McDonalds 2002 Annual Report Download - page 28

Childhood should be filled with laughs, hugs and the creation of joy-
ful memories. It’s a time when anything and everything should be
considered possible—a time when “ev’ry boy and girl should dance
on dreams.”
However, for many children such a childhood does not exist.
That’s why McDonald’s created World Children’s Day, a day
marked by an historic fundraising initiative benefiting the well being
of children desperately in need of assistance. The date selected for World Children’s Day,
November 20, 2002, coincided with the 13th anniversary of the United Nations’ adoption
of the Convention on the Rights of the Child.
On this day, more than $12 million was raised for Ronald McDonald House Charities
and children’s causes worldwide as McDonald’s restaurants in more than 100 countries
united with customers to help children in need. The funds are being used in a multitude of
ways. For example, assistance is being provided to orphanages in Russia, Estonia and
Kuwait, as well as to children’s hospitals and children’s health
organizations around the world. Also, some of the funds are
being used to help support 16 new Ronald McDonald Houses
in seven European and two Latin American countries.
Consistent with our long history of caring for kids, the
events surrounding World Children’s Day raised awareness of
the ever-increasing needs of children and the important role we
all can, and must, play to affect positive change in our commu-
nities around the world.
The day was kicked off with a sunrise celebration at the
Auckland Ronald McDonald House in New Zealand, the first
country to officially welcome the dawn of World Children’s Day and concluded 41 hours
later as the sun set in Western Samoa. Activities varied by country and market, ranging
from donations of product and restaurant sales to children’s concerts and festivals to the
distribution of critical services and supplies to families and children in need.
This unprecedented global event resulted from the efforts of many extraordinary people,
most notably the millions of McDonald’s customers and local celebrities who participated in
the many fundraising activities.
We also owe very special thanks to the recording artists who raised their voices in a
U.S. network telecast of the “Concert for World Children’s Day.” This special featured a
star-studded lineup including Celine Dion, Enrique Iglesias, Josh Groban and Nick Carter,
formerly of the Backstreet Boys. The concert also aired in Canada, Finland, Russia and the
Netherlands.
In connection with this concert, Grammy award-winning composer, producer and
writer David Foster and his wife, lyricist Linda Thompson, created a song dedicated to the
less fortunate children of the world. Entitled “Aren’t They All Our Children,” the lyrics aptly
remind us that “Ev’ry boy and girl should dance on dreams around this world. Aren’t they
all our children after all?”
We hope that because of the many people who gave so selflessly on World Children’s
Day a few more children will be able to “dance on dreams.”
TO DANCE ON DREAMS
November 20, 2002
29
the events surrounding
World Children’s Day
raised awareness
of the ever-increasing
needs of children
and the important role
we all can, and must,
play to affect
positive change in our
communities
around the world