Global Franchise Group Establishes 'A Bite for the Fight' Campaign in Support of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society

ATLANTA, March  24, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Global Franchise Group (GFG), LLC, the strategic brand management company and franchisor behind Great American Cookies®, Pretzelmaker®, Marble Slab Creamery®, and MaggieMoo's Ice Cream & Treatery®, believes a tasty treat can make a difference and do a lot of good. The company announced today that it has launched its new "A Bite for the Fight" fundraising campaign which aims to reach $1 million to support The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society's (LLS) efforts to find cures and ensure access to treatments for blood cancer patients. While GFG has worked with LLS for the past two years and has already raised $600,000 to date, "A Bite for the Fight" was created to build fundraising momentum and establish LLS as the company's Charity of Choice.

"A Bite for the Fight" will launch this spring to support LLS's Light The Night Walks, a powerful and unique fundraising program that brings together families and communities to honor blood cancer survivors, as well as those lost to the diseases. Throughout the year, GFG's brands will be raising funds at Great American Cookies, Pretzelmaker, Marble Slab Creamery, and MaggieMoo's Ice Cream & Treatery locations. The "A Bite for the Fight" program also includes patient outreach, engagement with families, and special offers for supporters of LLS.

"One of the reasons we've supported LLS is the significant funds invested in research. Since its inception, LLS has invested nearly $1 billion in research, and in fiscal year 2013 alone, LLS committed to supporting nearly $74 million in research worldwide. Global Franchise Group's 'A Bight for the Fight' campaign further formalizes our partnership with LLS and Light The Night, demonstrating our commitment to its crucial mission to walk to the end of cancer," said CEO and President of Global Franchise Group, Chris Dull. "Our brands and treats bring smiles to faces and whether it's an ice cream cone, a delicious chocolate chip cookie, or a soft salted pretzel, our customers should feel good knowing we are raising funds to support a meaningful cause and helping promote smiles along the way."

"The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society is honored to be named as the Charity of Choice for Global Franchise Group. GFG's corporate office, brands and franchisees have already been such wonderful supporters of our cause as 'Special Friends' partners for the last two years," commented Mark Roithmayr, chief development officer for LLS. "It is thanks to partnerships like these that LLS has been able to raise critical funds and invest nearly $1 billion in research that is saving lives today."

For supporters interested in joining GFG's "A Bite for the Fight" program, donations can also be made online under "Customer Donations" at http://pages.lightthenight.org/2014/globalfranchisegroup.

About Global Franchise Group, LLC - www.globalfranchise.com  
Global Franchise Group, LLC is a strategic brand management company with a mission of championing franchise brands and the people who build them. The company owns a portfolio of franchise brands that includes three primary Quick Service Restaurant (QSR) franchise concepts: Great American Cookies®, Marble Slab Creamery®, and Pretzelmaker®. 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 Leukemia & Lymphoma Society – www.lls.org
LLS is the world's largest voluntary health organization dedicated to finding cures for blood cancers.  Since its founding in 1949, LLS has invested almost $1 billion in research to advance lifesaving therapies and ensure access to treatments for blood cancer patients. In fiscal year 2013, LLS supported research in the U.S., Canada, and seven other countries with a commitment of nearly $74 million. In addition, LLS provides co-pay assistance for prescription drugs and insurance premiums, free education programs, support groups & peer counseling to patients and their families. The charity also advocates for patient access to adequate networks of providers and services, protection from high out-of-pocket costs that limit access to life saving treatments, and is working with regulatory agencies to formulate clinical trial guidelines that will accelerate the development, review and approval of new therapies. 

SOURCE Global Franchise Group, LLC