Arby's(R) Restaurants Ask Diners to Donate a Dollar in Support of Big Brothers Big Sisters

PHILADELPHIA, May 3 /PRNewswire/ -- Arby's restaurants across the country are making it quick and easy for customers to support children in their local communities.  Today through June 13, 2010 customers can stop by Arby's and add $1 to their orders to help their local Big Brothers Big Sisters agency support more kids with meaningful mentoring matches.

As part of the campaign, customers who donate will receive an Arby's "Help Us Help Kids" pin-up to sign and hang on the wall of the restaurant, as well as a coupon redeemable for $1 off a Regular, Medium or Large Roast Beef Combo or Beef 'n Cheddar Combo on their next purchase.  Arby's is hoping to top last year's grassroots effort, which raised over $2.2 million in support of Big Brothers Big Sisters, the nation's largest donor-supported network of youth mentors.

"We truly believe in this cause and have been working hard to keep the momentum going to build awareness and raise the necessary funds," said John Gray, Sr. Vice President of Corporate Communications and Public Relations, Arby's Restaurant Group, Inc.  "While people think of Big Brothers Big Sisters as a volunteer organization, it's also an effective non-profit charity that depends on donations."

Donations make it possible for Big Brothers Big Sisters to carefully match children in their programs, "Littles," with caring adult mentors, "Bigs."  The organization uses funding to provide ongoing support to volunteers, children and their families to sustain their matches so that they yield long-term, successful outcomes.  Independent research has proven "Littles" to be more confident and more likely to succeed in school and avoid negative influences such as drugs and alcohol.  

"Arby's is one of our largest corporate sponsors and we appreciate their long-standing commitment to Big Brothers Big Sisters and the communities we serve," said Karen J. Mathis, president and CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters.  "Our Arby's Foundation partners truly understand the positive impact our one-to-one mentoring programs can have in the lives of these children and their continued support is of tremendous value to our entire network."

About the Arby's Foundation

The Arby's Foundation, Inc., a non-profit 501 (c) (3) corporation, is grounded in the belief that every individual has the power to make a difference.  Since its inception in 1986, the Arby's Foundation has raised more than $48 million through Arby's Charity Tour events, in-store fundraising, community events and grant programs to support youth education and mentoring initiatives.  For the past three years, the Arby's Foundation has given $1.3 million in grants to support Big Brothers Big Sisters of America and fund the work they do in cities across the country to match kids with mentors.  For more information on the Arby's Foundation, please visit www.arbysfoundation.org.

About Arby's Restaurant Group, Inc.

Arby's Restaurant Group, Inc., based in Atlanta, is the second largest quick-service sandwich chain in the U.S. with more than 3,700 system-wide restaurants. Founded in 1964, Arby's quick-service restaurants specialize in slow roasted and freshly sliced roast beef sandwiches as well as Market Fresh® deli-style sandwiches, toasted subs, and salads, all with the convenience of a drive-thru. Arby's offers guests a unique, great tasting alternative to traditional fast food with its one-of-a-kind menu items including the Beef 'n Cheddar, Curly Fries and Jamocha shakes. Arby's Restaurant Group, Inc. is a subsidiary of Wendy's/Arby's Group, Inc. (NYSE: WEN). To learn more about Arby's, please visit www.arbys.com.

About Big Brothers Big Sisters

For more than 100 years, Big Brothers Big Sisters has operated under the belief that inherent in every child is the ability to succeed and thrive in life.  Most children served by Big Brothers Big Sisters are in single-parent and low-income families or households where a parent is incarcerated.  As the nation's largest donor and volunteer supported mentoring network, Big Brothers Big Sisters makes meaningful, monitored matches between adult volunteers ("Bigs") and children ("Littles").  

Big Brothers Big Sisters provides a system of ongoing evaluation and support, which is proven by independent studies to help families by improving the odds that "Littles" will perform better in school and avoid violence and illegal activities, and have stronger relationships with their parents and others. Headquartered in Philadelphia with a network of nearly 400 agencies across the country, Big Brothers Big Sisters serves more than 255,000 children. Learn how you can positively impact a child's life, donate or volunteer today at BigBrothersBigSisters.org.

SOURCE Big Brothers Big Sisters