Camp Sunshine Receives $400,000 Donation from Tropical Smoothie Café

Smoothie and sandwich chain fundraising efforts will benefit more than 150 families of children with life-threatening illnesses

CASCO, Maine (August 19, 2011) – Camp Sunshine, a one-of-a-kind national retreat in Casco, Maine, for children with life-threatening illnesses and their families, has announced that it received a $400,000 donation from Tropical Smoothie Café. The national smoothie and sandwich chain raised the funds through its National Flip Flop Day Campaign — an annual philanthropic event benefiting Camp Sunshine.

Franchisees and executives from the company presented a check at Camp Sunshine as part of last week’s Tropical Smoothie Café Session, during which all 40 families attending were sponsored by Tropical Smoothie Café and 12 employees from the company spent time at camp volunteering.

Camp Sunshine (www.campsunshine.org) began its partnership with Tropical Smoothie Café in 2008 and has thus far received $1.1 million in donations from National Flip Flop Day. The money raised this year will be used primarily to provide sponsorships for more than 150 families to attend Camp Sunshine throughout the year, which includes supporting families’ travel costs.

"Tropical Smoothie Cafe is committed to helping Camp Sunshine create memorable experiences for the families touched by this incredible program." said Mike Rotondo, chief operating officer of Tropical Smoothie Café. "We are proud to be involved with such a wonderful organization and look forward to continuing to support Camp Sunshine."

Fundraising efforts took place throughout the month of June at each of the more than 300 Tropical Smoothie Café locations across the country, as well as online at www.NationalFlipFlopDay.com..

“We are honored by how much Tropical Smoothie Café has embraced Camp Sunshine with their commitment and passion for what we do,” said Matthew M. Hoidal, Esq., executive director of Camp Sunshine. “We thank Tropical Smoothie Café for assisting us in spreading the word about Camp Sunshine and for helping deserving families benefit through a week of relaxation and support at camp.”

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 32,000 individuals from diverse cultural and economic backgrounds.

About Tropical Smoothie Café
Founded in Destin, Fla., in 1997, Tropical Smoothie Café is in a niche category of the quick service restaurant industry providing diners healthier food with a tropical twist. The company offers made-to-order toasted wraps, flatbreads, sandwiches and gourmet salads, while continuing to provide consumers with a variety of high-quality real fruit smoothies. Tropical Smoothie Café includes dine-in, take-out and catering menu options for breakfast, lunch and dinner, available through online ordering. Ranked by Entrepreneur Magazine as one of the fastest growing franchises of 2010, the chain currently has more than 300 locations nationwide. For more information, visit www.tropicalsmoothiecafe.com or call 888-292-2522.

In 2008, Tropical Smoothie Café joined fundraising efforts with national charity partner Camp Sunshine, a retreat in Casco, Maine for children with life-threatening illnesses and their families. Tropical Smoothie Café created the holiday, National Flip Flop Day, on the third Friday of June to raise awareness to Camp Sunshine. Loyal customers are rewarded with a free Jetty Punch on this day with all donations received going toward the national charity partner. To date, the company has donated more than $1 million to the cause. Nationwide, franchisees execute community fundraising events prior to National Flip Flop Day and donations are collected year-round at www.NationalFlipFlopDay.com..

About Camp Sunshine
Camp Sunshine offers children with life-threatening illnesses and their families a place to relax together for a week, and to take a break from the extraordinary demands placed upon them on a daily basis. The year-round program is free of charge and staffed almost entirely by volunteers. It is the only program in the nation whose mission is to address the impact of a life-threatening illness on every member of the immediate family — the ill child, the parents and the siblings. Since its inception in 1984, Camp Sunshine has provided a haven for more than 32,000 individuals from diverse cultural backgrounds. In addition to providing 24-hour on-site medical and psychosocial support, the camp offers a variety of daily activities, including swimming, boating, archery and soccer, and special events such as bonfires and cookouts. To support Camp Sunshine, call (207) 655-3800 or visit www.campsunshine.org.

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Tropical Smoothie Café presented a $400,000 check to Camp Sunshine at a recent ceremony. From left, Camp Sunshine Executive Director Matthew Hoidal, Grant Leibell, Andrew Jessen, Staci Leibell, Terri Jessen, Jessica Seminaro, Stephen Seminaro, Matthew Shaffer, Camp Sunshine Founder Anna Gould, Walter Jankowski, and Bob Fischer from Tropical Smoothie Café.

Here is more information about Camp Sunshine