May is Teacher Appreciation Month in South Carolina, and as the founding sponsor of this important month of recognition, Bojangles’ hosted a Teacher Appreciation Breakfast for the state’s 82 District Teachers of the Year. During this event held at Trinity Cathedral in Columbia, South Carolina, Bojangles’ announced that it has once again partnered with statewide nonprofit South Carolina Future Minds to raise funds to support public education in South Carolina and continue honoring one of the state’s most valuable resources: teachers.
Beginning Monday, May 19 through Sunday, June 1, Bojangles’ is inviting its customers to honor teachers past and present who have made a difference in their lives by purchasing a symbolic apple, $1 for red or $5 for green, at more than 100 participating Bojangles’ across the state. Customers will write the name of the teacher they would like to honor on each apple, which will be featured on the walls of Bojangles’ restaurants.
All funds raised will support public education through the work of South Carolina Future Minds, a nonprofit dedicated to serving the needs of the 700,000 students, 50,000 teachers, and nearly 1,200 schools in South Carolina’s public education system.
“South Carolina Future Minds is dedicated to the vision for public school excellence in our great State. Bojangles’ Teacher Appreciation Month fundraiser contributes much needed financial support for better curriculums, as well as improved classrooms and materials for thousands of teachers and students from the Upstate to the Lowcountry,” says South Carolina Future Minds executive director Trip DuBard.
In addition to the Teacher Appreciation Month fundraiser, participating Bojangles’ throughout the state will treat teachers to a free Legendary Iced Tea or other beverage with any purchase beginning Monday, May 5, through Saturday, May 31.
“At Bojangles’, we believe in giving back to the communities we serve, and we’re proud to partner with South Carolina Future Minds to continue honoring hard-working educators during South Carolina Teacher Appreciation Month,” says Bojangles’ president and CEO Clifton Rutledge. “We have all experienced the positive impact of a caring and committed teacher, so we’re honored to play even a small part in supporting their efforts.”
At the Bojangles’ Teacher Appreciation Breakfast, Bojangles’ also surprised the newly named South Carolina Teacher of the Year Jennifer Ainsworth of Horry County School District with a five-night Caribbean cruise, in addition to randomly drawing the name of Orangeburg 5 County Teacher of the Year William Burgess to receive another cruise. The company will award a third cruise at the end of Teacher Appreciation Month by randomly selecting a teacher nominated on www.scfutureminds.org, where South Carolinians are encouraged to submit names of deserving teachers for the chance to win the trip.
Bojangles’ also awarded $1,000 to Clover School District Teacher of the Year Christy Wilson, winner of the Charles S. Dickerson Award for community service, with $500 designated as a gift to Wilson, along with $500 for the nonprofit of her choice.
