"Jack" Attracts Top Bid at eBay Auction

The opportunity to personally meet Jack, face-to-face, on the set of a television commercial shoot was the lead item that The Jack in the Box Foundation auctioned on eBay in a charity event that just ended. One individual offered $1,725 to meet Jack. The event raised several thousand dollars for Big Brothers Big Sisters of America®.

"The fact that people are bidding for a chance simply to meet Jack, a fictional personality, speaks volumes about his popularity,'' said Kathy Kovacevich, community relations manager for The Jack in the Box Foundation. "Not only are we fulfilling a bidder's dream to meet Jack, but proceeds from the auction will help fund BBBSA's youth-mentoring programs.''

Since his introduction in 1995, Jack, the witty and irreverent spokesperson for Jack in the Box restaurants, has steadily built a huge following of Jack fanatics. These adoring fans have elevated Jack from fake fast-food flak to real corporate executive, family man, even presidential candidate. During the six-year-running "Jack's Back'' advertising campaign, Jack has starred in nearly 300 television and radio commercials. The campaign has also received numerous awards, including a 2001 Cannes Gold Lion for the best fast-food advertising in the world, and a 2001 Bronze EFFIE from the New York American Marketing Association.

Founded in 1904, BBBSA is one of the nation's most experienced and widely known youth-mentoring organizations. BBBSA has provided professionally supported, one-to-one mentoring relationships for more than a million children through its more than 500 affiliated agencies. BBBSA is headquartered in Philadelphia. For more information, visit BBBSA's website at www.bbbsa.org or phone 215/567-7000.

A national BBBSA sponsor since 1998, The Jack in the Box Foundation has provided more than $1 million in financial support and services through contributions from Jack in the Box Inc. and its employees, community fund-raising activities, and volunteer efforts.

Founded in 1951, Jack in the Box Inc. is the nation's first major drive-thru hamburger chain. The San Diego-based company operates or franchises more than 1,730 quick-service restaurants in 16 states and has more than 43,000 employees.