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Throughout the month of July 2007, more than 470 Rita's Water Icefranchisees sold paper lemons at each of their locations to raise money forthe charity. Each Rita's customer had the opportunity to personalize his/herlemon and then post it on a "Wall of Hope" to demonstrate the localcommunity's collective support for Alex's Lemonade Stand.
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Rita's first joined forces with ALSF in July 2006. The foundation washumbly established in the summer of 2000, when four-year-old cancer patient,Alexandra "Alex" Scott, began a quest with her front yard lemonade stand toraise money for pediatric cancer research. Despite her deteriorating health,Alex continued to hold annual lemonade stands until her untimely passing in2004. Alex's spirit and determination gave birth to a nationwide fundraisingmovement, which has realized more than $13 million in donations to find a curefor pediatric cancer.
"We are extremely proud of what our guests, partners and company haveachieved for Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation," said Jim Rudolph, Chairman ofthe Board and Chief Executive Officer of Rita's Water Ice. "When we partneredwith this inspiring organization last year, we never imagined that we couldraise so much in such a short period of time. We are pleased to be able tomake a significant contribution to this important cause, and look forward tosupporting Alex's for years to come."
In addition to the donation in honor of the late Alex Scott, Rita's WaterIce officially renamed its lemon ice flavor to "Alex's Lemonade" in 2006.Lemon, one of Rita's two original flavor offerings when it opened in 1984, isone of the company's five most popular flavors.
"We are incredibly fortunate to have a committed partner like Rita's WaterIce," said Jay Scott, Alex's father and executive director of Alex's LemonadeStand Foundation. "With the support of Rita's, its partners and its guests,we can continue to move towards our goal of finding a cure for all childrenwith cancer."
About Rita's Water Ice
Rita's Water Ice Franchise Company, headquartered in Trevose, PA, is thelargest Italian Ice concept in the nation, currently operating in 15 stateswith over 470 stores. Rita's brand promise is Ice, Custard and Happiness(TM).The chain offers a variety of frozen treats including its famous Italian Ice,Old Fashioned Frozen Custard, and layered Gelati as well as its signatureMisto(TM) and Blendini(TM) creations. Rita's was named one of the Top 25Franchise High Performers by the Wall Street Journal's 'Startup Journal.' Formore information about Rita's Water Ice, please call 1-800-677-RITA or visitwww.ritasice.com.
About Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation
Alex's Lemonade Stand was founded by a young cancer patient, Alexandra"Alex" Scott. For four years, despite her deteriorating health, Alex held anannual lemonade stand to raise money for childhood cancer research. Followingher inspirational example, thousands of lemonade stands have been held acrossthe country by children, schools, businesses and organizations, all to benefitAlex's Lemonade Stand Foundation. As of today, her national campaign hasraised over $13 million for pediatric cancer research. Alex died peacefullyin August 2004. Her family is committed to continuing with her legacy throughher foundation, Alex's Lemonade Stand Foundation until a cure for allchildhood cancers is found. For more information, please visitwww.alexslemonade.org.
