Rita's Ice Cream Franchise Raises Over UZSD0.5m For Charity
Posted on: 30/08/2006
Over half-a-million dollars raised by Rita's for Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation.
In July, Rita's Ices, Cones, Shakes and Other Cool Stuff, the nation's largest Italian Ice chain, concluded a nationwide campaign for Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation. The month-long campaign raised $508,000 to help fight childhood cancer.
On Monday, August 28, an oversized check was presented to Alex's parents, Liz and Jay Scott, by Jim Rudolph, CEO of Rita's Water Ice Franchise Company LLC and Ron Calvy, owner of Rita's in Ocean City, New Jersey. The Ocean City location raised over $8,000, the most of any store in the system. The check represented proceeds from the sale of more than 450,000 paper lemons at over 380 Rita's locations nationwide and a $15,000 cash contribution from Rita's Water Ice Franchise Company LLC, the brand's parent company.
The paper lemons, which included the purchaser's name, were displayed throughout July at local Rita's Walls of Hope. Rita's also permanently renamed its lemon ice to "Alex's Lemonade" in honour of the late Alexandra "Alex" Scott who, while suffering from neuroblastoma, set up a lemonade stand to raise money to fight childhood cancer. This unique lemonade stand drew considerable attention and inspired thousands nationwide to host lemonade stands in her honour. As of August 2006, Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation had raised more than $8 million.
"The generosity of Rita's and its customers is really amazing," said Jay Scott. "It's incredible how Alex's legacy continues through the support of so many people."
"We were pleasantly surprised by the results of this effort," said Jim Rudolph, CEO of Rita's Water Ice Franchise Company LLC. "Our customers, along with almost everyone else continue to be touched by the strength and courage that Alex Scott displayed throughout her all-too-short life."
"The success we achieved in Ocean City was due to a tremendous team effort," said Ron Calvy, Rita's franchise partner in Ocean City. "Everybody pitched in, was persistent and the results speak for itself."
Alex's Lemonade Stand was founded by a young cancer patient, Alexandra "Alex" Scott. For four years, despite her deteriorating health, Alex held an annual lemonade stand to raise money for childhood cancer research. Following her inspirational example, thousands of lemonade stands have been held across the country by children, schools, businesses and organizations, all to benefit Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation.
As of today, her national campaign has raised over 6 million dollars for paediatric cancer research. Alex died peacefully in August, 2004. Her family is committed to continuing with her legacy through her foundation, Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation until a cure for all childhood cancers is found.
Today Rita's is the nation's largest Italian Ice chain with more than 380 locations operating and another 30 under construction throughout the East Coast and as far west as Ohio. Rita's was recently named one of the Top 25 Franchise High Performers by the Wall Street Journal's 'Start-up Journal.'
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