Tropical Smoothie Café Donates $640,000 to Camp Sunshine

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

CASCO, Maine (August 5, 2014) – Camp Sunshine, a one-of-a-kind national retreat in Casco, Maine for children with life-threatening illnesses and their families, has received $640,000 from Tropical Smoothie Café as proceeds from the national smoothie and sandwich chain’s National Flip Flop Day campaign.

Tropical Smoothie Café has now raised and donated more than $2.5 million to Camp Sunshine through its National Flip Flop Day fundraising. Camp Sunshine provides a welcome respite for children and their families coping with such life-threatening illnesses such as cancer, kidney disease and lupus.  

More than 250 family members, volunteers and staff looked on as Mike Rotondo, Tropical Smoothie Café’s Chief Executive Officer, presented the $640,000 check to Camp Sunshine Founder Anna Gould on Monday afternoon.

Rotondo was joined by members of the Tropical Smoothie Café Support Center, 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 eighth annual National Flip Flop Day (www.nationalflipflopday.com), which took place in June at each of the more than 375 locations across the country. Stores gave away free smoothies to flip flop-wearing customers, who were also encouraged to make donations to Camp Sunshine.

In addition to the $2.5 million raised through National Flip Flop Day already, Tropical Smoothie Café last year also pledged to provide $1 million for Camp Sunshine’s endowment – the largest corporate gift of its kind toward sustaining the Camp Sunshine program in perpetuity.

Camp Sunshine (www.campsunshine.org) is located on 25 acres of  land donated by Anna and Larry Gould on beautiful Sebago Lake. Since its inception in 1984, Camp Sunshine has provided a haven for more than 40,500 individuals from 48 states and 24 countries.

"What an incredible outpouring of support from the customers, employees, and franchisees of Tropical Smoothie Café. We are once again humbled by their increased support," said Anna Gould, founder of Camp Sunshine. "Tropical Smoothie Café’s heartfelt commitment will have lasting impact on Camp Sunshine's future. Ultimately it is the families of children with life-threatening illness that will truly feel the impact of their generosity."

Camp Sunshine began its partnership with Tropical Smoothie Café (www.tropicalsmoothiecafe.com) in 2008 when the national chain found Camp Sunshine listed as a top rated charity by Charity Navigator. Impressed by the 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.

The money raised this year will be used primarily to provide sponsorships for more than 200 families to attend Camp Sunshine throughout the year, which includes supporting families’ travel costs.

"I’m so proud of the Tropical Smoothie Café team, our dedicated franchisees and loyal customers and look forward to our continued support for many years," Rotondo said.

About Tropical Smoothie Café
Founded in 1997, Tropical Smoothie Café is a fast-casual restaurant concept whose franchise partners inspire healthy lifestyles in communities across the country. Catering to all day-parts, Tropical Smoothie Café serves breakfast, lunch and dinner, including smoothies, salads, wraps, sandwiches, flatbreads and more. The fast-growing franchise has more than 380 locations nationwide and has won numerous awards including: Entrepreneur 2014 Franchise 500; Nation’s Restaurant News 2013 Top 200; Tropical Smoothie Café is currently awarding franchises throughout the United States. For more information, visit www.TropicalSmoothieFranchise.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 40,500 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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Pictured: Camp Sunshine Founder Anna Gould and Tropical Smoothie CEO Mike Rotondo

Here is more news and information about Camp Sunshine