mcdonald’s winners enjoy essence festival

For the past 14 years, thousands of visitors have traveled from far and wide to attend the Essence Music Festival for a fun-filled and inspirational Fourth of July holiday weekend. This year, McDonald’s gave several lucky winners from Charlotte, N.C., and Detroit the opportunity to enjoy the long-standing “party with a purpose” in ultimate VIP fashion. Check out what the winners told rolling out about their experience. –ivory m. jones 

Gwen Thomas
A Heartwarming Experience
Although this wasn’t Gwen Thomas’ first time checking out the sights and sounds of New Orleans, it was the Detroit resident’s first time attending the Essence Music Festival. “I’ve been to other festivals, but never one for black women. It’s just been a beautiful thing to see African American women have a good time,” she said.

Thomas also dined at several historic restaurants, including one of her personal favorites, the legendary eatery Dooky Chase. “It was its first weekend open [since Hurricane Katrina], but it’s coming back,” she noted.

Thomas was thrilled that McDonald’s gave her the opportunity to visit the city and attend the festival. “Hurray to McDonald’s. I’m really glad to see them continue to do the right thing in the African American community,” she said.

Sherrie and Harold Marie
Flying High
For husband and wife Harold and Sherrie Marie, winning the trip provided more than just an opportunity to attend the Essence Music Festival for the first time, it also was Sherrie’s first time traveling on an airplane.

“We travel quite a bit, but it’s usually a bit closer to home and it’s normally by automobile,” Harold explained. “I’d like to thank McDonald’s [because] they’ve done a very special job of taking good care of us. Hats off to McDonald’s.”

Doreen Brookwood
Star Treatment
From the time that their Southwest Airlines plane touched down in New Orleans, Doreen Brookwood and her friend hit the ground running. “We went to the concerts. We saw Rihanna [and] Chris Brown. We went shopping. We went to the casino. We haven’t stopped — there’s too much to do to stop,” the Havlock, N.C., native said.

Brookwood, along with the other contest winners, refueled with McDonald’s Southern Chicken Breakfast Sandwich for breakfast, while the local cuisine was saved for lunch and dinner. “I was able to try the seafood gumbo, which was heavenly,” she said.
 
Brookwood expressed her gratitude to McDonald’s for the excursion. “Thanks to McDonald’s for giving me the opportunity to be here. I’ve always wanted to travel,” she said. “I feel like I’m the celebrity.”

Michelle Ashley
First Time for Everything

For Michelle Ashley, winning a trip to the 2008 Essence Music Festival was unlike anything she had ever experienced before. Ashley said she enjoyed taking in the sights and sounds that New Orleans and the festival had to offer. “I was excited to visit Bourbon Street [and] see what the night life was about,” Ashley said.

Like her fellow winners, the North Carolina native was at a loss for words to express her  gratitude to McDonald’s for giving her such a memorable prize. “First of all, I’ve never won anything before,” she admits. “I was just really overwhelmed and very, very grateful I was able to come here.”

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