Tropical Smoothie Café's second fundraiser for Camp Sunshine has raised $275,000, far exceeding the company's first fund-raising total of $125,000 collected in June 2008.
The funds were collected during the chain's National Flip Flop Day promotional campaign aimed at supporting Camp Sunshine, a national retreat for children with life-threatening illnesses and their families.
Funds raised this year will send more than 180 families from around the country to camp.
"Our goal for this year was to raise $250,000, so we're thrilled to have surpassed that goal and to have more than doubled the 2008 total. We can't wait to try and raise even more money next year for Camp Sunshine," said Jim Valentino, the company's president and chief operating officer.
Fundraising efforts took place the entire month of June at each of the 280 Tropical Smoothie Cafés and online. The funds will primarily be used to provide sponsorships for entire families to attend Camp Sunshine. Camp Sunshine also will designate some of the monies to support families' travels to camp as well as construction and capital improvements of the camp. The week of Aug. 2-6, 2009, has been designated as Tropical Smoothie Café week at Camp Sunshine, located in Casco, Maine, along Sebago Lake.
