Jerry Lewis will present more than $15,000 to 42 local teachers from more than 20 different local school systems to benefit thousands of students.

The 2010 MAC Grant check presentation and $100,000 MAC Grant Celebration dinner and program will take place on Monday, Sept.20, from 4:30-6:30 p.m. at The Centre 601 N Main St., Bluffton.

The $100,000 MAC grant celebration dinner and program will include Ronald McDonald performing part of his school show titled "BookTime with Ronald McDonald" which emphasizes that reading is more fun when students read with excitement and picture what they read.

Also in attendance for the event will be both past and present MAC Grant winners as well as school principals and superintendents. The evening will end with a look at all of the education programs Jerry Lewis' McDonald's has to offer to local schools.

The MAC, Make Activities Count, Grant Program is a local initiative started by McDonald's restaurant owner, Jerry Lewis, in 2004. After putting on a high school senior scholarship program for several years, Lewis was looking for a way to make a larger impact within today's education system, especially as school budgets were being cut.

As a result the MAC Grant program was developed. Each year, teachers in kindergarten through eighth grades apply for MAC Grants of up to $400 for fun and interactive activities in the classroom. The MAC Grants are used to fund programs that might not otherwise be possible due to school budgets.

School Districts with teachers receiving grants this year include Fort Jennings, Ottawa- Glandorf, Central Local, Lima City, Allen East, Shawnee, Delphos St. John's, St. Rose, Elida Local, Delphos City, St.Charles, Ottoville, Carey, Pandora-Gilboa, Lincolnview, Kalida, Ada, Van Wert, Upper Sandusky, Spencerville and Upper Scioto Valley.

Since the MAC Grants Program's inception in 2004 more than $109,000 has been given to more than 300 local teachers. More than 30 area school districts have benefitted from the program over the past seven years.

All funds given through Jerry Lewis' McDonald's MAC Grant program come directly from the sales at local McDonald's Restaurants. The MAC Grant program at the donated funds are just one way in which the Jerry Lewis' McDonald's Restaurants give back to the communities in which they do business.

The 2011 MAC Grant applications will be available in late first quarter of 2011 by visiting www.jerrylewismcdonalds.com/macgrants.

Lewis' franchise of McDonald's currently operates 17restaurants and employs more than 900 people in a seven county area.

Jerry Lewis' McDonald's Restaurants serve Lima, Delphos, Van Wert, Beaverdam, Bluffton, Ada, Ottawa, Hicksville, Carey, Upper Sandusky and the surrounding area communities.