to enjoy the facility.

"What this playroom can do for the children at Pendeli cannot be overstated," said hospital president Takis Athanassoulis. "We greatly appreciate this gift and know that it will add a great contribution for our patients' lives."

Ronald McDonald House Charities 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 181 local Chapters in 48 countries.

Ronald McDonald House Charities' cornerstone program, Ronald McDonald House™ provides a home away from home for families of children being treated at nearby hospitals. In addition, the Charity partners with local hospitals to provide Ronald McDonald Care Mobiles™, state-of-the-art vehicles that deliver cost-effective medical and dental care to underserved children in their own neighborhoods. The Charity makes grants to not-for- profit organizations to help children everywhere. To date, the Ronald McDonald House Charities national body and global network of local Chapters have awarded more than $400 million in grants to children's programs worldwide.

McDonald's became an official sponsor of the Olympic Games in 1976 and has a long-standing commitment to the Olympic Movement. At the 1968 Olympic Winter Games, McDonald's airlifted hamburgers to U.S. athletes competing in Grenoble, France who reported they were homesick for McDonald's food. Since then, McDonald's has served its menu of choice and variety to millions of athletes, their families and fans.

The ATHENS 2004 Olympic Games mark McDonald's fourth Olympic Games as a TOP Sponsor and fifth as the Official Restaurant of the Olympic Games. In 2004, McDonald's announced the continuation of its Sponsorship for the next eight consecutive Games through 2012.

McDonald's is the world's leading foodservice retailer with more than 30,000 local restaurants, serving nearly 47 million people each day in over 100 countries. More than 70 percent of McDonald's restaurants around the world are owned and operated by independent, local businessmen and women.

EDITORS NOTE: Please log on to http://www.mcdepk.com/olympics2004 for
updates and photos from McDonald's Olympics events.

Photo: NewsCom: http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20040826/CGTH019
http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/19990916/MCDLOGO
AP Archive: http://photoarchive.ap.org/
PRN Photo Desk, photodesk@prnewswire.com

SOURCE: McDonald's Corporation

CONTACT: Noela Palingini of McDonald's Hellas, +1-30-697-3340163,
n.palingini@gr.mcd.com , or Adam Scholder of Burson-Marsteller,
+30-697-636-4946, +1-847-204-0949, adam_scholder@chi.bm.com , or Lisa Howard
of McDonald's Corporation, +1-630-623-5044, +1-630-408-1873,
Lisa_Howard@mcd.com

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