McDonald's Targets African Americans with Latest Public Health Awareness Push

McDonald's USA, LLC recently announced an exclusive alliance with Dr. Rovenia Brock (a.k.a. Dr. Ro), nutritionist, medical correspondent, entrepreneur and author of Dr. Ro's Ten Secrets to Livin' Healthy, a comprehensive common-sense approach to forming healthy lifestyle habits. Dr. Ro will support McDonald's multi-faceted education campaign to help consumers better understand the keys to living balanced, active lives.

Dr. Ro made her national debut as host of Black Entertainment Television's Heart and Soul, a health and TV show geared towards African American women. She has served as a nutrition contributor to ABC News' Lifetime Live, NBC, MSNBC, CNN. She received a Ph.D. in nutritional sciences and an M.S. in community nutrition and broadcast journalism from Howard University. She also holds a B.S. in Foods and Nutrition from Virginia State University.

"McDonald's ongoing commitment to helping consumers understand food/energy balance is an innovative approach," says Dr. Ro. "Fitness and food are two of my favorite topics and I welcome the opportunity to collaborate with McDonald's to help spread the message of balance creation to key influencers and McDonald's customers nationwide— particularly African American families."

To support the "it's what i eat and what i do ... i'm lovin' it" campaign, McDonald's has partnered with Dr. Ro to bring the campaign to life for African Americans, through an ongoing schedule of national and local appearances. As McDonald's "it's what i eat and what i do ... i'm lovin' it" brand ambassador, Dr. Ro will celebrate women and mothers nationwide and encourage consumers to take steps toward increasing their overall health and well being.

To kick off her new role as McDonald's "it's what i eat and what i do ... i'm lovin' it" brand ambassador, Dr. Ro joined R&B supergroup Destiny's Child, tennis champion Venus Williams, physical fitness expert Bob Greene, former Miss Universe Dayanara Torres and fitness enthusiast Donna Richardson-Joyner in a fashion inspired press event, held on May 4, 2005 in New York City. McDonald's newest addition to its popular and great tasting Premium Salad line, the Fruit & Walnut Premium Sala, also debuted at the event.