Fundraiser Friday at area McDonald's

By Teri Vance

tvance@nevadaappeal.com

From open to close Friday, all Carson City and the Minden McDonald's stores will be donating all of the proceeds from selected menu items to participating area schools.

"The schools are in dire need," said owner Sharon Kassity. "We're always trying to help kids. When we help our schools, we help the whole community."

Although owners Sharon and Chris Kassity have always tried to give back, they wanted to find a year-round, organized way of supporting local schools.

In 2009, they launched the Kassity Family School Fund where 25 cents from certain products is given to schools that have signed up for the program.

On Friday, the program is being extended to give 100 percent of the proceeds to the patrons' school of choice.

"The schools could each get $2,000 or $3,000," Kassity said.

In order for the school to get the money, however, the customer must tell the cashier which school the donation should go to.

Kassity sent letters home to the parents at each of the schools letting them know about the promotion and listing the items that will benefit the schools.

She said organizers are working on a graph to be displayed on the fund's Web site to let schools know how much money has been raised in their behalf.

To learn more, or to sign up for the program, go to kassityschoolfund.org.

BKOUT

How it works:

Customers must advise the cashier which school they would like to support.

Participating schools are: Bethlehem Lutheran School, Bordewich-Bray Elementary, Fritsch Elementary, St. Teresa of Avila Catholic School, St. Teresa of Avila Youth Ministry and Seeliger Elementary.

Eligible menu items are: Any premium chicken salad, any size shake or McFlurry, any iced or hot McCafe drink or hot chocolate, fruit & walnut salad, any snack wrap or an Egg McMuffin sandwich.

McDonald's locations:

• 3905 S. Carson St.

• 3770 S. Highway 395 - inside Wal-Mart

• Hot Springs and College Parkway - inside Wal-Mart

• 2001 N. Carson St.

• 3344 N. Carson St.

• 1666 U.S. Highway 395 in Minden