Ronald McDonald House Charities® of Southern California   

One hundred and four exceptional high school seniors have been awarded college scholarships from Ronald McDonald House Charities® of Southern California. The scholarship recipients were recognized at an awards luncheon on Saturday, June 2 at Pacific Palms Hotel in City of Industry. Featured keynote speaker, Yul Kwon, television host and thirteenth season Survivor winner, delivered an inspiring message focused on perseverance in spite of adversity, while addressing the importance of higher education and giving back to the community.

Students were awarded scholarships through one of four programs: Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC)/African American Future Achievers, RMHC/Asian Pacific American Students Increasing Achievement, RMHC/Hispanic American Commitment to Educational Resources and RMHC/Scholars. Scholarship funds can be applied toward tuition, fees and other appropriate educational expenses. The students were selected to receive a RMHC scholarship based on a number of criteria including grade point average, community involvement, leadership skills, letters of recommendation, and financial need.

 “Every year, we continue to be impressed by the caliber of students that apply for one of our four scholarship programs,” said Rob Parker, RMHCSC Chief Executive Officer. “The young men and women that comprise this year’s scholarship class are not only role models at home but in their communities, and we couldn’t be more honored to support them as they set out to pursue their higher education.”

Since 1990, the Southern California chapter of RMHC has awarded $4.1 million in scholarship funds to local students to help make their dream of a college education a reality. Funding for the scholarships is made possible through the global and Southern California chapters of RMHC and the fundraising efforts of local McDonald’s owner/operators and corporate staff. McDonald’s Operators’ Association of Southern California (MOASC) pays for all administrative costs of the Southern California scholarship program including producing and distributing the applications and hosting the recipient recognition event.

For more than 30 years RMHCSC has been dedicated to creating a community where children and their families embrace life and healing with a sense of hope, enthusiasm, courage and joy. In addition to four scholarship programs, throughout Inyo, Kern, Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Luis Obispo, Santa Barbara and Ventura, RMHCSC operates five Ronald McDonald Houses, Camp Ronald McDonald for Good Times, two Ronald McDonald Family Rooms and a Community Grants Board.