Community
April 13, 2005
Friendly’s “Cones For Kids” Serves Easter Seals with $765,000 24-Year Tradition Continues Its Support of People with Disabilities| Contact: | ||
| Kristen Barnfield, Easter Seals P: 312.551.7147 kbarnfield@easterseals.com www.easterseals.com |
....or.... | Gillian Begin, Friendly Ice Cream Corporation P: 413.543.2400 gillian.begin@friendlys.com www.friendlys.com |
FRIENDLY'S "CONES FOR KIDS" SERVES EASTER SEALS WITH $765,000 24-YEAR TRADITION CONTINUES ITS SUPPORT OF PEOPLE WITH DISABILITIES
Chicago, April 11, 2005 - Paying tribute to 24 years of "Cones for Kids," Friendly Ice Cream Corporation today announced results of it's annual Valentine's Day fundraiser to benefit Easter Seals - raising a total of $765,000 for the 2005 campaign.
Since 1981, Friendly's has played a key role in supporting Easter Seals and the many children and adults living with disabilities the organization serves. Through "Cones for Kids," employees at Friendly's restaurants up-and-down the East Coast have raised more than $22 million to date. Beginning Jan. 3, 2005 through Feb. 20, 2005, Friendly's asked guests of their local restaurants to donate a dollar to Easter Seals. In return, Friendly's provided restaurant guests with either a Kids' Valentine's Day card, redeemable for Five Free Friendly's Kid Cones, or a valuable Adult Coupon Booklet worth more than $35. The coupons included savings for various Friendly's meals and ice cream, as well as a free 8"x10" color portrait from JCPenney Portraits.
"Friendly's employees and guests just feel good about giving to "Cones for Kids," a campaign that's been at the heart of our company for nearly 25 years," John L. Cutter, president and chief executive officer of Friendly Ice Cream Corporation, said during a "Cones for Kids" celebration today. "'Cones for Kids' is good for business and, with Easter Seals, we know our contributions go to help people."
The dollars raised through "Cones for Kids" help Easter Seals provide such comprehensive programs and services as medical rehabilitation, assistive technology, inclusive child care, adult day centers, and even camping and recreation for children and adults with disabilities.
"Each year, Friendly's employees do everything they can to engage restaurant guests and local communities in truly rallying around our cause," said James E. Williams, Jr., president and chief executive officer of Easter Seals. "Their commitment to Easter Seals makes life better for children and adults living with disabilities. "
Friendly Ice Cream Corporation is a vertically integrated restaurant company service signature sandwiches, entrees and ice cream desserts in a friendly, family environment in over 530 company and franchised restaurants throughout the Northeast. The company also manufactures ice cream, which is distributed through more than 4,500 supermarkets and other retail locations. With a 69-year operating history, Friendly's enjoys strong brand recognition and is currently remodeling its restaurants and introducing new products to grow its customer base. Additional information on Friendly Ice Cream Corporation can be found at www.friendlys.com.
For 85 years, Easter Seals has been providing services that help children and adults with disabilities gain greater independence. Our primary services - medical rehabilitation, job training and employment, child care, adult day centers, and camping and recreation - benefit more than 1 million individuals with disabilities and their families each year through more than 500 centers nationwide. See great things at www.easterseals.com.
