Chicago, January 1, 2008 – Friendly Ice Cream Corporation today launches its traditional Valentine's Day fundraiser to benefit children and adults with disabilities. Each year since 1981, Friendly's employees and guests rally to improve the lives of people living with autism and other disabilities – raising nearly $25 million to date for Easter Seals; $1,184,000 in 2007 alone.
Between January 1 and February 14, each Friendly's Restaurant guest who makes a $1 Easter Seals donation will receive a Kids' Valentine's Day card redeemable for five free Kid ice cream cones. To increase donations, Friendly's also encourages its guests to deposit spare change in collection jugs located at the front of each restaurant.
"Even when it is cold outside, everyone loves an ice cream cone," says George M. Condos, chief executive officer and president of Friendly Ice Cream Corporation. "Our winter tradition brings a smile to the faces of countless numbers of kids, with and without disabilities, in all the communities we serve."
The dollars raised through "Cones for Kids" provide such comprehensive Easter Seals 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.
Friendly Ice Cream Corporation is a vertically integrated restaurant company serving signature sandwiches, entrees and ice cream desserts in a friendly, family environment in more than 505 company and franchised restaurants throughout the Northeast. The company also manufactures ice cream, which is distributed through more than 4,000 supermarkets and other retail locations. With a 72-year operating history, Friendly's enjoys strong brand recognition and is currently revitalizing its restaurants and introducing new products to grow its customer base. The website is www.friendlys.com.
Easter Seals is the leading non-profit provider of services for individuals with autism, developmental disabilities, physical and mental disabilities, and other special needs. For more than 85 years, we have been offering help and hope to children and adults living with disabilities, and to the families who love them. Through therapy, training, education and support services, Easter Seals creates life-changing solutions so that people with disabilities can live, learn, work and play. Support children and adults with disabilities at www.easterseals.com.
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