McDonald’s was presented with a “Spirit Award” by the New York Mets and the Taiwanese American Association of New York for its contribution to the Asian American community at Citi Field’s “Taiwan Night” celebration on Monday, April 9. Prior to the scheduled game between the Mets and Washington Nationals, McDonald’s representatives Luigi and Giovanna Solimeo, Flushing-based owner/operators, joined fellow “Spirit Award” recipients and community leaders on the field for a special awards ceremony honoring their work. The evening also featured an appearance by LPGA golfer Yani Tseng and a performance by the McDonald’s Martial Arts Dance Crew. Highlights from the ceremony will be posted on www.mcdonaldsnytristate.com next week.

McDonald’s in the New York Tri-State Asian American Community
In 2010, McDonald’s launched its first-ever Asian American community outreach initiative specific to the New York Tri-State region. From sponsoring Lunar New Year events to awarding scholarships to Asian high school students, these programs recognize and celebrate the contributions of Asian Americans to the cultural diversity of the region. Committed to building dynamic and collaborative relationships with the community, each of McDonald’s Asian American programs involves local grassroots partners, which have included many leading Asian American organizations and institutions.

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Some of McDonald’s current Asian American community programs include:
• RMHC/ASIA Scholarship Program – a program which awards six $17,000 college scholarships to Asian American students from the New York Tri-State area; RMHC/ASIA is also the largest Asian scholarship program in the region
• Ronald McDonald® & Friends – Ronald McDonald and Asian cultural performers visit schools and community centers in celebration of important Asian holidays
• McDonald’s Martial Arts Dance Crew – a dance ensemble that blends hip-hop with Asian martial arts to create a unique and exciting cross-cultural experience
• My Inspirational Story – an annual children’s essay-writing contest that recognizes positive role models in the Asian American community
• Community Sponsorships – McDonald’s sponsors and participates in numerous Asian American community events throughout the year

“The Taiwanese American Association of New York is excited to have McDonald’s on board for ‘Taiwan Night’ at Citi Field,” said Bor-Cheng Hsu, ‘Taiwan Night’ event coordinator. “There are many different ethnicities within the Asian population of New York and we’re happy that McDonald’s recognizes and celebrates this diversity.”

“McDonald’s is absolutely thrilled to be recognized for our contribution to the Asian American community,” said Tony Scari, McDonald’s New York Metro Co-op President. “For years, McDonald’s has worked very closely with local Asian American community organizations and leaders to implement programs that can help make a positive impact. Their incredible input and guidance has enabled these initiatives to flourish and grow beyond all expectations.”

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About McDonald’s New York Metro Region
McDonald’s is the world’s best-known brand and is the global leader in food service. There are more than 600 McDonald’s restaurants, owned by 100 franchisees, located throughout the New York, New Jersey and Connecticut Tri-State area. Visit www.mcdonaldsnytristate.com or follow us on Twitter @McDNYTriState for more information about other McDonald’s area programs.