[Congressional Record Volume 146, Number 120 (Monday, October 2, 2000)]
[Extensions of Remarks]
[Pages E1641-E1642]
From the Congressional Record Online through the Government Publishing Office [www.gpo.gov]




 RONALD McDONALD HOUSE CHARITIES--TOP-RANKED CORPORATE CITIZEN FOR THE 
                           HISPANIC COMMUNITY

                                 ______
                                 

                          HON. SILVESTRE REYES

                                of texas

                    in the house of representatives

                        Monday, October 2, 2000

  Mr. REYES. Mr. Speaker, I rise to recognize the Ronald McDonald House 
Charities (RMHC), McDonald's owner/operators, and the McDonald's 
Hispanic Operators Association for their commitment to Hispanic 
American higher education. Their generous ongoing support of the RMHC/
Hispanic American Commitment to Educational Resources Scholarship 
Program (HACER) has just earned them an award from the Hispanic 
Scholarship Fund as one of the ``top ten . . . corporate citizens for 
the Hispanic community.''
  The RMHC/(HACER) provides scholarship assistance to promising 
Hispanic American college-bound students. Since its establishment in 
1985, it has awarded over $7 million in scholarships to approximately 
7,000 Hispanic American high school seniors. It is the largest high 
school-to-college program for Hispanic students in the country.
  This pioneering diversity effort was initiated by Richard Castro, a 
McDonald's owner/operator in my home district, El Paso, Texas. RMHC/
HACER now comprises 33 local programs, including a thriving El Paso 
program. All are jointly supported by RMHC, its local affiliates, and 
McDonald's owner/operators.
  RMHC/HACER addresses the very real need to increase the Hispanic high 
school graduation rate and Hispanic participation in our colleges and 
universities. Hispanic youth drop out of high school at a higher rate 
than any other major RMHC/population group. They also lag far behind 
their peers in college attendance and graduation. HACER provides 
Hispanic youth an incentive and a means to change these trends.
  RMHC/HACER is one of many ways that Ronald McDonald House Charities, 
with support from the McDonald's system, fosters and

[[Page E1642]]

supports the educational aspirations of America's youth. The Hispanic 
Scholarship Fund award is a fitting recognition of an organization that 
truly gives back to the community and our nation.

                          ____________________