"GIVE A HAND" CAMPAIGN TO BENEFIT RONALD McDONALD HOUSE OF MOBILE

Feb 19th, 2004

MOBILE -- More than 80 restaurants and other retail businesses throughout south Alabama and southeast Mississippi will show their support for families of seriously ill or injured children starting Monday, March 1st when the Second Annual "Give A Hand" campaign is launched for the benefit of the Ronald McDonald House of Mobile. The campaign ends Wednesday, March 31st.

In return for a $1 (one dollar) donation, customers at participating Bebo's Express Car Wash, Jackson Hewitt Tax Service, Krispy Kreme Doughnuts, Master Cleaners, McDonald's Restaurants, Office Depot and selected merchants of Colonial Mall Bel Air can place their name, the name of a loved one, their company, service or youth group, church or social club on a paper hand and have it placed on display.

"It's a perfect and inexpensive way to honor a friend or remember a loved one, while showing your support for one of this region's most respected charities," says Al Tenhundfeld, Jr., President of the Board of Directors for the Ronald McDonald House of Mobile.

All proceeds from "Give A Hand" will benefit the Ronald McDonald House, Mobile's home-away-from-home for families whose children are receiving treatment for serious, if not life-threatening, illnesses, injuries or birth defects at any Mobile area hospital.

The "Give A Hand" campaign is another measure of south Alabama's continuing support for Mobile's Ronald McDonald House that has served parents and their children since February 2000. Since the House opened its doors to its first guest, more than 1,100 families from communities throughout southeastern Mississippi, southern Alabama and neighboring states have found a warm, caring haven during their children's hospitalization.

For more information about the "Give A Hand" campaign or the Ronald McDonald House of Mobile, please call toll free 866-RMH-KIDS.