Rita's Italian Ice Donates $300,000 To Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation Toward The Fight Against Childhood Cancer

TREVOSE, Pa., July 29, 2014 /PRNewswire/ -- Rita's Italian Ice, the world's largest Italian Ice concept, announced today it raised $300,000 for long-time partner Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation (ALSF), a national nonprofit dedicated to finding cures for all kids with cancer.  A check presentation will take place Wednesday, July 30^th at 9:30 a.m. at Rita's Cool Support Center, in Trevose, PA, with Liz & Jay Scott, Alex's parents and Co-Executive Directors of ALSF, accepting the donation from Jeff Moody, Rita's Chief Executive Officer.  Childhood cancer survivors and their hero families will be in attendance and will learn how to make and scoop Rita's famous Italian Ice following the check presentation.

Throughout the month of June, thousands of guests from Rita's locations across the country contributed to the fundraiser by adding their name to a paper lemon for $1. The paper lemons created a "Wall of Hope" at each store to demonstrate the local community's support of ALSF, with the funds going toward Rita's "Fund of Hope," a travel fund endowment that will help families with children battling cancer travel to receive the treatment that can help save their lives. Rita's has donated over $3.9 million throughout the past 9 years, including $300,000 this June.

"We're proud to support ALSF and the fight against childhood cancer for our 9th year in a row," said Jeff Moody, Chief Executive Officer, Rita's. "The support toward ALSF from Rita's Guests, Franchisees and Treat Team Members this past June was simply amazing, and I am thrilled to present ALSF with $300,000 on behalf of the entire Rita's community."   

Since 2006, Rita's has been a top corporate fundraising partner of ALSF with their system-wide annual paper lemon campaign and other local fundraising initiatives.  Rita's in Boyertown, PA, who has collectively raised over $117,000 over the years, held their 9^th annual Head Shaving Event in June to honor children battling cancer. Rita's in Rochester, NY raised over $50,000 this year alone, with help from their local community, and broke Rita's record for highest annual store contribution to date. 

"We are amazed at the continued support year-after-year from Rita's, their franchisees, treat team members and guests," said Jay Scott, Alex's father and Co-Executive Director of ALSF. "We couldn't do what we do without their passion and effort, and we sincerely thank them for their generous contributions toward helping children with cancer."

In honor of the Foundation's namesake, the late Alexandra "Alex" Scott, Rita's renamed its Lemon Italian Ice flavor—"Alex's Lemonade."  Lemon, one of Rita's original Italian Ice flavors is still one of the company's most popular flavors today. 

About Rita's Franchise Company
Rita's Franchise Company, whose business is treats and mission is happiness, was founded 30 years ago, and is headquartered in Trevose, PA.  Rita's is the largest Italian Ice concept in the world, with over 600 stores in the U.S., and 85 more opening soon. The popular chain offers a variety of "Cool Treats" including its famous Italian Ice, made fresh daily with real fruit, available in over sixty-five flavors, Old-Fashioned Frozen Custard, Sundaes, Light Custard, Frozen Custard Cakes, Custard Cookie Sandwiches made with OREO®, layered Gelati as well as its signature Misto® and Blendini® creations.  Since 1984, Rita's has been dedicated to serving up a big dose of happiness with their freshly made, delicious, custom treats, in a fun-filled atmosphere, and thirty years later, they are still spreading "Ice, Custard, Happiness!" Get Rita's. Get Happy! For more information about Rita's Franchise Opportunities please visit:  www.ownaritas.com or for more information please call   1-800-677-7482 or visit www.ritasice.com.

About Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation
Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation (ALSF) emerged from the front yard lemonade stand of cancer patient Alexandra "Alex" Scott (1996-2004). In 2000, 4-year-old Alex announced that she wanted to hold a lemonade stand to raise money to help find a cure for all children with cancer. Since Alex held that first stand, the Foundation bearing her name has evolved into a national fundraising movement, complete with thousands of supporters across the country carrying on her legacy of hope. To date, Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation, a registered 501(c)3 charity, has raised more than $80 million toward fulfilling Alex's dream of finding a cure, funding over 450 pediatric cancer research projects nationally. For more information on Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation, visit AlexsLemonade.org.

SOURCE Rita's Italian Ice