Cleveland Kidnapping Hero Charles Ramsey To Receive Free McDonald's For A Year

By Chuck Sudo in News on May 24, 2013 2:25PM

Charles Ramsey

Charles Ramsey, the Cleveland man who became a national sensation when he put down his Big Mac to help rescue Amanda Berry escape the home where she was held prisoner for nearly 10 years, will receive free McDonald’s for a year, the Golden Arches announced Thursday. Any publicity is good publicity, eh?

McDonald’s spokeswoman Heidi Barker said McDonald’s franchisees near where Ramsey lives have offered him free food at their restaurants but didn’t share the details of their outreach “out of respect for the survivors of this harrowing ordeal and the ongoing investigation.” McDonald's also made a $10,000 donation in the names of the three women and Ramsey to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. (Ramsey has said any reward money related to rescuing the women should go to them.)

Ramsey famously said in televised interviews and a 911 call he was eating a Big Mac when he heard and saw Berry on the street calling for help. McDonald's praised Ramsey as a hero on their Twitter feed in the wake of the rescue of Berry, Gina DeJesus, Michelle Knight and Berry's 6-year-old daughter, who was born while Berry was held captive. Ariel Castro, who has been charged in the kidnappings, is being held on $8 million bail.

McDonald’s isn’t the only restaurant to offer Ramsey free food. Twelve restaurants, including four owned by Ramsey’s boss Scott Kuhn, have offered Ramsey a “Chuck Card” good for a free burger anytime he wants to visit their restaurants. Hodges restaurant, where Ramsey works as a dishwasher, created a “Ramsey burger” as a tribute. The play on the Big Mac actually sounds better than the real deal, with eight ounces of certified Angus beef. Kuhn said, "We want to honor our local hero with local food.”

Personally speaking, we'd take that offer over free Big Macs for a year.