Dunkin’ Donuts is making National Donut Day a little sweeter with a special free nationwide donut offer to help people celebrate the joy and fun of donuts. On June 4, 2010, participating Dunkin’ Donuts restaurants nationwide will offer every guest a free donut of their choice, with the purchase of any beverage, limit one per customer.

Also on National Donut Day, Dunkin’ Donuts will announce the winner of its second annual “Create Dunkin’s Next Donut” contest. From nearly 90,000 donut creations submitted online, a dozen finalists traveled to Dunkin’ Donuts University in Braintree, Massachusetts, earlier this month to compete in a bake-off competition before Dunkin’ Donuts’ culinary team and company leaders. One of the 12 finalists will win a $12,000 grand prize and have his or her winning donut sold in participating Dunkin’ Donuts restaurants throughout the country.

National Donut Day, held the first Friday of June each year, was founded by the Chicago Salvation Army in 1938 to honor the women who served donuts to soldiers in World War I. According to John Costello, chief global customer and marketing officer at Dunkin’ Brands, Dunkin’ Donuts is making it easy and affordable for people to enjoy this event.

“Donuts have a special place in our country’s history and culture, creating moments of genuine delight and bringing people together at home, work, and at play,” Costello says. “To celebrate this American classic snack, we invite everyone to visit Dunkin’ Donuts on National Donut Day to enjoy a free donut with any beverage purchase.”