This Mother’s Day, McDonald’s will renew its nationwide commitment to breast cancer awareness and education by supporting the courageous efforts of organizations including Y-ME National Breast Cancer Organization and City of Hope Cancer Center.

“McDonald’s and Ronald McDonald House Charities® (RMHC) are proud to work with Y-ME and City of Hope Cancer Center in support of breast cancer awareness and education,” says Ken Barun, corporate senior vice president, McDonald’s Corporation, president and chief executive officer, RMHC, and national honorary walk chairman, Y-ME. “Not only are we are dedicated to the well-being of children around the world, we care about their families and wish to help all those whose lives are touched by this disease.”

With the support of The Coca-Cola Company (DASANI®), McDonald’s restaurants nationwide will showcase educational table tents featuring early detection messages and contact information for breast cancer support. Championed by the McDonald’s Women’s Operator Network and Women’s Leadership Network, McDonald’s fight against breast cancer will expand from the restaurants to McDonald’s USA web site in May with the launch of a breast cancer awareness page at http://www.mcdonalds.com/usa/good/community/bca.html . The page features early detection tips from Y-ME, links to important breast cancer resources and information from Dean Ornish, M.D., founder, president and director of the non-profit Preventive Medicine Research Institute.

Selected restaurants are also showing their support by selling specialty menu items and pink ribbons to raise funds for City of Hope Cancer Center, an organization dedicated to finding a cure for breast cancer through research and development.

McDonald’s also supports Y-ME National Breast Cancer Organization in its mission to ensure, through information, empowerment and peer support, that no one faces breast cancer alone. McDonald’s is a presenting sponsor of the 14th Annual Y-ME RACE Against Breast Cancer in Chicago and Y-ME’s inaugural Walk to Empower in Houston and San Diego on Mother’s Day, May 8. This year, Gloria Alvarez, wife of Ralph Alvarez, president, McDonald’s North America, and a breast cancer survivor, will serve as an honorary member of Team McDonald’s in Chicago. First diagnosed with breast cancer in 2000, Alvarez has been breast cancer free for five years.

“As a breast cancer survivor, I know first-hand how important it is to educate women and families about breast cancer detection and treatment,” says Gloria Alvarez. “I’m proud to join McDonald’s commitment to this cause. We all hope to find a cure.”