McDonald’s Situation
The McDonald’s All American Games, a prestigious event for high school basketball players from across the country, is hosted in a different market each year. South Bend, Ind., was chosen as host of the 2005 Games, and Villing & Company was named the marketing and PR agency.

Villing Solution
Through a series of Villing-coordinated press conferences and releases announcing the Games and the kick-off of ticket sales, the event received significant local, regional and national coverage. Villing also initiated a grassroots-driven PR campaign which included distributing t-shirts, basketballs and brochures at each of the local college campuses. In March of 2005, the Games in South Bend raised nearly a half million dollars for the local Ronald McDonald Family Rooms — making it one of the most successful Games in the event’s history.