SONIC® Heads Back to School with $500,000 in Teacher Grants in Tow

OKLAHOMA CITY, Aug. 29, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- With the annual passage of children back to classrooms underway, SONIC Drive-In is renewing its commitment to education with the official launch of the 2011 Limeades for Learning campaign.

(Logo:  http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20110829/CG58741LOGO )

Today marks the third year of the nationwide cause initiative that gives consumers the power to direct more than half a million dollars in grants to public school teachers and their students. Partnering with DonorsChoose.org, SONIC has donated more than $1.3 million to funding teachers' projects since the debut of the campaign two years ago in 2009.

"We couldn't be more excited for the start of another school year and another opportunity to support local classrooms through Limeades for Learning," said Danielle Vona, chief marketing officer for Sonic Corp. "By the end of this year's campaign, SONIC and its franchise partners will have donated more than $2 million toward funding teacher projects, but even more important is the number of teachers and students impacted, inspired and empowered thanks to SONIC customers."

This year's campaign adds even more ways to make a difference in local classrooms. There are three ways to vote for your favorite classroom project at LimeadesforLearning.com:

• Anyone with a valid email address can vote online for their favorite teacher project once per day.
• Customers can visit their local drive-ins and receive two extra votes with any SONIC purchase. Vote codes are provided on special bag stickers.
• Receive two extra vote codes sent via email after voting 10 times.

Also part of the 2011 edition of Limeades is the potential for voting rewards. If 1.5 million votes are cast by September 30, SONIC will unlock an additional $100,000 to fund more projects and affect more students.  Voters will receive a coupon for a free medium Cherry Limeade. It all adds up to empowered teachers and inspired students.

The number of SONIC teacher projects – seeking support  for everything from literature to science to art supplies – was more than 7,000 as of August 29. The projects with the most votes each week are awarded grants throughout the month of September.

The need for support and supplies in the classroom has never been greater. According to DonorsChoose.org, teachers spend $1 billion annually out of their own pockets for basic supplies and inspirational and creative learning materials. For five weeks this September, SONIC, its franchise partners and everyday Americans are partnering to provide classroom experiences that might not be possible otherwise.

For more information on Limeades for Learning and how teachers, students and customers can get involved, please visit LimeadesforLearning.com.

About SONIC Drive-In

SONIC®, America's Drive-In® (NASDAQ/NM: SONC) started as a hamburger and root beer stand in 1953 in Shawnee, Okla., called Top Hat Drive-In, and then changed its name to SONIC in 1959. The first drive-in to adopt the SONIC name is still serving customers in Stillwater, Okla. As the nation's largest chain of drive-in restaurants, SONIC has more than 3,500 drive-ins in 43 states coast to coast. Approximately 3 million customers eat at SONIC every day; and with more drink combinations than any other quick-service restaurant – 398,929 – SONIC is Your Ultimate Drink Stop®. For more information about Sonic Corp. and its subsidiaries, visit SONIC at SonicDriveIn.com. Through Limeades for Learning®, SONIC and its franchise partners have donated more than $1.3 million dollars to public school classrooms in local communities across the country. Visit www.LimeadesforLearning.com to learn more about SONIC's commitment to education.

About DonorsChoose.org

Founded in 2000, DonorsChoose.org (www.donorschoose.org) is a nonprofit website where public school teachers describe specific educational projects for their students, and donors can choose the projects they want to support. To date, almost 186,000 public and charter school teachers have used the site to secure funding for $86 million in books, art supplies, technology, and other resources that have supported 5 million students.

FOR INFORMATION, CONTACT:
Sarah Ferguson
816.969.9772
[email protected]

SOURCE SONIC Drive-In