“I went to McDonald's with my niece and nephew. They kept telling me to peel my game pieces. When I finally did, I couldn't believe my eyes! I won $1 million! I just kept thinking, ‘this must be a dream, this can't be real'. I'm from a small town, so none of us thought there would ever be a big winner at our McDonald's. It really took awhile to get over the initial shock. If it wasn't for my niece's and nephew's curiosity, I probably wouldn't have even looked at my game pieces!
I was awarded $1 million and flew to L.A. to appear in an actual television commercial. This experience has been nothing short of amazing!
Winning really opened up a world of possibilities for me. I feel a new sense of responsibility to help others. I know a few people who could really use some assistance, and this will allow me to help them a little. I've been given a gift, an amazing opportunity to touch the lives of others and fulfill dreams I never thought possible in my lifetime. I'm truly grateful and feel very, very blessed.”
", "storyHeight" : 600, "storyMediaType" : "video", "storyMediaList" : "../stories/2007/charlotte/tvspotshoot.flv", "storyMediaWidth" : 320, "storyMediaHeight" : 260, "storyMediaPoster" : "./assets/stories/2007/charlotte/tvspotshoot.png", "storyMediaCaption" : "Check out the video from Charlotte's winning experience.", "storyThumbnail" : "./assets/stories/2007/charlotte/stories_thumb.jpg", "storyThumbnailCaption" : "Charlotte M., $1 Million Winner, MONOPOLY® 2006" }, {"storyID": 1, "storyDate": "12/12/2007", "storyPhoto" : "./assets/stories/2007/gilda/home_photo.jpg", "storyTeaserQuote" : "I found out the truth about“I try to prepare healthy meals for my kids and I’m concerned about them getting adequate nutrition. I take my three children to McDonald’s once a week. I thought being a Moms’ Quality Correspondent would be a good opportunity for me to find out the truth about McDonald’s food.
To see the entire process from the farm to the table was very helpful. When you think of McDonald’s, you usually think of the drive-thru and feeding your family fast. But there’s a whole business behind the McDonald’s business that I had the unique opportunity to see firsthand — where they get their meat, apples and cheese, the standards they uphold, the rigorous testing — it made me realize how much work they put into serving good quality food.
The most surprising thing? The food they serve is not any different than what I feed my family at home. This made me feel better about feeding it to my kids and changed my opinion about McDonald’s.”
Check out Gilda's online journal entries and learn more about being a Moms' Quality Correspondent
", "storyMediaType" : "imageGallery", "storyMediaList" : "./assets/stories/2007/gilda/photo_1.jpg,./assets/stories/2007/gilda/photo_2.jpg,./assets/stories/2007/gilda/photo_3.jpg,./assets/stories/2007/gilda/photo_4.jpg", "storyHeight" : 580, "storyMediaWidth" : 150, "storyMediaHeight" : 111, "storyMediaPoster" : "", "storyMediaCaption" : "See pictures from Gilda's experience", "storyThumbnail" : "./assets/stories/2007/gilda/stories_thumb.jpg", "storyThumbnailCaption" : "Gilda M., McDonald's Moms' Quality Correspondent" }, {"storyID": 2, "storyDate": "12/19/2007", "storyPhoto" : "./assets/stories/2007/lisa/home_photo.jpg", "storyTeaserQuote" : "A limo was waiting for us when we got to Vegas, and I thought, 'Okay, we're talking VIP SUPERSTAR!'", "storyTeaserByLine" : "", "storyTeaserLeadin" : "Lisa T., hard-working mother of two, was busy at home, when a TV commercial for McDonald's Access NBA All-Star Promotion got her attention. She had no idea that soon she too would be in a limo just like the VIPs on that commercial...", "storyText" : "“When I first heard about it, I was hesitant about entering because I thought, ‘people don’t really win those things.’ But it was McDonald’s, so I said, ‘OK.’ Plus, I’m a big basketball fan, so I thought, ‘Vegas? NBA All-Star? YEAH!’ I was online entering every day!
When I found out I won, I was ecstatic! I called my mother, who’s also a big basketball fan, and told her, ‘We’re going to the NBA All-Star Game!’ I was so excited that I won something. I never won anything that big. An all expense-paid weekend, with access to everything — even the game? It was wonderful, it really was!
