Contact:

Kristen Barnfield, Easter Seals P: 312.551.7147 kbarnfield@easterseals.com www.easterseals.com Gillian Begin, Friendly Ice Cream Corporation P: 413.543.2400

Friendly’sShares a Little Holiday Cheer with Easter Seals

Proceeds from New Holiday Ornament, Awareness Bracelet and Free Kid’s MealCoupons Support Individuals Living with Disabilities

Chicago, December 5, 2005 – This holiday season, Friendly Ice Cream Corporation will spread a little extra-holiday cheer to area families living with disabilities, launching a new seasonal fundraiser to benefit Easter Seals.

 

From Thanksgiving through New Year’s Day, there are three ways that guests of Friendly’s restaurants can support Easter Seals. First, guests who donate $1 will receive a thank you coupon sheet redeemable for five free kids meals (valued at over $21). Friendly’s is also selling two holiday gift items with proceeds going to Easter Seals. For a limited time only, guests will have the opportunity to purchase a Friendly’s 70th Anniversary Collectible Ornament ($10), or a red awareness wristband showing Friendly’s support of Easter Seals ($1). Each of the items are available at local Friendly’s restaurants.

 

“The holiday items provide Friendly’s and its guests with a fun and festive opportunity to easily give back this season,” says John L. Cutter, president and chief executive officer of Friendly Ice Cream Corporation. “It’s just another way for Friendly’s to help make a difference in the lives of children and adults with disabilities. And with Easter Seals, we know every dollar raised will truly make an impact on people who live in the many communities we serve.”

 

The money raised through Friendly’s holiday campaign will 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.

 

“The new holiday items extend Friendly’s 25-year commitment to Easter Seals mission of helping people living with disabilities,” said James E. Williams, Jr., president and chief executive officer of Easter Seals. “This holiday season, the heart of Friendly’s business shines through once again.”

 

Since 1981, Friendly’s has played a key role in supporting Easter Seals and the thousands of children and adults living with disabilities the organization serves. Through its annual Valentine’s Day fundraiser, “Cones for Kids,” employees at Friendly’s restaurants up-and-down the East Coast have raised more than $22 million to date; $765,000 in 2005 alone.

 

The 2006 “Cones for Kids” fundraiser will begin January 2, 2006 and run through February 14, 2006.

About Friendly’s Ice Cream Corporation
Friendly Ice Cream Corporation is a vertically integrated restaurant company serving signature sandwiches, entrees and ice cream desserts in a friendly, family environment in over 525 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 70-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.

About Easter Seals
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 services, and camping and recreation—benefit 1.3 million individuals with disabilities and their families each year through more than 500 centers nationwide. See great stories at www.easterseals.com.