Tropical Smoothie Café set a donation record for its annual philanthropic event National Flip Flop Day recently.
The smoothie and sandwich chain raised $310,000 to bring comfort to critically ill children and their families. This year’s total surpassed the previous year’s $275,000, which means Tropical Smoothie Café will fund more families’ trips to Camp Sunshine than ever before.
During the month-long National Flip Flop Day campaign in June, Tropical Smoothie Café engaged its customers, crew, local businesses and franchise owners to take part in the event which supports Camp Sunshine, a national retreat for children with life-threatening illnesses and their families. The funds raised this year bring the total donations to $710,000 from Tropical Smoothie Café to Camp Sunshine since their partnership began in 2008.
“Everyone in the Tropical Smoothie Café community, from franchisees to area developers to employees, is ecstatic about the success of this year’s National Flip Flop Day celebration, and all of us are truly grateful to our loyal and wonderful customers who donated money to this worthy cause,” says Jim Valentino, the company’s president and chief operating officer.
“As we continue to surpass preceding years in the funds we raise, we look forward to reaching the $1 million mark next year in total funds raised.”
Fundraising efforts took place throughout June at each of the 285-plus Tropical Smoothie Café locations in the country and also online at www.nationalflipflopday.com.
In addition, cell-phone savvy consumers texted their donations to CAMP at 20222. The text-message portion of the campaign is ongoing, and anyone who still wants to make a donation can do so by sending a text message. The funds will be used primarily to provide sponsorships for entire families to attend Camp Sunshine. The camp also will designate some of the money to support families’ travels to camp as well as construction and capital improvements of the camp.
The week of August 1-6, 2010, has been designated as Tropical Smoothie Café Week at Camp Sunshine. Franchisees and executives of Tropical Smoothie Café will participate in a check presentation to the Camp on August 5.
“We are blown away by how much Tropical Smoothie Café has embraced Camp Sunshine with their commitment and passion to what we do,” says Matt Hoidal, Camp Sunshine’s executive director.
“For us, the money raised during the National Flip Flop Day campaign is a dream come true. Tropical Smoothie Café has taken its commitment to the maximum in spreading the word about Camp Sunshine and helping deserving families benefit through a week of relaxation and support.”
Located in Casco, Maine, along Sebago Lake, Camp Sunshine provides a welcome retreat for children and their families coping with such life-threatening illnesses as cancer, kidney disease and lupus.
Since 1984, Camp Sunshine has offered recreational, medical and counseling services at no cost to more than 20,000 individuals from diverse cultural and economic backgrounds.