That was my first time on a plane and my first time in Vegas. I was telling everybody I won, even on the plane. A limo was waiting for us when we got to Vegas, and I thought, ‘OK, we’re talking VIP SUPERSTAR!’ I always wanted to go to the airport with somebody holding up a sign with my name on it — and I got that! It was beautiful! And not having to pay for anything was extra nice. The best part was just being in Vegas. The lights. The hotels. The stars. It more than exceeded my expectations. My mom had a blast, too. She was walking around all proud with her VIP necklace.
With McDonald’s, people do actually win trips — and I have the pictures to prove it!”
", "storyHeight" : 650, "storyMediaType" : "video", "storyMediaList" : "../stories/2007/lisa/accesswinner.flv", "storyMediaWidth" : 320, "storyMediaHeight" : 196, "storyMediaPoster" : "./assets/stories/2007/lisa/accesswinner.png", "storyMediaCaption" : "See pictures and video from Lisa's experience", "storyThumbnail" : "./assets/stories/2007/lisa/stories_thumb.jpg", "storyThumbnailCaption" : "Lisa T., McDonald's NBA All-Star 2007 Access Winner" }, {"storyID": 3, "storyDate": "1/3/2008", "storyPhoto" : "./assets/stories/2008/shawna/home_photo.jpg", "storyTeaserQuote" : "I went behind the scenes at McDonald’s®, and what I saw surprised me.", "storyTeaserByLine" : "", "storyTeaserLeadin" : "Shawna H., mother of two, was selected as a McDonald’s Moms’ Quality Correspondent. She and five other moms received exclusive, behind the scenes access to McDonald’s and were asked to report their honest findings in unedited online journals. What she discovered may surprise you...", "storyText" : "“I think that out of all the moms, I was probably the most skeptical about McDonald’s. I felt that this was my chance to get answers to a lot of my questions — how do they keep the apples in the Apple Dippers from turning brown? What exactly are chicken nuggets made of? And is there really beef in those burgers?
Our field trips were great and very eye-opening. We met with food quality and safety experts, ingredient suppliers and nutritionists and learned so much about how much work and effort goes into preparing the food and keeping the environment safe and sanitary.
My favorite part was meeting Chef Dan in his kitchen at Hamburger University. I was blown away when I found out that they had an executive chef and that Hamburger University actually existed! We got to help Chef Dan with new product development and we also taste tested a new McDonald’s beverage. It was so much fun!
Well, I did end up getting the answers to my questions. I found out that McDonald’s adds Vitamin C to their Apple Dippers so they don’t turn brown, the chicken nuggets are made of real 100% white meat chicken (breast and tenders that are chopped and formed) and there is nothing in those burgers but 100% USDA inspected beef, no fillers. I saw it all with my own eyes, and I have to say I was pleasantly surprised!”
", "storyHeight" : 680, "storyMediaType" : "video", "storyMediaList" : "../stories/2008/shawna/accesswinner.flv", "storyMediaWidth" : 320, "storyMediaHeight" : 260, "storyMediaPoster" : "./assets/stories/2008/shawna/accesswinner.png", "storyMediaCaption" : "Check out the video from Shawna's winning experience", "storyThumbnail" : "./assets/stories/2008/shawna/stories_thumb.jpg", "storyThumbnailCaption" : "Shawna H., Mom & Vice President of a non-profit group for stay-at-home moms " }, {"storyID": 4, "storyDate": "1/15/2008", "storyPhoto" : "./assets/stories/2008/larry/home_photo.jpg", "storyTeaserQuote" : "McDonald's® really rolled out the red carpet. I felt like a VIP from the moment I arrived to the moment I got home.", "storyTeaserByLine" : "", "storyTeaserLeadin" : "It was just another ordinary day at work for Larry W., thirty-something entrepreneur, until he got a phone call that would not only make his day, but his entire year...", "storyText" : "“I heard about the McDonald’s Access promotion through my friend. We didn’t think we had a real shot at it, but we rolled the dice, and as luck or blessings had it, we won. When I got that phone call, I was hyped!
When we first walked out of the airport, this guy had a sign with my name on it. I said, ‘Wow is that for me?’ I turned around, and realized, ‘Yeah, it is for me.’ In the limo, we hung out the window and waved our hands in the air like we just didn't care.
