Capital Region McDonald's Restaurants Raise Record Dollars for Local Schools

GLENMONT, NY (05/16/2011)(readMedia)-- On Tuesday, May 17, 2011 at 8:30 am, McDonald's restaurants of the Capital Region will celebrate their record affiliation with 48 local schools which raised $22,051.61 for educational programs in the community.

A check signing event, hosted by the Fox organization, will be held at the McDonald's restaurant on South Pearl Street, in Albany.

"It was very gratifying to not only repeat, but to increase the success of McTeacher's Night again this year. We are delighted that so many parents, teachers, school administrators and community members rally for such a worthy cause," said Renee Reardon, president of McDonald's Owner Operators of the Capital Region. "McDonald's is committed, especially in this challenging economic time, to help our neighborhood schools provide needed resources for our children."

During McTeacher's Night, principals, PTA presidents and teachers from participating schools joined hundreds of McDonald's finest employees at their community restaurants in Albany, Schenectady and Troy, Watervliet, Lee, Pittsfield, Adams and North Adams, Delmar, Clifton Park, Schaghticoke and Ballston Spa, Queensbury, Hudson, Johnstown, Gloversville and Middleburgh and surrounding areas -- greeting customers, taking food orders, and assisting with food preparation for students, their parents and other school supporters in order to raise funds for their schools.

In a thank you letter to one of the restaurant owners, a school principal wrote: "We truly appreciate the opportunity to have been part of McTeacher's Night. Besides the income received, it was great publicity and enabled students to see their teachers in a different light, and for our teachers to appreciate the hard work some of our parents do – especially at peak times."

In addition to McTeacher's Night, local restaurant owners continue to support education during the year with other innovative educational and community programs that cater to the needs of elementary and high school students throughout the Capital Region.

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McDonald's 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 13,700 U.S. restaurants are independently owned and operated by local franchisees.

The McDonald's Operators of the Capital Region Co-op consists of 20 owner/operators who own 705 restaurants in the following counties: Albany, Bennington (VT), Berkshire (MA), Columbia, Fulton, Greene, Montgomery, Rensselaer, Rutland (VT), Saratoga, Schenectady, Schoharie, Ulster, Warren and Washington. McD