"The Running Of The Cups": Dunkin' Donuts and Rachel Ray Bring Pamplona To Herald Square To Announce New "Serving Heroes" Program

By: Dunkin' | 6 Shares 447 Reads

New Program Celebrates Those Who Serve Our Communities and Keep America Running; Dunkin' Donuts Presents $25,000 Donation to Leary Firefighters Foundation

CANTON, Mass. (July 10, 2007) -- Dunkin' Donuts, the world's largest coffee and baked goods chain, and Rachael Ray today celebrated the people who help keep America running with the first-ever "Running of the Cups." While the bulls run in Pamplona, the daytime television host and best-selling author unleashed 50 people costumed in giant Dunkin' Donuts iced coffee cups who ran throughout Manhattan delivering iced coffee and baked goods to pay tribute to those who keep New York and America running, including police officers, firefighters, nurses, construction workers and train conductors.

At the event, Dunkin' Donuts and Rachael Ray announced the launch of the Dunkin' Brands Community Foundation Serving Heroes program, an ongoing program in which customers across the United States can nominate the hero who serves their community, especially in times of crisis. Nomination forms will be available at www.ServingHeroes.com. Each month one hero will have his or her story prominently featured on the website and will be awarded with a year's worth of free Dunkin' Donuts coffee. Submissions will be reviewed and selected by the Dunkin' Brands Community Foundation.

To mark the beginning of the Heroes Program, Rachael Ray and Dunkin' Donuts honored Gerry Crimmins, a New York City carpenter who, with the support of the Leary Firefighter Foundation, spent his vacation time in New Orleans, supporting the New Orleans fire department by helping rebuild demolished fire stations. In honor of these efforts, Dunkin' Donuts presented a $25,000 donation to the Leary Firefighters Foundation and New Orleans Fire Chief Richie Hampton, which will go towards the rebuilding of New Orleans firehouses lost in Hurricane Katrina. Following the check presentation, Ms. Ray cut a pink and orange ribbon to kick off the "Running of the Cups," and the cups began their journey through the City to deliver iced coffee and baked goods to the following locations:

* New York Fire Department, Engine 24
* New York Fire Department, Ladder 1, Engine 26
* New York Police Department, Midtown South Precinct
* Phillips Beth Israel School of Nursing
* Penn Station train conductors
* Chelsea Stratus building construction site

"I'm thrilled to be part of the celebration, and to present $25,000 to the Leary Firefighters Foundation -- a cause I personally support -- to help rebuild firehouses in New Orleans," said Rachael Ray. "We know that there are everyday heroes doing extraordinary things everywhere in this country, and the Dunkin' Brands Community Foundation "Serving Heroes" program is designed to help recognize the hard work and support that these men and women provide their communities."

In the coming weeks, Dunkin' Donuts plans to present "Running of the Cups" events in several other cities, including Boston, Detroit, Baltimore, Buffalo, Saratoga, Washington D.C. and other markets. Dunkin' Donuts is currently in the midst of aggressive national expansion, opening new stores in existing markets while entering new markets throughout the country. The company plans to triple the number of its US stores to 15,000 by 2020.

Dunkin' Donuts has been serving iced coffee for more than 25 years, serving more than 150 million cups of iced coffee in 2006 alone. Millions of iced coffee lovers turn to Dunkin' Donuts because they recognize the quality of its iced coffee. Dunkin' Donuts has been at the forefront in developing an innovative process for brewing iced coffee, which has set the standard for the industry. The unique process, called double brewing, uses twice the amount of coffee when making the beverage to achieve consistent flavor and freshness that are never compromised at the expense of serving it cold. The result is a smooth, rich taste sensation?iced coffee that is never bitter or watered down.