McDonald's(R) Launches McDonald's All American High School Basketball Throwback Jerseys

Market Wire, February, 2005

Celebrating the rich tradition of the McDonald's All American High School Basketball Game(TM), McDonald's today introduced a new line of throwback jerseys from past games featuring former McDonald's All Americans who have grown to be superstars in college and the NBA. This program will not only immortalize former McDonald's High School All Americans, but also support the McDonald's All American Game and ultimately Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC).

The jerseys, licensed and produced by Game Time Promotions, feature the following five former McDonald's All Americans during the inaugural jersey run:

--  Kevin Garnett - Minnesota Timberwolves (1995 McDonald's All American)
--  Chauncey Billups - Detroit Pistons (1995 McDonald's All American)
--  Tracy McGrady - Houston Rockets (1997 McDonald's All American)
--  Corey Maggette - Los Angeles Clippers (1998 McDonald's All American)
--  Carmelo Anthony - Denver Nuggets (2002 McDonald's All American)
    

Each set of jerseys will be sold for a limited time, and are available at Finish Line and other retailers nationwide, by visiting www.mcdonaldsjersey.com, or by calling 1-866-623-5377. New McDonald's All American Throwback Jerseys featuring different players are scheduled to be released every quarter.

The McDonald's All American Boys High School Basketball Game has showcased the premier young basketball players in the country since 1977, and the throwback jerseys serve as homage to those great players who have worn the McDonald's All American colors. In addition, each jersey is made unique to the year in which each player participated in the game.

A portion of the proceeds from jersey sales will help support the McDonald's All American Game and Ronald McDonald House Charities. Each year, the Game helps to raise money for RMHC, which finds and supports programs that directly improve the health and well being of children.

"The sale of the jerseys is a great way to celebrate and contribute to the rich history of the McDonald's All American High School Basketball Game," said Bill Lamar, Senior Vice President, McDonald's Marketing. "In addition, the jersey program will help raise the profile of the Game and drive awareness and support for RMHC."

The throwback jersey promotion is yet another way that McDonald's stays at the forefront of the sports, music, entertainment and fashion worlds, its four main marketing pillars. The McDonald's name is synonymous with the best of high school basketball, and the new jerseys are completely unique from anything that has been sold before.

Since 1977, McDonald's has named the best and brightest high school basketball players in the country to the McDonald's All American Boys High School Basketball Team. In 2002, during the 25th Anniversary of the boys' game, a girls' game was added to showcase the best female high school players in the country. To learn more about the Game and its legacy, please visit www.mcdonaldsallamerican.com.

Ronald McDonald House Charities, a non-profit, 501 (c) (3) corporation, creates, finds and supports programs that directly improve the health and well being of children. Its programs are grassroots-driven to enable the Charity to offer help where children need it most -- right in their own communities. RMHC makes an immediate, positive impact on children's lives through its global network of 181 local Chapters in 48 countries and its three core programs: the Ronald McDonald House, Ronald McDonald Family Room and Ronald McDonald Care Mobile. RMHC and its global network of local Chapters have awarded more than $400 million in grants and program services to children's programs around the world. For more information, visit www.rmhc.org.

McDonald's is the leading global foodservice retailer with more than 30,000 restaurants serving nearly 47 million people in more than 120 countries each day. Approximately 80 percent of McDonald's restaurants worldwide are owned and operated by independent, local businessmen and women. For nutritional information, please visit www.mcdonalds.com.

2005 McDonald’s Corporation and affiliates

Contacts: Michon Ellis 630-623-4061 Kevin Dietz 312-729-4281