At the Soul Train Music Awards everyone looked fantastic and was dressed to impress. It was a very classy event. It was cool to be so close to the stage where the people I normally see on TV were just a few feet from me! We saw Don Cornelius. I shook his hand. He had a strong handshake and still looks so young! I love music, and to have a chance to hang around with the celebrities at the Soul Train Music Awards was awesome. It was a great opportunity.
Every day I was there I felt like a VIP. Everything was done grade A from top to bottom. From the first day we got there to the very last second that it ended, even going home from the airport. It was awesome, that’s what it was — just awesome. Let’s do it again!”
", "storyHeight" : 620, "storyMediaType" : "video", "storyMediaList" : "../stories/2008/larry/accesswinner.flv", "storyMediaWidth" : 320, "storyMediaHeight" : 196, "storyMediaPoster" : "./assets/stories/2008/larry/accesswinner.png", "storyMediaCaption" : "Check out the video from Larry's winning experience.", "storyThumbnail" : "./assets/stories/2008/larry/stories_thumb.jpg", "storyThumbnailCaption" : "Larry W., McDonald's 2007 Soul Train Access Winner, Chicago, IL" }, {"storyID": 5, "storyDate": "2/5/2008", "storyPhoto" : "./assets/stories/2008/ocean/home_photo.jpg", "storyTeaserQuote" : "Now, all the kids at school call me“A few years ago I saw this shiny red trumpet in a catalog. I put it on my Christmas list. Then for two years straight, I kept asking for it. I didn’t even know how to play it, but I had to have it! My mom finally gave in and got it for me. I learned how to play and got really good. I do concerts now at some pretty big clubs.
My grandmother heard about the Global Casting Call on the news and told me about it. I went on the website and wrote the story about my red trumpet and how much I love to play it. When I found out I was one of the 24 chosen, I went into complete shock. I got to go to London for a photo shoot with the other Global Casting stars — on my birthday! It was the best birthday ever! I felt like a king!
My life has been so great since this happened! I got all of this publicity. I did a lot of TV and newspaper interviews, I was the Grand Marshall for the McDonald’s Thanksgiving Day Parade with Ronald McDonald® last year and I did the McDonald’s Triathalon. There have even been a few times when people have recognized me and asked for my autograph!”
", "storyHeight" : 620, "storyMediaType" : "imageGallery", "storyMediaList" : "./assets/stories/2008/ocean/photo_1,./assets/stories/2008/ocean/photo_2,./assets/stories/2008/ocean/photo_3,./assets/stories/2008/ocean/photo_4", "storyMediaWidth" : 150, "storyMediaHeight" : 111, "storyMediaPoster" : "", "storyMediaCaption" : "See pictures from Ocean's experience.", "storyThumbnail" : "./assets/stories/2008/ocean/stories_thumb.jpg", "storyThumbnailCaption" : "Ocean S., Student and McDonald’s Global Casting Star, Chicago, IL" }, {"storyID": 6, "storyDate": "3/03/2008", "storyPhoto" : "./assets/stories/2008/don/home_photo.jpg", "storyTeaserQuote" : "All the values I uphold come directly from my grandmother; from how she treated others and raised me.", "storyTeaserByLine" : "Don Thompson, President of McDonald’s® USA", "storyTeaserLeadin" : "Don Thompson talks about the people who most inspired him, personally and professionally, on his path to becoming McDonald’s USA’s first African-American President.", "storyText" : "“My grandmother is definitely my greatest personal inspiration. Her strength, determination, and spiritual reliance as my ‘singular’ mother and father are traits I strive to mimic in my life. She was so determined to see me go to college, that she moved us from Chicago to Indianapolis so that I could attend Purdue and study engineering. I’m truly blessed to have her encouragement in my life.
Professionally, my greatest inspiration would have to be my dear friend Raymond, a McDonald’s executive who was my first mentor at the company. He was the one who helped me transition from engineering into our core business by getting me into McDonald’s Accelerated Development Program. As part of the program, I spent six months co-managing a restaurant on the south side of Chicago, doing everything from flipping burgers to working the register, and I loved it! I gained insights into the nuts and bolts of the McDonald’s business that I still rely on.
That’s why I always encourage African Americans to bring their skills and career ambitions to McDonald’s. Everything else you need to succeed — mentorship, development, opportunity — is already here. It makes me very proud to work at McDonald’s.
Finally, my sources of daily inspiration are my wife, Liz, and our two children. My wife really knows me and sees through me. And my kids are my daily ‘power boost’ because they remind me of what’s most important in this world.”
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