University Circle Inc. Receives Grant from Ronald McDonald House Charities® of Northeastern Ohio, Inc.

Posted January 01, 2011 in Press Releases

Cleveland, OH – University Circle Inc. (UCI) received a grant awarded by Ronald McDonald Charities® of Northeastern Ohio, Inc. (RMHC-NEO) to fund the purchase of the STAR seat safety restraint system. The STAR system will help ensure the safe and reliable transportation of preschool students during their visits to University Circle museums as part of UCI’s Early Learning Initiative (ELI). This grant application was endorsed by McDonald's Owner/Operator Jayson Rogers, who owns several McDonald’s restaurants in the downtown Cleveland area.

“The safety of our school children is paramount in our efforts to promote University Circle as a center for lifelong learning,” said Chris Ronayne, president of UCI. “This grant helps our youngest students safely begin and regularly enjoy their own journey of lifelong learning in the Circle.”

As part of its four PreK-12 educational programs, UCI transports more than 16,000 children of all ages to the Circle’s world-class museums. With this generous grant from Ronald McDonald House Charities of Northeastern Ohio, Inc., UCI will purchase the STAR seat safety restraint system and retrofit its buses, which is now required by the Ohio Department of Transportation.

RMHC-NEO was established in 1987 by local McDonald’s Owner/Operators and has awarded more than $7.6 Million to children's programs across Northeast Ohio, including ongoing financial support of the Ronald McDonald House® programs in Akron and Cleveland and the Ronald McDonald Care Mobile® program. RMHC-NEO also helps children by awarding grants to qualified not-for-profit organizations whose programs improve the quality of life for children and their families in Northeastern Ohio.

For more information about ELI, please visit universitycircle.org.