GLENDALE, Calif., Aug. 30, 2017 /PRNewswire/ -- Applebee's®
Neighborhood Grill + Bar restaurants surpassed their $1 million goal and raised more than $1.3 million for Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation
during the chain's annual campaign, from Monday, June 26 to Sunday,
July 30, 2017. Applebee's restaurants have built lemonade
stands to raise money for the Foundation since its founding in
2005. Over the past 13 years, Applebee's restaurants across the
country have raised more than $8
million to help fund childhood cancer research and family
support programs.
Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation fights childhood cancer one cup
of lemonade at a time in honor of founder, Alexandra Scott, who held her first front-yard
lemonade stand when she was battling cancer at just four years old.
Alexandra's mission was to raise funds and awareness of childhood
cancer for research into new treatments and cures, and to inspire
others to get involved and make a difference for children with
cancer.
"We are truly grateful for the efforts of our Applebee's
partners and so proud of them for reaching this incredible goal of
more than $1.3 million raised," said
Liz Scott, Alex's mom and
co-executive director, Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation.
"Applebee's has been with us from the beginning of our Foundation,
and they understand how little government funding is dedicated to
childhood cancer research despite the fact that one in 285 children
are diagnosed with cancer by the age of 201. This
weekend marks the beginning of Childhood Cancer Awareness Month,
and we hope awareness of successful corporate partnerships, such as
Applebee's, allows us to inspire others and carry out Alex's legacy
and memory."
"Each year, more and more of our franchise partners and
restaurants join our campaign with Alex's, allowing us to make even
more of an impact in many of our Applebee's neighborhoods across
the country, uniting team members and guests with a common goal of
curing childhood cancers," said John
Cywinski, president, Applebee's. "I would like to extend a
heartfelt thank you to our franchisees, their team members and,
most importantly, our guests, for turning lemons into lemonade in
the name of Alex Scott in our shared
fight against childhood cancers."
As one of the largest casual dining chains in the country,
nearly 1,100 Applebee's restaurants across the country joined this
year's campaign by donating portions of lemonade sales, selling
paper lemons and hosting a series of events like lemonade stands,
golf tournaments and donation nights.
For more information on the partnership between Alex's Lemonade
Stand Foundation and Applebee's, please visit
https://www.alexslemonade.org/campaign/business-partners/applebees.
About Applebee's®
Applebee's Neighborhood Grill + Bar
offers a lively casual dining experience combining simple,
craveable American fare, classic drinks and local drafts. All
Applebee's restaurants are owned and operated by entrepreneurs
dedicated to serving their communities and offering quality food
and drinks with genuine, neighborly service. Applebee's is one of
the world's largest casual dining brands; as of June 30, 2017, there are nearly 2,000 Applebee's
franchise restaurants in all 50 states, Puerto
Rico, Guam and 15 other countries. Applebee's is
franchised by subsidiaries of DineEquity, Inc. [NYSE: DIN], which
is one of the world's largest full-service restaurant
companies.
Visit us: www.applebees.com
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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 $140 million toward
fulfilling Alex's dream of finding a cure, funding over 690
pediatric cancer research projects nationally. For more information
on Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation, visit AlexsLemonade.org.
1 Source: Cancer Facts & Figures 2014, American
Cancer Society:
http://www.cancer.org/research/cancerfactsstatistics/cancerfactsfigures2014/
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SOURCE Applebee's Neighborhood Grill & Bar