Tropical Smoothie Cafe Raises $365,000 For Camp Sunshine Through Annual National Flip Flop Day Fundraiser

Donation Will Send 150 Children with Life-Threatening Illnesses and Their Families to Camp

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Aug 08, 2012, 12:53 ET

DESTIN, Fla., Aug. 8, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Tropical Smoothie Cafe has done it again with its annual National Flip Flop Day event raising $365,000 for Camp Sunshine. The campaign, which kicked off in May with in-store fundraising at the brand's more than 300 locations, as well as online donations, culminated on National Flip Flop Day on June 15 with free smoothies for customers wearing flip flops. To date, Tropical Smoothie Cafe has raised more than $1.5 million for Camp Sunshine.

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20120808/CL54425 )

Camp Sunshine is a retreat based in Casco, Maine whose mission is focused solely on addressing the effects of a life-threatening illness on every member of the immediate family – the ill child, the parents, and the siblings. The year-round program is free of charge to families. Money raised from Tropical Smoothie Cafe will send 150 children and their families from across the country to camp for a week of games and activities.

At their current fundraising rate of up to $400,000 per year, Tropical Smoothie Cafe is expected to raise over $2 million for Camp Sunshine during the next five years. Of this $2 million, the company has pledged $1 million toward endowing a full weeklong session at Camp Sunshine every year – Tropical Smoothie Cafe Week. All other funds raised will continue to sponsor families on an annual basis, in addition to funding the ongoing costs associated with Tropical Smoothie Cafe Week.

"I'm proud of all of the hard work that our franchisees and employees put into making this year's National Flip Flop Day such a huge success, and I want to thank our loyal customers for once again, stepping up and showing their unwavering support," said Mike Rotondo, COO, Tropical Smoothie Cafe. "It's important for us to be able to give back to the communities and families where we live and work."

"Despite an otherwise tough economic climate for many businesses, Tropical Smoothie Cafe continues to stand out, with its leadership rallying its team and inspiring its customers so that children with life-threatening illnesses and their families from around the country can find respite at Camp Sunshine," said Matthew M. Hoidal, Esq., executive director of Camp Sunshine. "This gift today, coupled with the $1 million commitment toward Camp Sunshine's endowment, is historic, and will have lasting positive impacts on Camp Sunshine's future."

Tropical Smoothie Cafe franchisee Dana Bush, and her team in Port Jefferson Station, NY, raised the most money in the system, bringing in nearly $12,000.

About Tropical Smoothie Cafe
Founded in Destin, Fla., in 1997, Tropical Smoothie Cafe is in a niche category of the quick service restaurant industry providing diners with healthier food with a tropical twist. Tropical Smoothie franchised locations offer made-to-order toasted wraps, flatbreads, sandwiches and gourmet salads, while continuing to provide consumers with a variety of high-quality real fruit smoothies. Tropical Smoothie Cafe includes dine-in, take-out and catering menu options for breakfast, lunch and dinner, available through online ordering. For more information on Tropical Smoothie Cafe, please visit www.tropicalsmoothiecafe.com, www.facebook.com/tropicalsmoothiecafe or call 888-292-2522.

Media Contact:
Kathy Siefert
404-441-3669/ [email protected]

SOURCE Tropical Smoothie Cafe