TUSTIN, Calif., April 4, 2005 (PRIMEZONE) -- Make-A-Wish Foundation(r) of Orange County and the Inland Empire, the recently merged 501(c)(3) non-profit organization serving Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino Counties, and local Cold Stone Creamery(r) stores today officially announced the launch of a month-long fund-raising effort to celebrate the 25th anniversary of the Make-A-Wish Foundation(r) of America.
In honor of the Foundation's milestone, Cold Stone Creamery will donate a portion of the proceeds from all ice cream and ice cream cake purchases made during the month of April to the Make-A-Wish Foundation. In addition, for a $1 donation, Cold Stone will invite ice cream lovers to invent their own signature ice cream Creations(tm) and inscribe their names and recipes on special Make-A-Wish stars which will be posted on the store walls throughout the month.
In April, Cold Stone Creamery will also debut its "Make-A-Wish Ice Cream Cake," inspired by Micah, a twelve-year-old wish child from the Boston area. The ice cream cake consists of layers of yellow cake, chocolate ice cream, chocolate chip cookie dough, and chocolate shavings wrapped in a rich chocolate ganache.
Cold Stone Creamery stores throughout the continental United States, Alaska and the Caribbean will host their fourth annual "World's Largest Ice Cream Cake Social" on Monday, April 25, 2005, from 5 to 8 p.m. During the three-hour nationwide celebration, Cold Stone Creamery will treat guests to free slices of the Make-A-Wish Ice Cream Cake, encouraging communities to join together and share the simple pleasures of life.
At the end of April, Cold Stone Creamery will donate 50 cents for every case of ice cream sold during the month, in addition to the proceeds from the Creations stars and all customer donations to the Make-A-Wish Foundation. Donations from the National Ice Cream Month promotion and 4th Annual World's Largest Ice Cream Social will help grant the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions.
About Make-A-Wish Foundation(r) of Orange County and the Inland Empire
Make-A-Wish Foundation(r) grants the wishes of children with life-threatening medical conditions to enrich the human experience with hope, strength, and joy. Born in 1980 when a group of caring individuals helped a young boy fulfill his dream of becoming a police officer, the Foundation is now the largest wish-granting charity in the world, with 74 chapters in the U.S. and its territories and 28 international affiliates on five continents. In 2005, the national organization celebrates "25 Years Making Dreams Come True". Locally, Make-A-Wish Foundation of Orange County and the Inland Empire, has granted over 2,500 wonderful wishes to children in Orange, Riverside and San Bernardino Counties. To refer a child, or to learn how you can help, visit the organization's Web site at: www.wishocie.org. Phone: (714) 573-WISH (9474). E-mail: orangeco@wishocie.org.
About Cold Stone Creamery
Cold Stone Creamery, an independently owned franchise system headquartered in Scottsdale, Ariz., was developed to offer countless combinations of ice cream Creations, and is carried through by a community of franchisees passionate about ice cream. Neither soft served nor hard packed, Cold Stone Creamery's secret recipe for smooth and creamy ice cream is made fresh daily in each store, then customized by combining a variety of mix-ins on a frozen granite stone. For more information, please visit www.coldstonecreamery.com.