McDonald's benefit weekend to aid aspiring young musicians is music to their ears

McDonald's Brand Ambassador Larry Johnston talks about the weekend benefit as Napoli Group advertising manager Erin Blecharczyk holds a blank check with an amount still to be determined. At right Peter Napoli of The Napoli Group. (Rochester Voice photos)

ROCHESTER - If you're a fan of music and you want to help some young students acquire their first instrument, and you also enjoy a hearty McDonald's Big Breakfast, well, this may be the morning you need to run out to the McDonald's on North Main to get your day started on a good note.

That's because for all of today and the rest of the weekend, too, The Napoli Group, which owns the eatery, will be donating a whopping 10 percent of the proceeds of its sales to a fund that will clean, sterilize and repair loaner instruments that are supplied free of charge to students who might not have the funds to pay for them.

Peter Napoli, second from right, chats with visitors to the ribbon cutting, including City Councilor Sandra Keans on Thursday at the North Main Street McDonald's in Rochester.

Owner Peter Napoli pledged that he would personally guarantee at least $2,000 to the Rochester Elementary Schools loaner program, but openly wished that it would be a lot more. "Education is so important," said Napoli, owner of several area McDonalds including two in Rochester. "When I came to this country as a child I had a teacher who took me aside and worked extra with me to learn to speak English. Music is important, too."

Elementary School band director Mike Bergeron pointed out that all of Rochester's band programs get a boost because those that start by using the loaner program at the elementary school level usually end up playing in the Spaulding High band, too.

The benefit lasts from today till midnight on Sunday and will help students in all of Rochester's elementary schools.

The benefit weekend kickoff was celebrated on Thursday at the North Main Street McDonalds, which coincided with the restaurant's ribbon cutting after its complete renovation.

Some of the improvements folks will see at the restaurant include several different seating options, table service and new décor.

"This raises the bar," said McDonald's Brand Ambassador Larry Johnston.