CHICAGO — Friendly Ice Cream Corp. has launched its Valentine's Day fundraiser to benefit children and adults with disabilities as it has each year since 1981. The event has raised nearly $25 million to date for Easter Seals — $1,184,000 in 2007 alone.
Through Feb. 14, each Friendly's Restaurant guest who makes a $1 Easter Seals donation will receive a Kids' Valentine's Day card redeemable for five free Kid ice cream cones. To increase donations, Friendly's encourages its guests to deposit spare change in collection jugs at the front of each restaurant.
"Even when it is cold outside, everyone loves an ice cream cone," said George M. Condos, chief executive officer and president of Friendly Ice Cream Corp. "Our winter tradition brings a smile to the faces of countless numbers of kids, with and without disabilities, in all the communities we serve."
The money raised through "Cones for Kids" provide comprehensive Easter Seals programs and services such as medical rehabilitation, assistive technology, inclusive child care, adult day centers and camping and recreation for children and adults with disabilities.
