Queen Noor of Jordan Joins Celine Dion, Enrique Iglesias and Other Top Recording Artists for Ronald McDonald House Charities 'Awards Of Excellence'

  WHO:           A gathering of the world's top recording artists, including
                 diva Celine Dion; Latin singing sensation Enrique Iglesias;
                 14 time Grammy award-winning composer, musician and
                 performer David Foster; pop idol Nick Carter of the
                 Backstreet Boys; double platinum artist and sensation Josh
                 Groban (Olympic closing ceremonies, "Ally McBeal" season
                 finale, 9-11 special); legendary singer and songwriter
                 Peter Cetera (lead singer of the group Chicago); Gospel
                 siren Yolanda Adams; R&B performer Nita Whitaker; among
                 others, will perform together for the first time ...

                 Her Majesty Queen Noor of Jordan; leading pediatric
                 oncologist, surgeon and Harvard professor Dr. Judah
                 Folkman; and adoption philanthropist /McDonald's operator
                 Dawn Degenhardt will receive "Awards of Excellence" for
                 their outstanding work on behalf of children ...

  WHAT:          at the 2002 Ronald McDonald House Charities "Awards of
                 Excellence" black tie celebration and all-star concert
                 Saturday, Sept. 14 at Arie Crown Theatre and McCormick
                 Place. This event launches McDonald's World Children's Day
                 taking place November 20, 2002-an unprecedented worldwide
                 fundraising effort where participating McDonald's
                 restaurants in 121 countries and 46 million people will
                 raise funds to help children.

  WHEN/WHERE:    Two press opportunities - Friday and Saturday this week

  Fri.,          Celine Dion & Concert for World Children's Day Performers
  Sept. 13        Press Conference
  2 p.m.         McCormick Place, Room 255, outside Arie Crown Theatre

                 Celebrity press conference with Celine Dion and all stars
                 listed in first paragraph, Jack Greenberg, Chairman & CEO
                 of McDonald's Corp. and Ken Barun, President and CEO of
                 Ronald McDonald House Charities


   Sat.,         Photo and Interview Opportunity with Her Majesty Queen Noor
   Sept. 14       Hyatt McCormick Hotel, 2233 S. Martin Luther King Dr.,
   5:30 p.m.      Regency A room

                 Photo and interview opportunity with Her Majesty Queen
                 Noor, McDonald's Chairman & CEO Jack Greenberg and Ken
                 Barun, President and CEO of Ronald McDonald House Charities

  BACKGROUND:    Close to 4,000 people will gather at this event to
                 celebrate the work of individuals who make a significant
                 contribution to improve the lives of children.  Queen Noor
                 and Dr. Folkman will receive $100,000 each to be donated to
                 the cause of their choice. Renowned recording artists
                 will lend their voices in a special Concert for World
                 Children's Day to help McDonald's worldwide fundraising
                 effort. On November 14, 7 p.m. CST, this all-star concert
                 will be broadcast on ABC-TV leading up to the historic
                 McDonald's "World Children's Day" on Nov. 20.  (In the
                 U.S., $1 from every Egg McMuffin, Big Mac, Happy Meal and
                 Mighty Kids Meal will be donated to RMHC to help children).
                 Recently named one of America's top 100 Charities by Worth
                 magazine, Ronald McDonald House Charities has awarded more
                 than $340 million to children's programs.

  CONTACT:       Jill Sterling/Louise Edwards
                 Margie Korshak Inc.
                 (312) 751-5518  (312) 751-5511 (cell:  312/636-7977)

PRNewswire -- Sept. 12

SOURCE: Ronald McDonald House Charities

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