MILWAUKEE, March 15 /PRNewswire/ — McDonald’s USA announced today that Milwaukee will be the host city for the 2008 McDonald’s All American High School Basketball Boys and Girls Games.
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The Games, scheduled to be played at the Bradley Center next March, will be nationally televised on ESPN. This is the first time in the 31-year history of the Game that a city in Wisconsin will host this event.
“Basketball is hot in Wisconsin with both the Badgers and Golden Eagles bringing the excitement of March Madness to fans across the state,” said Tara Hayes, McDonald’s U.S. Communications. “We are proud to award this prestigious event to the McDonald’s owner/operators of Southeastern Wisconsin, and look forward to seeing basketball fans in Wisconsin fill the 17,000 seats at the Bradley Center during the 2008 Games.”
The McDonald’s All American Games are nationally recognized as the premier showcase for the top high school basketball talent in the country. Annually, 24 boys and 24 girls are selected from a pool of more than 2,500 nominees nationwide. The players will not only become part of the long-standing tradition of the Games, but will also raise money for Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC(R)) of Eastern Wisconsin.
“We are very excited to host the 2008 All American Basketball Games,” said Dion Conn, local McDonald’s owner/operator and chairman of the Milwaukee games. “Seeing the up-and-coming basketball stars and all their fans here next year will be very exciting for the city of Milwaukee.”
Throughout its history, the McDonald’s All American Games’ primary purpose as a fundraiser for RMHC has been fulfilled along side its ability to showcase the nation’s top high school basketball players. A portion of the proceeds from the 2008 Game will benefit Ronald McDonald House Charities of Eastern Wisconsin. Since the Game was first played in 1978, more than $5 million has been raised for RMHC, Inc. and its network of local Chapters.
The Game selection committee, chaired by hall-of-fame bound coach Morgan Wootten, retired head coach of DeMatha Catholic High School in Hyattsville, Maryland, selects the final team members in mid-February. Legendary UCLA coach John Wooden, who has been involved in the McDonald’s All American Games since its inception, serves as honorary chairman of the Games and as an advisor to the selection committee. Notable alumni of the Game include Milwaukee Bucks players Dan Gadzuric and Mo Williams, and current and former NBA stars Michael Jordan, Magic Johnson, Kevin Garnett, Carmelo Anthony and LeBron James; NCAA men’s stars Greg Oden, Kevin Durant, Julian Wright and Arron Afflalo; and NCAA women’s stars Candace Parker, Ivory Latta and Courtney Paris.
The 2007 McDonald’s All American Game will be played Wednesday, March 28, at Freedom Hall in Louisville, Ky. The McDonald’s All American Boys Game will be broadcast live on ESPN at 8 p.m. (EDT) and the McDonald’s All American Girls Game will be broadcast on ESPNU on Wednesday, March 28 at 5 p.m. (EDT). Please visit http://www.mcdonaldsallamerican.com/ and http://www.mcdonalds.com/ for more information on the McDonald’s All American Game.
Ronald McDonald House Charities, a non-profit 501 (c)(3) corporation, creates, finds and supports programs that directly improve the health and well being of children. Its programs are grassroots-driven to enable the Charity to offer help where children need it most — right in their own communities. RMHC makes an immediate, positive impact on children’s lives through its global network of local Chapters in nearly 50 countries and regions and its three core programs: Ronald McDonald House(R), Ronald McDonald Family Room(TM) and Ronald McDonald Care Mobile(TM). RMHC and its global network of local Chapters have awarded more than $460 million in grants and program services to children’s programs around the world. For more information, visit http://www.rmhc.org/ .
McDonald’s USA, LLC is the leading foodservice provider in the United States serving a variety of wholesome foods made from quality ingredients to millions of customers every day. More than 80 percent of McDonald’s 13,700 U.S. restaurants are independently owned and operated by local franchisees. For more information about McDonald’s visit http://www.mcdonalds.com/ .
