BURGER KING(SM) Scholars Program Awards $2.4 Million In Scholarships To Students Throughout North America

MIAMI, June 5, 2013 /PRNewswire/ -- The BURGER KING^SM Scholars program today announced that it has just awarded more than $2.4 million in scholarships to high school graduates in the U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico. For the third consecutive year, three $50,000 James W. McLamore WHOPPER™ Scholarship Awards, ten $5,000 regional scholarships and 2,203 students were awarded $1,000 scholarships.

The BURGER KING^SM Scholars program is the premier program of the BURGER KING McLAMORE^SM Foundation, established in honor of BURGER KING^® Co-Founder James W. McLamore, whose commitment to philanthropy and education made him a pillar of community service throughout his lifetime. Since the program's inception, the BURGER KING McLAMORE^SM Foundation has awarded a total of 19,279 scholarships – more than $20 million -- to high school seniors, BURGER KING^® employees and their spouses/domestic partners and children across the U.S., Canada and Puerto Rico.

"The BURGER KING McLAMORE^SM Foundation has long been an advocate for enriching the academic experience," said Jill Granat, president, BURGER KING McLAMORE^SM Foundation. "There is no more important investment we can make than in our next generation of bright, young minds. We wish our recipients all the best on what is sure to be a great path for the future."

Scholarship recipients were selected based on their grade point average, extracurricular activities, community service and/or work experience. Both BURGER KING^® employees and nonemployees are eligible to apply. More than 20 percent of this year's scholarships were awarded to employees or children of employees, including one of the James W. McLamore WHOPPER™ Scholarship Awards. And the 2013 class is a stellar example of everything the scholarships were designed to foster.

From volunteering at a nursery for young children and mentoring younger students to membership in the marching band and a capella choir, this year's group of scholars has interests as diverse as their backgrounds.  But the one thing they all have in common is the desire to work hard and "pay it forward." 

For Brianna Payton, of Farmington, Michigan, a National Honor Society student and captain of her school's Varsity Tennis team, paying it forward comes in the form of membership in groups like  Interact Impact, a community service club, as well as organizations like the STRIKE (Students That Rise to Increase Knowledge for Everyone) Diversity and Achievement Team, which implements a student assistance program aimed at closing the academic achievement gap between minority and non-minority students. 

For others, like Danielle Spencer, of Shavertown, Pennsylvania, volunteer work is a driving force.  Danielle went to Hoboken, New Jersey the weekend after Hurricane Sandy where she worked distributing supplies with the National Guard as well as covering shifts for multiple Emergency Medical Technicians during her time on site. She also helps out at her high school by organizing CPR classes for faculty and staff. 

A key contributor to the BURGER KING℠ Scholars program, the BURGER KING^® franchisee community understands the power of supporting students like Brianna and Danielle. They know that these scholarship awards help students offset the cost of attending college or a post-secondary vocational/technical school.

"As a long-time supporter of the BURGER KING℠ Scholars program, we believe it is important to provide students with the opportunity to advance their education and achieve personal goals," said Jerry Mitchell, president, Twoton, Inc., a BURGER KING^® franchisee since 1967. "We work and live in a time where it has become increasingly expensive to pursue a higher education and we are very proud to be able to give so many deserving students in our area extra money for school."

Students throughout the United States, Puerto Rico and Canada are eligible for the scholarships. For more information on the program, including instructions for obtaining scholarship applications for 2014, please visit www.bkmclamorefoundation.org. 

ABOUT THE BURGER KING McLAMORE^SM FOUNDATION
The BURGER KING McLAMORE^SM Foundation is a 501(C) (3) not-for-profit public charity, whose global effort is aimed at supporting the advancement of education around the world. Inspired by BURGER KING^® co-founder James W. McLamore, its mission is to make a positive impact in our communities by building brighter futures through education and providing hardship assistance to members of the BURGER KING^® family. The BURGER KING McLAMORE^SM Foundation also partners with select charitable organizations worldwide that share its mission of advancing education. The BURGER KING McLAMORE^SM Foundation is an integral part of Burger King Worldwide's BK Positive Steps^® corporate responsibility program. To learn more about the BURGER KING McLAMORE^SM Foundation, visit www.bkmclamorefoundation.org, follow us on Facebook or Twitter, or call 305-378-3186.

ABOUT BURGER KING WORLDWIDE, INC.
Founded in 1954, BURGER KING® (NYSE: BKW) is the second largest fast food hamburger chain in the world. The original HOME OF THE WHOPPER®, the BURGER KING® system operates in over 13,000 locations serving more than 11 million guests daily in 88 countries and territories worldwide. Approximately 99 percent of BURGER KING® restaurants are owned and operated by independent franchisees, many of them family-owned operations that have been in business for decades. To learn more about Burger King Worldwide, please visit the company's website at www.bk.com or follow us on Facebook and Twitter.

SOURCE BURGER KING McLAMORE(SM) Foundation