Limeades for Learning program

In today’s tough economy — with resources and funding shrinking daily — teachers on the front lines of education are feeling the heat. But SONIC Drive-In is stepping in to help cool things down, one refreshing drink at a time. Through their new Limeades for Learning program, SONIC will donate more than half a million dollars to classrooms in local communities across the country, and SONIC customers will decide how to direct the donations. Here’s a bit about the players involved, how the program works and what you can do to help.

SONIC serves America

In 1953, a little hamburger-and-root-beer stand (then named Top Hat Drive-In) was founded in Shawnee, Oklahoma. In 1959, its owners changed its name to SONIC, and America’s drive-in was off and running. That very first SONIC drive-in is proudly serving customers to this day. Now the nation’s largest chain of drive-in restaurants, SONIC has more than 3,500 drive-ins coast to coast, and more than a million customers eat there daily.

DonorsChoose.org serves schools

Founded in 2000, DonorsChoose.org is a nonprofit website where public school teachers serve up specific educational projects they want to make available for their students, and donors can choose the projects they want to support. After a project is completed, the donor hears back from the classroom they supported in the form of photographs and teacher thank-you letters. To date, 88,000 public and charter school teachers have used the site to secure funding for $30.3 million in books, art supplies, technology and other resources. Through DonorsChoose.org, individuals from all walks of life have helped 1.8 million students.

A perfect partnership

The Limeades for Learning program stems from SONIC’s new partnership with DonorsChoose.org. “Limeades for Learning and its integration into the entire SONIC system is a first for DonorsChoose.org,” said Charles Best, founder and CEO of DonorsChoose.org. “We’re excited to embark on this unique opportunity and look forward to helping even more teachers because of it.”

Sip and serve your community

Whenever you order a fountain or frozen drink at SONIC between August 31 and October 1, you receive a code that enables you to place one vote for the any of the projects registered. And all those drinks add up. SONIC will fund up to $100,000 for the projects with the most votes each Friday for five weeks during the campaign.

“SONIC and our franchisees have supported schools in local communities for decades,” said Clifford Hudson, chairman and CEO for SONIC Corp. “During a time when teachers need help the most, we look forward to partnering with DonorsChoose.org to place supplies into classrooms and ultimately help students reach their full potential.” Visit LimeadesForLearning.com to learn more about the program.