Thursday, September 29, 2005

Ronald McDonald



Ronald McDonald is expanding his role as a global ambassador of fun, fitness and children’s well-being. As McDonald’s® Chief Happiness Officer™, Ronald® is inspiring and encouraging kids and families around the world to eat well and stay active, or as he likes to say, “it’s what i eat and what i do™ …i’m lovin’ it.™” As a recognizable role model for children around the world, he makes learning fun and can make important subjects like energy balance – the food you eat and the activity you do – simple and compelling.

In McDonald’s new global television commercial, “Come Out and Play,” Ronald steps out in his Big Red Shoes™ to show kids that getting active and making balanced food choices actually means having fun. Ronald gets kids up off the couch, and outside and moving with a variety of cool sports activities including bike riding, snowboarding and playing basketball with NBA superstar Yao Ming. Whether he’s juggling vegetables with his friends or dodging strawberries, he snowboards down a yogurt mountain, Ronald makes it clear that kids can have fun and feel great if they “Come Out and Play.”

The global television commercial will debut in the U.S. on June 10 and will air in numerous countries including Canada, Germany, Italy, Portugal, China, Hong Kong, Singapore, Taiwan, New Zealand, Puerto Rico, Uruguay, Chile and Argentina throughout the year.

To keep up with this active lifestyle, Ronald McDonald went shopping and picked out a whole new wardrobe. Whether he’s hitting the ball with tennis champions Venus and Serena Williams, training with Olympic athletes or attending awards ceremonies, these new outfits complement his fun, energetic style.

The trademark yellow jumpsuit remains a wardrobe staple for Ronald, and has been updated with a new, streamlined fit. In addition to the jumpsuit, his active wardrobe features a warm-up suit, basketball and soccer/football outfits, a tuxedo, a winter jacket for visits to Russia, and a baseball outfit for events in Japan.

This September, Ronald will take his new “Go Active with Ronald McDonald™” community show on the road. The program will debut first in the U.S. followed by countries around the world this fall. It is a fun, interactive show in which Ronald enlists the audience to help him coax his friend “Arnie” out of the house and into a more active lifestyle.

Using improvisational games and cool activities, Ronald encourages everyone to burn energy by finding the activities they like to do, making them fun and incorporating them into their lifestyle.

As a global leader, McDonald’s cares about its customers and is taking action to encourage balanced, active lives. The company is committed to being part of the solution by reinforcing the importance of energy balance – the food you eat and the activity you do. McDonald’s Balanced, Active Lifestyles program is built on three strategic pillars: increasing menu choice, promoting physical activity, and continuing to provide accessible nutrition information. For more information, visit http://www.balance.mcdonalds.com/.

McDonald's is the leading global foodservice retailer with more than 30,000 local restaurants serving nearly 50 million people in more than 100 countries each day. Approximately 70 percent of McDonald's restaurants worldwide are owned and operated by independent, local businessmen and women.

1 comment:

Anonymous said...

There is only one reason that a McDonald's owner operator sponsors Ronald to come to a local school. That is to generate traffic (sales) at the local McDonald's as a direct result of the appearance. Do you not see any irony here? Ronald McDonald in an elementary school lecturing about how to have a healthy active lifestyle?? No matter how wonderful the program is, after it is over, ask a student to draw a picture of what they learned. Niney-nine percent of the time the picture will consist of McDonald's product; hamburgers, happy meals, etc. It is up to the schools to get wise to this blatant youth-targeted commercialism. I thought you worked for McDonald's until I saw you were in the childcare field. Are you sure they aren't paying you for this endorsement?