West Hills, Sunland McDonald's To Benefit Tierra Del Sol

CHATSWORTH, CA — Erik Sydow's brief, yet heartfelt obituary for his late sister, Karen, touched hundreds of thousands of Twitter users earlier this month. Michael Teck came across the story and immediately knew he wanted to organize something in Karen's honor.

Teck owns and operates a McDonald's in West Hills and Northridge, and decided to organize a fundraiser for Tierra Del Sol, a nonprofit organization that empowers individuals with developmental disabilities. Karen Sydow had cerebral palsy and did physical therapy and music classes at the organization's Sunland location.

On Friday between 12 and 7 p.m., the West Hills McDonald's will donate 50 percent of its proceeds to Tierra Del Sol, with the McDonald's Southern California owner/operators matching donations up to $15,000. Additionally, The Coca-Cola Company will donate the proceeds from every Coca-Cola bought during the fundraiser, as the soda was a staple of Karen Sydow's go-to order.

Teck anticipates Friday's fundraiser will bring in about $15,000 to $20,000. On Oct. 8, a McDonald's in Sunland will run the same fundraiser.

Teck become aware of Karen's story because of her love for McDonald's. Erik Sydow wrote that his sister could only say three words due to her cerebral palsy: mom, piano and Donalds, referring to her favorite restaurant McDonald's.

Further intensifying Teck's call to action was Karen Sydow's connection Tierra Del Sol; Teck's West Valley McDonald's partners with the organization to place employees as part of their workplace development program. Teck said there are currently two employees working at his West Valley location that came from Tierra Del Sol.

"We were so touched by the story. Knowing that we work with them, and knowing that [McDonald's] was Karen's favorite — one of only three words that she spoke — we just felt that we had to do something to recognize her and do something that I know she and her brother would appreciate," Teck said.

Friday's fundraiser will be at the McDonald's at 6433 Platt Avenue, and the fundraiser on Oct. 8 will be at 7950 Foothill Boulevard.