Tina Charles Named McDonald's All American(TM) National High School Basketball Player of the Year; Prep Star Receives Prestigious Morgan Wootten Award.

OAK BROOK, Ill. -- Tina Charles, avid reader, movie-goer and dominating presence in the paint for Christ the King Regional High School in Middle Village, N.Y., has been named the 2006 Morgan Wootten Award winner.

The Morgan Wootten award is given to the McDonald's All American player who exemplifies outstanding character, exhibits leadership and embodies the values of being a student-athlete in both schoolwork and community service activities. McDonald's(R) established the National Player of the Year Award in Wootten's name to pay tribute to his unprecedented achievements as a teacher and a coach.

"It's an honor to win this award, to be selected for the prestigious McDonald's All American Game, and knowing that I will be playing with the best in the country," Charles said.

Tina can use both hands in the paint, and has tremendous upside. She has been named the Most Valuable Player of the prestigious Tournament of Champions as well as being named the Most Valuable Player in the entire state of New York. She has earned All-League and All-State honors while playing for one of the most dominant high school girls programs in the country. She loves to listen to her favorite jazz artist and composer Miles Davis. Tina will be an impact player next year for the University of Connecticut.

"Tina Charles is a perfect example of everything that is right in girl's high school athletics. Not only does she light up the scoreboard, but she is a wonderful student who has earned several academic honors," said Michon Ellis, director of the McDonald's All American Games. "She is a role model for young women and she represents what it means to be a McDonald's All American."

Tina Charles is the second female recipient of the Morgan Wootten Award to attend Connecticut. Senior Connecticut guard Nicole Wolff won the award in 2002. Joining Charles in the honors is the boy's McDonald's National Player of the Year, Greg Oden from North High School in Indianapolis, who will attend The Ohio State University in the fall.

During Wootten's 43-year career as head basketball coach at DeMatha High School in Hyattsville, Md., he earned a reputation for being both an excellent basketball coach and mentor. In addition to his five national high school championship titles and 33 conference championships, Wootten had the unique distinction of having every DeMatha senior player receive a four-year college scholarship for the past 30 years.

Now retired, Wootten was the first basketball coach, at any level, to reach 1,200 wins. He is the author of numerous books and is a famed basketball speaker and mentor. Coach Wootten has served as head of the selection committee for the McDonald's All American High School Basketball Team(TM) since its inception in 1977.

Past girls McDonald's National Player of the Year recipients include: Abby Waner, Duke ('05); Candace Parker, Tennessee ('04); Ivory Latta, North Carolina ('03) and Nicole Wolff, Connecticut ('02).

Charles is only one of 24 high school seniors selected to play in the fifth annual McDonald's All American High School Girls Basketball Game, which takes place at San Diego State University's Cox Arena on March 29 at 4:30 p.m. (PST). The game will air on ESPN2, April 6 at 10:00 a.m. (PST). The Boys Team will also take the court at Cox Arena on Wednesday, March 29 at 7:00 p.m. (PST) and air live on ESPN.

For more information on the McDonald's All American Game, please visit: www.mcdonaldsallamerican.com or www.mcdepk.com/2006allamericangame.

The primary purpose of the McDonald's All American Games is to raise funds for Ronald McDonald House Charities(R) (RMHC(R)). To date, the McDonald's All American Games have raised more than $5 million for RMHC raised since the Game was first played in 1978.

McDonald's USA, LLC is the leading foodservice provider in the United States serving a variety of wholesome foods made from quality ingredients to millions of customers every day. More than 80 percent of McDonald's 13,700 U.S. restaurants are independently owned and operated by local franchisees. For more information about McDonald's visit www.mcdonalds.com.

(C)2006 McDonald's