McDonald's and SLCC partners to provide tuition assistance to their college employees.

A partnership between McDonald's and South Louisiana Community College will give employees financial help to pay for college. McDonald's employees - at MacLaff, Inc. restaurants - utilizing the Archways to Opportunity program to help pay for college will now be able to access an additional $500 per semester from SLCC, for up to four semesters. The Archways to Opportunity education program will allocate $150 million over five years and opens the door for thousands of its employees to pursue their education and career ambitions. "This helps make dreams come true for so many of our crew," said E.J. Krampe, CEO for MacLaff, Inc., an owner/operator of 45 McDonald's restaurants in the Acadiana and Baton Rouge area, encompassing 15 parishes. "Many times, the cost of tuition and fees can be the sole deciding factor of attending college to better one's life," said Lana Fontenot, Vice Chancellor for Institutional Advancement and Executive Director of the SLCC Foundation. "This additional assistance from SLCC, combined with the McDonald's Archways program can lessen financial burdens for students and allow them to focus on their educational success." Eligible crew members employed for 90 days can access up to $2,500/year with no lifetime cap with the Archways to Opportunity program. Eligible managers receive up to $3,000. This expanded tuition assistance program is available to all of McDonald's 400,000 employees in the U.S. "Our commitment to education reinforces our ongoing support of the people who play a crucial role in our journey to build a better McDonald's," said Steve Easterbrook, McDonald's President and CEO. MacLaff Chief People Officer and owner-operator Chris Krampe pointed out, "Our employees will be able to pursue their education and career passions at their own pace. As an owner/operator, it's important that we recognize the needs of our individual employees for a flexible schedule…. while on the job and in the classroom." Since its launch in 2015, Archways to Opportunity has increased access to education for more that 24,000 people and awarded over $21 million in high school and college tuition assistance. Graduates have received college degrees in Business Administration, Human Resources, Communications, Account Microbiology and more. --------------------------- SLCC, MCDONALDS TO ANNOUNCE EDUCATIONAL PARTNERSHIP Qualified employees will receive tuition relief EVENT: SLCC, McDonald's Educational Partnership Announcement TIME: 2 p.m. DATE: Tuesday, Oct. 15 LOCATION: MacLaff Offices, 106 Oak Way Lane, Lafayette, LA 70506 INFORMATION: South Louisiana Community College and MacLaff Inc., owners of several McDonald's in Acadiana, will be announcing an educational partnership that will benefit McDonald's employees attending college at SLCC. The partnership is for employees in the Archways to Opportunity program, which offers tuition assistance to McDonald's employees. CONTACT: Christine Payton, director of Communications and Marketing, (337) 254-8271 or see her there.