Tropical Smoothie Café Donates $365,000 to Camp Sunshine and Pledges $1 Million to Endow Session in Perpetuity

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

CASCO, Maine (August 8, 2012) – Camp Sunshine, a one-of-a-kind national retreat in Casco, Maine for children with life-threatening illnesses and their families, has received a $365,000 donation from Tropical Smoothie Café as proceeds from the national smoothie and sandwich chain’s National Flip Flop Day Campaign.

Tropical Smoothie Café (www.tropicalsmoothiecafe.com) also announced a commitment to raise $1 million for Camp Sunshine’s endowment – the largest corporate gift of its kind toward sustaining the Camp Sunshine (www.campsunshine.org) program providing a welcome respite for children and their families coping with such life-threatening illnesses such as cancer, kidney disease and lupus.

Located along Maine’s Sebago Lake, Camp Sunshine has offered recreational, medical and counseling services at no cost to more than 32,000 people from diverse cultural and economic backgrounds since 1984.

"Despite an otherwise tough economic climate for many businesses, Tropical Smoothie Café continues to stand out with its leadership rallying its team and inspiring its customers so that children with life-threatening illnesses and their families from around the country can find respite at Camp Sunshine," said Matthew M. Hoidal, Esq., executive director of Camp Sunshine. "This gift today, coupled with the $1 million commitment toward Camp Sunshine's endowment, is historic, and will have lasting positive impacts on Camp Sunshine's future."

More than 250 family members, volunteers and staff looked on as Mike Rotondo, Tropical Smoothie Café’s Chief Operating Office, presented the $365,000 check to Camp Sunshine Co-Founder Anna Gould and also announced the $1 million endowment during an Aug. 6 ceremony.

Rotondo was joined by members of the franchise development and support team, along with several Tropical Smoothie Café area developers, store owners and employees who are volunteering at Camp Sunshine this week as part of Tropical Smoothie Café Week.

Tropical Smoothie Café raised the funds during its Sixth Annual Flip Flop Day (www.nationalflipflopday.com), which took place in June at each of the more than 300 locations across the country. Stores gave away free smoothies to flip flop-wearing customers, who were also encouraged to make donations to Camp Sunshine.

The money raised this year brings the total amount raised and donated to Camp Sunshine by Tropical Smoothie Café to nearly $1.5 million.

The $1 million pledge, which will endow an entire session at Camp Sunshine in perpetuity, is the largest corporate gift of its kind toward Camp Sunshine’s endowment.

Camp Sunshine began its partnership with Tropical Smoothie Café in 2008 when the national chain found Camp Sunshine listed as a top rated charity by Charity Navigator. Impressed by Camp’s fiscal responsibility, national reach, and compelling mission, the company chose Camp Sunshine to be its national charity partner – and beneficiary of its National Flip Flop Day fundraising and promotional campaign.

Since that time, Tropical Smoothie Café has raised a total of nearly $1.5 million. 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.

"Camp Sunshine creates memorable experiences for the families touched by this incredible program, and Tropical Smoothie Café stands behind those efforts 100 percent," Rotondo said. "We are proud to be involved with such a wonderful organization and look forward to continuing to support Camp Sunshine."

At their current rate raising upwards of $400,000 per year, Tropical Smoothie Café is expected to raise more than $2 million for Camp Sunshine during the next five years. Of this $2 million, the company has pledged $1 million toward endowing a full weeklong session at Camp Sunshine every year.

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.

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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From left, Tropical Smoothie Cafe Chief Operating Officer Mike Rotondo, Camp Sunshine Executive Director Matt Hoidal, Tropical Smoothie Cafe Regional Director Bob Fischer, host of Tropical Smoothie employees and franchisees volunteering this week at Camp Sunshine, Camp Sunshine Founder Anna Gould, and Tropical Smoothie Cafe Regional Director Dana Lockyear.

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Tropical Smoothie Cafe Chief Operating Officer Mike Rotondo presented a $365,000 check to Camp Sunshine on Monday.

Here is more information about Camp Sunshine