McDonald’s Invests In 20 Latino Scholars.

Ronald McDonald House Charities and the McDonald’s Owner/Operators of the Greater Philadelphia Region have teamed up to support the education goals of 20 high school seniors in Pennsylvania, New Jersey, and Delaware by awarding each of them a $1,000 RMHC/HACER (Ronald McDonald House Charities/Hispanic American Commitment to Educational Resources) college scholarship. Winners are selected for scholastic achievement, exceptional leadership, commitment to community service, dedication to the advancement of the Latino community and financial need.

“It is not only gratifying to be able to financially support the academic goals of the 20 winners, but to see all the wonderful accomplishments they have made already in their young lives,” said McDonald’s Owner/Operator Rosa Rosado. “It reinforces my pride in the achievements of my community.”

The 2003 RMHC/HACER winners will be recognized at a special awards celebration on May 8 at the Inn at Penn in Philadelphia at 6 p.m. The keynote speaker for the evening, which will also feature live Latin music and dance performances, will be Lydia Hernandez-Velez, who recently joined Governor Rendell’s administration as Deputy Secretary for Administration and Non-Depository Institutions of Pennsylvania.

Since 1995, $160,000 in RMHC/HACER scholarships has been awarded to students throughout the Greater Philadelphia Region. There are nearly 300 McDonald’s Restaurants in the Greater Philadelphia Region that are owned and operated by more than 70 independent franchisees and McDonald’s Corporation, who together with Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Greater Philadelphia Region, proudly support the RMHC/HACER scholarship program.

Ronald McDonald House Charities/ Hispanic American Commitment to Educational Resources 2003 Winners

Philadelphia

Sainte Randell
George Washington High School

Johnny Torres
Simon Gratz High School

Vanessa Olmedo
International Christian High School

Ruth Rodriguez
Frankford High School

Salvador Manzur
Girard Academic Music Program

Brenda Robles
Little Flower High School

Philadelphia Suburbs

Carlos Perea
Central Bucks High School West
Bucks

Cecilia Olmo
Neshaminy High School
Bucks

Israel Garduno
West Chester East High School
Chester

Lucero Benites-Figueroa
Kennett High School
Kennett Square
ABE

Jessica Droz
Manville High School
North Hampton

New Jersey

Stephanie Torres
Vineland High School
Cumberland

Johna Cruz
Sterling High School
Camden

Marielita Rodriguez-Ortiz
Pleasantville High School
Atlantic

Daniel Mejia
Lawrence High School
Mercer

Christina Correa
Pemberton Township High School
Burlington

Laura Torres
Pemberton Township High School
Burlington

Amelia Acosta
Vineland High School South
Vineland

Delaware

Mario Lugo
Dover High School
Kent

Olga Jimenez
Alexis I. DuPont High School
New Castle