Riverside, CA: Ronald McDonald House Charities® of Southern California to Award $208,000 in College Scholarships to High School Seniors

In June 2010, Americans owed more than $825 billion in student loan debt -- more than what they owed on revolving debt balances such as credit cards(1). Scholarships are one way students can minimize their reliance on long-term loan debt and still be able to afford higher education. Ronald McDonald House Charities® of Southern California (RMHCSC) will award more than $200,000 in scholarship funds to deserving high school seniors who reside in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino and Ventura counties.

The organization will award 104 - $2,000 scholarships through its four scholarship programs: Ronald McDonald House Charities (RMHC)/African American Future Achievers, RMHC/Asian Pacific American Students Increasing Achievement (ASIA), RMHC/Hispanic American Commitment to Educational Resources (HACER) and RMHC/Scholars. Scholarship funds can be applied toward tuition, fees and other appropriate educational expenses. The application deadline is Friday, March 11 for all four programs.

"During these tough economic times, students need more financial assistance for school than ever before," said Nicole Rubin, CEO, RMHCSC. "Ronald McDonald House Charities of Southern California is committed to supporting our local high school seniors as they reach their college and career goals and become leaders of tomorrow."

To be eligible for the scholarships, applicants must be currently-enrolled high school seniors who are eligible to attend a two- or four-year postsecondary institution following graduation. They must be legal U.S. residents, be less than 21 years of age, have a minimum 2.7 grade point average and reside within the boundaries of Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino and Ventura counties.

Applications are available for download at www.rmhcsc.org and www.mcdonaldssocal.com. Students can submit online applications at https://aim.applyists.net/RMHCSOCAL (program key: RMHCSOCAL).

Since 1990, RMHCSC has awarded more than $3.5 million in scholarship funds to local students to help make their college education dreams 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. The McDonald's Operators' Association of Southern California (MOASC) pays for administrative costs of the scholarship programs including the production and distribution of applications and a recipient recognition event, which will be held at Pacific Palms Resort and Conference Center in City of Industry, Calif. on June 25.

For more than 30 years, RMHCSC has been committed to providing comfort, care and support to children and families in Southern California. RMHCSC is dedicated to creating a community where children and their families embrace life and healing with a sense of hope, enthusiasm, courage and joy by operating five Ronald McDonald Houses, Camp Ronald McDonald for Good Times, two Ronald McDonald Family Rooms and a Community Grants Board.

MOASC is comprised of more than 600 franchised and company-owned McDonald's restaurants in Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino and Ventura counties. Follow us on Twitter: @McDonalds_SoCal.