Kona Ice Announces Partnership with AdoptAClassroom.org to Provide Funding to America’s Teachers
Iconic Mobile Shaved Ice Brand Partners with National Nonprofit
August 04, 2017 // Franchising.com // FLORENCE, Ky. - On average, teachers spend nearly $600 dollars each year purchasing supplies for their individual classrooms. More than 90 percent of K-12 teachers purchase school supplies with their own money for their classrooms and students. In continuance of its tradition to give back to every community it serves, Kona Ice has now made it its mission to help teachers across the country.
The brand, renowned from Alaska to Florida for its distinctive blend of entertainment, gourmet frozen treats, and for giving back to the community, announced today a partnership with AdoptAClassroom.org, a national nonprofit that provides funding for K-12 teachers throughout the United States to allow them to purchase the classroom supplies and materials they need to help students learn and succeed.
“From the day we started Kona Ice, it has been our mission above all else to give back to the communities we serve, starting with schools,” said Tony Lamb, founder and CEO of Florence, Kentucky-based Kona Ice. “While we’ve given back more than $40 million nationally to community schools, organizations, and teams in only 10 years, we know we can accomplish even more. We couldn’t be more proud to partner with AdoptAClassroom.org - an incredible organization that has a direct impact on teachers and the children they dedicate their careers to.”
In 2017, Kona Ice Korporate is committing to adopt - or fund - more than 100 classrooms nationwide. The brand is also encouraging each of its nearly 500 franchisees to each adopt a classroom on their own in support of AdoptAClassroom.org’s mission. A portion of proceeds from each Kona Ice color changing cup - a special Kona cup that changes colors based on the temperature of the cup’s contents - sold will go towards adopting a classroom, allowing customers to support a teacher and see the change their purchase has - literally and figuratively.
“Teachers already dedicate so much of their lives to their students; they shouldn’t have to spend large sums of their own money on classroom supplies,” said Ann Ness, executive director of AdoptAClassroom.org. “We are delighted to have Kona Ice join us in our efforts to lessen the financial burden put on teachers.”
As Kona Ice continues to celebrate its nation-wide giveback initiatives including ongoing support of local schools, youth organizations, charities and nonprofits, the brand is also celebrating monumental growth. Growing at a rapid pace, Kona Ice is on track to have 1,000 trucks on the road, carrying on the tradition of community giveback, by the end of 2017.
For more information on AdoptAClassroom.org, including how to adopt a classroom yourself, visit www.AdoptAClassroom.org.
For more information about available franchise opportunities with Kona Ice, please visit: www.ownakona.com.
About Kona Ice
A true community ally renowned for facilitating endless fundraising options, Kona Ice has given more than $40 million back to neighborhood schools, organizations, and teams since its inception in 2007. The brand's iconic truck offers customers a one-of-a-kind experience, featuring the opportunity to create their own shaved ice on the self-serve Flavorwave™, while enjoying the soothing sights and sounds from the tropics. Currently, there are 900-plus franchise units in more than 45 states.
About AdoptAClassroom.org
AdoptAClassroom.org empowers teachers by providing the classroom supplies and materials needed to help their students learn and succeed. As an award-winning 501(c)(3), AdoptAClassroom.org makes it easy for individual donors and corporate sponsors to donate funds to K-12 classrooms in public, private and charter schools throughout the U.S. On average, teachers spend $600 of their own money each year to equip their classrooms - 20% of teachers spend more than $1000 annually. Since 1998 AdoptAClassroom.org has raised more than $30 million and benefited more than 4.25 million students. AdoptAClassroom.org holds a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator. For more information, or to adopt a classroom, please visit www.adoptaclassroom.org.
Media Contact:
Sydney Thompson
All Points Public Relations
(847) 897-7494
sthompson@allpointspr.com
SOURCE Kona Ice
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