McDonald’s seeks to honor, support trailblazers aged 18 to 30McDonald’s seeks to honor, support trailblazers aged 18 to 30

McDonald’s USA is expanding on it Black & Positively Golden program, which started with the Future 22 earlier this year, by honoring 10 entrepreneurs and activists, the company has announced.

The Chicago-based burger giant earlier this year featured 22 community leaders and honored them with grants in July during the Essence Festival in New Orleans, La.

McDonald’s said it was looking to extend the yearlong campaign by selecting 10 trailblazers, aged 18 to 30, for its Change Leaders initiative.

Applications are being accepted now through Oct. 9 at www.McDChangeLeaders.com. Applicants can submit a short video and share stories about how they are impacting their communities.

The company said the 10 selected to be part of McDonald's Change Leaders program will receive financial support for their causes, an opportunity to raise awareness of their work in a national advertising campaign and be featured on McDonald's Black & Positively Golden Instagram channel, @wearegolden.

"We know there's a difference between being in a community and being a part of one,” said Veronica Thompson, director of cultural engagement and activations at McDonald's USA, in a statement.

“Through the Black & Positively Golden Change Leaders program, we're honored to celebrate individuals, including our own crew, who embrace giving back to their communities, a value espoused daily by the company and our owner/operators,” Thompson said.

To learn more about the McDonald's Black & Positively movement and Change Leaders program, follow @wearegolden on Instagram and visit www.blackandpositivelygolden.com.

McDonald's USA LLC has about 13,500 owned and franchised restaurants in the United States.

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