World's Largest Lemonade Toast (or pretty darn close...) Taking Place at Participating Applebee's Nationwide in Honor of $3.2 Million Raised for Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation

NEWTOWN, Pa., Oct. 25, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Today, Applebee's Neighborhood Grill and Bar announced they have raised a record $500,000 during 2012 to benefit Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation's effort to fund pediatric cancer research. This marks the seventh anniversary of the annual summer fundraising campaign, which has raised $3.2 million to date for Alex's Lemonade Stand, an organization that was founded to continue the mission of Alex Scott, who dedicated her short life to helping find a cure for childhood cancers "one cup of lemonade at a time."

(Photo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20121025/PH96449A )

Tonight, nearly 200 Applebee's stores throughout the country will take part in a simultaneous lemonade toast at 7:30pm EDT in celebration of this milestone achievement.  Each participating Applebee's will give out a complimentary glass of lemonade to its guests and ask that they pause their meals to take a moment and toast to fighting pediatric cancer.  Many of these stores will have a live feed of their toast in a Google+ Hangout, which will be broadcast on a large screen at the 15^th Street location in Philadelphia, PA.  

The fundraising effort included 197 Applebee's restaurants and six Corner Bakery Cafes sponsored by The Rose Group, Apple American Group, Bloomin' Apple/Heartland Apple LLC, and Apple By The Bay, Four successful owners and operators of the Applebee's brand.

"We are extremely thankful to our guests for their generous participation in our 2012 Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation fundraiser," said Jeff Warden, CEO of The Rose Group. "Applebee's and Corner Bakery Cafe stores across the country raised more money in 2012 than in any year past. The ability of our franchisee partners to come together and pull their support for this great cause is the reason for our success.  We hope to continue to grow this outstanding program to further strengthen our fight against childhood cancer."

"The Alex's Lemonade Stand fundraiser exemplifies Neighborhood Partnerships that are central to the Applebee's brand," said Greg Flynn, CEO of Apple American Group.  "So many of our guests and associates have been touched by childhood cancer.  It is invaluable to have an opportunity to work together on a program that has and will continue to make a real difference in fighting this dreaded disease.  We are thankful that 117 of our restaurants could be a part of this wonderful program."  

Participating Applebee's restaurants across the country sold $5 paper lemons and donated $.25 from all varieties of lemonade sold toward the ALSF fundraising efforts. At Applebee's restaurants, customers who made a $5 donation received a $5 coupon for a free kid's meal or free frozen lemonade at their next visit, and were also offered entry into the Free Applebee's' for a Year contest. Additionally, local restaurants went above and beyond by hosting various events, including in-restaurant lemonade stands, contests, yard sales, family fun days, and more.

"We are so lucky to have the Applebee's and Corner Bakery Cafe as fundraising partners," said Jay Scott, Co-Executive Director of Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation. "Not only will this money help advance childhood cancer research, it will boost morale to those families battling childhood cancer everyday who see the support of these national chains contributing to the fight."

To learn more or to make a donation to Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation directly, please visit AlexsLemonade.org.

About The Rose Group  
The Rose Group, headquartered in Newtown, PA, is the 33th largest restaurant franchise company in the United States. They currently own and operate 59 Applebee's Neighborhood Grill and Bar restaurants in eastern Pennsylvania, Maryland, New Jersey and Delaware. The company is the first franchisee for Corner Bakery Cafe, operating six cafes in Eastern Pennsylvania. The Rose Group also co-owns and operates two Shannon Rose restaurants, an independent Irish pub and restaurant in North Jersey. More information on The Rose Group can be found on their website at www.therosegroup.com.

About Apple American Group  
Apple American Group LLC owns and operates 436 Applebee's Neighborhood Grill and Bar restaurants in 23 states.  With annualized sales of over $1.1B and over 25,000 employees, Apple American is the largest franchisee in the Applebee's system, the largest U.S. casual dining franchisee, and the second largest franchisee of any concept in the U.S.  More information is available at www.appleamerican.com.

About Bloomin' Apple/Heartland Apple, LLC  
Bloomin' Apple/Heartland Apple LLC headquartered in Charleston, South Carolina owns and operates 19 Applebee's locations throughout Iowa, Illinois and Wisconsin. With over 35 years of restaurant experience behind them, Kevin Allardice, Marianne Allardice and Andrew Robertson have built a company based on the very principles stated in their Mission Statement: to be the employer of choice, to exceed guest's expectations and to grow and create opportunities within the company.

About Apple By The Bay  
Apple By The Bay is headquartered in San Jose, CA and currently owns and operates 12 Applebee's Neighborhood Grill and Bar restaurants throughout Northern and Central California.

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 $55 million toward fulfilling Alex's dream of finding a cure, funding over 250 pediatric cancer research projects nationally. For more information on Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation, visit AlexsLemonade.org.
 

SOURCE The Rose Group