FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
For more information, contact:
Jennifer Smith, RMHC
(630) 623-6875 or jennifer.smith@us.mcd.com
Clara Carrier, RMHC
(630) 209-7615 or clara.carrier@us.mcd.com
RONALD McDONALD HOUSE CHARITIES AWARDS OF EXCELLENCE HONORS FORMER MAYOR
RICHARD M. DALEY & MAGGIE DALEY
Daleys Honored for Their Remarkable Contributions and Lifelong Commitment to Children and Families
OAK BROOK, IL., (November 7, 2011) – In honor of individuals who have made outstanding contributions
to improve the lives of children, Ronald McDonald House Charities® (RMHC®) hosted its 27th Annual Awards of
Excellence celebration on Saturday, November 5, in Rosemont, Ill. The annual event presented three prestigious
awards to individuals selected from across the globe; including former Mayor Richard M. Daley & Maggie Daley
who were honored with the $100,000 RMHC Award of Excellence for their remarkable contributions and lifelong
commitment to helping to improve the lives of children and their families.
Mayor and Mrs. Daley are catalysts within the Chicago community, creating community-based programs
that address the city’s educational, public safety, and neighborhood development. For example, After School
Matters, an organization they founded, is a nonprofit organization, which makes a positive impact on the well
being of children by offering Chicago’s teenagers out-of-school opportunities in the areas of science, sports,
technology, creative writing, culinary and performing arts. Through this program, at risk youth are exposed to
future careers helping them develop skills and reduce behavioral issues.
“We are pleased to recognize Mayor and Mrs. Daley for their on-going support and contributions to
children and families,” said Marty Coyne, president and CEO of Ronald McDonald House Charities. “After school
programs are important to our children’s safety and development, and we want to recognize the two-decade
history and positive impact these programs have made in shaping the lives of many Chicago teens.”
--More--
The Daleys were awarded a $100,000 grant which they are donating to two nonprofit children’s
organizations -- the Ann and Robert H. Lurie Children’s Hospital of Chicago and After School Matters. In addition to
honoring former Mayor and Mrs. Daley and fellow honorees, Dr. Walter A. Orenstein, and McDonald’s®
owner/operator, Alex C. Rodriguez, the 2011 Awards of Excellence celebration included a dinner, entertainment by
Grammy Award winning artist Richard Marx and special guest, Rita Wilson. A live and silent auction also took place
throughout the evening, where attendees had the opportunity to bid on more than 400 elite items including the
first pitch at a Chicago Cubs game, a 2012 Ford Explorer, tickets to the 2012 London Olympics, 2012 Masters Golf
Tournament tickets and hospitality package, and an authentic print by acclaimed Brazilian artist, Romero Britto.
The event raised more than $3 million to help RMHC provide stability and vital resources to families in need.
Past RMHC Awards of Excellence Recipients
Past RMHC Awards of Excellence Recipients have included: founder of Southwest Airlines, Herbert D. Kelleher (2010); seventime NBA All-Star, two-time Defensive Player of the Year and founder of Alonzo Mourning Charities, Alonzo Mourning (2009);
entrepreneurs and philanthropists, Peter and Ginny Ueberroth (2008); actress, producer, social activist and national outreach
director for St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, Marlo Thomas (2007); NCAA championship basketball coach and youth
mentor, John Wooden (2006); the Association of Hole in the Wall Camps with actor Paul Newman accepting on their behalf
(2005); actor, director and humanitarian, Danny Glover (2004); renowned pediatric surgeon, Dr. Benjamin Carson (2003); Her
Majesty Queen Noor of Jordan (2002); tennis star Andrea Jaeger (2001); performer and humanitarian, Harry Belafonte (2000);
wife of McDonald's Corporation founder Ray A. Kroc, the late Joan Kroc (1999); Betty Ford, former First Lady (1998); Retired
U.S. Army General, Colin Powell (1997); acclaimed theologian, Henri J. M. Nouwen (1996); former U.S. Surgeon General, Dr.
Antonia Novello (1995); Barbara Bush, former First Lady (1994); the late Fred Rogers (1993); Eunice Kennedy Shriver (1992);
former U.S. President, Jimmy Carter (1991); and the late Jim Henson (1990), among others.
About Ronald McDonald House Charities
Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC), a non-profit, 501 (c) (3) corporation, creates, finds and supports programs that
directly improve the health and well being of children. Through its global network of local Chapters in 54 countries and regions,
its three core programs, the Ronald McDonald House®, Ronald McDonald Family Room® and Ronald McDonald Care Mobile®,
and millions of dollars in grants to support children's programs worldwide, RMHC provides stability and resources to families so
they can get and keep their children healthy and happy. All RMHC-supported programs provide a bridge to quality health care
and give children and families the time they need together to heal faster and cope better. For more information, visit
www.rmhc.org, follow RMHC on Twitter (@RMHC) or like RMHC on Facebook (Facebook.com/RMHC Global).
The following trademarks used herein are owned by McDonald's Corporation and its affiliates: Ronald McDonald House Charities, Ronald
McDonald House Charities Logo, RMHC, Ronald McDonald House, Ronald McDonald Family Room, and Ronald McDonald Care Mobile.
© 2011 McDonald’s
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