Global Franchise Group Announces Partnership with The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society

ATLANTA, Aug. 1, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Global Franchise Group, the strategic brand management company, is pleased to announce their partnership with The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society (LLS) for fundraising efforts beginning on August 1st through September 30th. The company has set a goal of raising $200,000 during their partnership period. The Global Franchise Group family of brands includes Great American Cookies®, Marble Slab Creamery®, MaggieMoo's Ice Cream & Treatery®, and Pretzelmaker®. The brands are managed by GFG Management, LLC, a subsidiary of Global Franchise Group.   

"We are honored to be partnering with the world's largest voluntary health agency: The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society," says Chris Dull, President and CEO of GFG Management, LLC. "By setting a goal of $200,000 we are helping to make a difference in the lives of so many patients and their families. We look forward to supporting LLS and furthering their important life-changing research."

LLS is a charity with the goal of curing leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease and myeloma while improving the quality of life for patients and their families. With over 61 chapters in the United States and Canada, this organization has been instrumental in funding blood cancer research raising more than $814 million since 1949, and raising $76 million in 2011 alone. Through a variety of activations including the Light The Night® Walk, LLS has continued to improve the lives of those suffering from these diseases and their loved ones.

Through its company-wide initiative Global Franchise Group is encouraging its customers to visit stores and purchase paper balloon icons as a donation to LLS to help fund cancer research and patient services. In addition to the paper balloon icon program, Global Franchise Group will participate in Light The Night Walks throughout the country. The Light The Night Walk is LLS's evening walk campaign held in communities nationwide each fall to honor and commemorate lives touched by cancer and raise funds to support blood cancer research and help patients and their families.

"We look forward to adding Global Franchise Group to our support team in the fight to cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease and myeloma," said Kaye Skonieczny, Senior National Director, Partnership Development from LLS. "Their donation goal of $200,000 is very generous and will help us continue to fund research and provide care for those in need."

For more information, to participate in a nearby walk or to donate to the cause, check out Global Franchise Group's corporate donation page (http://pages.lightthenight.org/2012/globalfranchisegroup).

Facts about blood cancers:

• An estimated 1,012,533 people in the US are living with, or are in remission from, leukemia, Hodgkin lymphoma, non-Hodgkin lymphoma or myeloma.
• Every four minutes someone is diagnosed with blood cancer.
• Every 10 minutes someone dies from blood cancer.
• Leukemia is the leading cause of cancer death of children and young adults under the age of 20.
• Of 50 new cancer drugs approved by the F.D.A. in the last decade, 21 were approved as treatments for blood cancer patients.

About Global Franchise Group, LLC www.globalfranchise.com

Global Franchise Group, LLC is a strategic brand management company with a focus on franchising. The company owns a portfolio of franchise brands that includes five quick service restaurant (QSR) franchise concepts: Great American Cookies®, MaggieMoo's Ice Cream & Treatery®, Marble Slab Creamery®, Pretzelmaker® and Pretzel Time®, as well as two retail franchise concepts: TAF® and Shoebox New York®. The brands are managed by GFG Management, LLC, a subsidiary of Global Franchise Group, LLC. Global Franchise Group, LLC is an affiliate of Levine Leichtman Capital Partners, an independent investment firm, with approximately $5 billion of capital under management and substantial franchise management experience.

About The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society

The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society® (LLS) is the world's largest voluntary health agency dedicated to blood cancer. The LLS mission: Cure leukemia, lymphoma, Hodgkin's disease and myeloma, and improve the quality of life of patients and their families. LLS funds lifesaving blood cancer research around the world and provides free information and support services.  

Founded in 1949 and headquartered in White Plains, NY, LLS has chapters throughout the United States and Canada. To learn more, visit www.LLS.org or contact the Information Resource Center at (800) 955-4572, Monday through Friday, 9 a.m. to 6 p.m. ET. www.lls.org.

SOURCE Global Franchise Group