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| Aroostook Republican photo/Theron Larkins Burger King employee Stephanie McIntosh of Caribou holds one of the promotional scratch tickets that can be earned by making a $1 donation to Burger King and the Jimmy Fund for the fight against cancer. As part of “A Chance for Kids and Families” the Caribou Burger King, along with Burger King restaurants all along the East Coast, have teamed up with the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute in their fight against cancer. |
By Theron Larkins
Staff Writer
CARIBOU — From July 28 through Sept. 7, Burger King customers all across the East Coast, including those in Caribou, can join and help Burger King and the Jimmy Fund in the fight against cancer.
By contributing $1 to the Jimmy Fund through the “A Chance for Kids and Families” program at participating Burger King restaurants, including the one on Bennett Drive in Caribou, customers can aid in the battle against cancer that has unfortunately affected almost all of our lives.
With each contribution, customers will receive a promotion card guaranteed to be a winner. The prizes range from an all-expense paid vacation to theme park tickets, as well as a number of other prizes like an oil change or Burger King food items.
The promotion is part of a joint effort between Burger King and the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute that has been going on for over a decade. The promotional partnership was established in July of 2000, and has continued throughout the summer months of July, August and September for nearly 15 years.
“We are proud to have the opportunity to raise funds that will help so many people through our partneship with Dana-Farber Cancer Institute,” said Jim Froio, Burger King franchisee and New England Franchisee Association president. ”Cancer touches every family and it means a great deal to the Burger King community to be able to work toward saving lives and furthering critical cancer research through this program.”
According to Trudi Lapointe, the general manager of the Caribou Burger King, this is something the corporation has been participating in for several years.
“I’ve been here for 32 years, and even though the promotion hasn’t been going on for quite that long, it’s been going on for as long as I can remember,” said Lapointe. “Burger King has partnered with the Jimmy Fund, I believe for as many years as the promotion has been going on.”
During the last 14 years, participating Burger King restaurants have raised more than $11.4 million for cancer research and care at Dana-Farber Cancer Institute. The 370 participating restaurants are in Connecticut, Maine, Massachusetts, New Hampshire, New York, New Jersey, Rhode Island and Vermont.
“Every year we sell $1 scratch tickets that are guaranteed to return more in food winnings than you spend,” said Lapointe. “It’s a promotion we have been involved in every year, and it’s a mandate that all Burger King locations along the East Coast are involved.”
Lapointe explained that despite the fact the participation of these restaurants is mandatory little motivation is needed to get the restaurants involved.
“Those who wish to donate a dollar to the Jimmy Fund can do so, with no purchase necessary, and they will then be given one promotional scratch ticket,” said Lapointe. “All of the tickets are all guaranteed winners.”
Suzanne Fountain, director of the Jimmy Fund, said money raised through the Burger King program has been very instrumental in funding cancer care and research at Dana-Farber.
“Burger King employees and their restaurant guests have been an invaluable partner in our fight against cancer,” said Fountain. “The funds from this program are invaluable in funding cancer care and research at Dana-Farber.”
Some of the specific prizes available on the promotion cards are an all-inclusive trip from TNT Vacations Powered by Funjet Vacations, American Airlines Inc. miles, Six Flags New England tickets and Valvoline Instant Oil Change discounts and free services.
These are just some of the prizes that can be won throughout the next few months through Burger King and the Jimmy Fund. Many other prizes will be available, but perhaps no prize can compare to the sense of satisfaction one can achieve through these selfless donations, as all proceeds will go to the Dana-Farber Institute to help in their goal to defeat cancer.
FMI visit the Jimmy Fund’s website at www.jimmyfund .org.
