The McDonald's Classroom Grant Program

"The greatest step of all, the high threshold for the future we must now cross - and my number-one priority as President for the next four years - is to ensure that Americans have the best education in the world."

- President Clinton, State of the Union message, February 4, 1997

This year, education has come to the forefront of the national agenda. For over 40 years, education has been a top priority for McDonald's(R).

What: A reception honoring local teachers as recipients of 1997 McDonald's Classroom Grants. The Classroom Grant program applauds the efforts of teachers by rewarding them up to $500 to implement innovative classroom projects. Forty teachers from across the Delaware and Lehigh Valleys received McDonald's Classroom Grants. Displays representing their creative programs will be highlighted at the reception.

Who: Philadelphia Councilwoman Augusta Clark 40 of the finest teachers from the Delaware and Lehigh Valleys McDonald's representatives

When: Thursday, March 6, 4:00-6:30 p.m.

Where: DoubleTree Hotel Symphony Ballroom Broad & Locust streets Philadelphia

Background:
McDonald's restaurants of the Delaware and Lehigh Valleys are constantly searching for new ways to support education in this region. In August of 1996, McDonald's created the McDonald's Classroom Grant program. The Classroom Grant program's goal is to reward local teachers who have innovative ideas on educating students. Each of the 40 grant recipients have received up to $500 to implement their proposed programs.

This inaugural year of the Classroom Grant program, McDonald's received more than 800 proposals from teachers across the Delaware and Lehigh Valleys. McDonald's invited educators to help select the grant recipients. They looked for creative programs that gave children a valuable learning experience.

1997 McDONALD'S CLASSROOM GRANT RECIPIENTS
Marcia Taylor Ruth Raisner Mary Moffatt
Deerfield Township E.S. Salford Hill E.S. Grace Park E.S.
Rosenhayn, NJ Harleysville, PA Swarthmore, PA
Connie Heenan Margaret Alexander Jill Joos
Bache-Martin School Curt Warner Linden Hill E.S.
Philadelphia, PA Maple Lane E.S. Wilmington, DE
Wilmington, DE
Rosemary Eichler Kimberly Williams
Our Lady of Hope C.S. Judy Frett Grice M.S.
Philadelphia, PA Samuel Mickle School Hamilton, NJ
Mickleton, NJ
Linda Cole Marcia Blackman
Pottsgrove H.S. Shirley Hamel Friends-Haverford
Pottstown, PA Main Street School Haverford, NJ
Upland, PA
Pearl MacKerchar Sue Reiter
Hackett E.S. Syrl Ann Kazlo Fleetwood Area H.S.
Philadelphia, PA Avon Grove H.S. Fleetwood, PA
West Grove, PA
Bruce Weiner Kathleen Gomes
Wyncote Academy Teddy Wieland Union Avenue E.S.
Wyncote, PA Friends-Mullica Hill Margate, NJ
Mullica Hill, NJ
Janet Rothstein Christine Bosma Joan Cooper
Colonial E.S. Tinicum School Millville Senior H.S.
Plymouth Meeting, PA Essington, PA Millville, NJ
Jerry Brown Mary Kate McKinley Joyce Humpert-Nece
Bache-Martin School Holy Rosary School Marcia Brown
Philadelphia, PA Claymont, DE Clara Barton E.S.
Cherry Hill, NJ
Debra Wolensky Mary Salamone
Lower Merion H.S. Spruance School Susan Barry
Ardmore, PA Philadelphia, PA Marilena Ventresca
Kathleen Bauman
Lynn Drexel Diane Wagner The Swain School
Dr. Albert M. Bean Sch. Richmond E.S. Allentown, PA
Pine Hill, NJ Fleetwood, PA
Annette Maron
Gail Mitchell Alice Farber Kathy D'Angelo
W. Windsor/Plainsboro Anne Frank E.S. Jefferson E.S.
Plainsboro, NJ Philadelphia, PA Allentown, PA
Jennifer Sweeney Mark Ransford Sister Edward William
Oak Park E.S. Hillsdale E.S. Quinn
Lansdale, PA West Chester, PA St. Francis Xavier Sch.
Philadelphia, PA
Velda Vanessa Morris Karel Kilimnik
C.A.A. Baldi M.S. Mary McLeod Bethune Jacqueline Dubin
Philadelphia, PA Philadelphia, PA Leonard White
Jay Cooke Middle Sch.
Karen Gibase Yvette Kampschnieder Philadelphia, PA
Hammonton M.S. Hope Lutheran
Hammonton, NJ Levittown, PA

CONTACT: Brian Fox of Golin/Harris Communications, 215-790-7867, for McDonald's.