Local Applebee’s Employees Present Over $120,000 to The V Foundation for Cancer Research
Check Presentation Held During Employee Appreciation Event

Raleigh, N.C. — The Apple Gold Group, franchisee of Applebee’s restaurants in North Carolina, Oklahoma and Arkansas, is proud to announce that they donated more than $120,000 to The V Foundation for Cancer Research. The money was raised by employees of Apple Gold Group’s 50 North Carolina Applebee’s locations as part of their annual March fundraiser to help fund cancer research. Employees from several local Applebee’s along with Apple Gold Group CEO Michael Olander presented The V Foundation CEO Nick Valvano a check on June 2, 2009 at Apple Gold Group’s annual knowledge competition and employee appreciation event. 

“The employees did an amazing job raising funds for The V Foundation,” said Michael Olander, President and CEO of Apple Gold Group. “From promotions in each restaurant to hosting local yard sales, they really got engaged for this great charity. Cancer touches all of us and we are dedicated to helping wonderful charities like The V Foundation make a difference in the fight!”

The fundraising program tasked Apple Gold Group’s Applebee’s restaurants located throughout North Carolina to raise as much money as possible during the month of March in conjunction with The V Foundation’s annual “Show Your Spirit!” campaign around the NCAA Basketball tournament. All restaurants sold paper basketballs that patrons could write their name on to show their support for the effort. Employees then hung the basketballs up around the restaurant to encourage others to participate. Outside of the traditional paper basketballs, groups of employees rallied together to create other fun ways for community members to get involved, including bake sales, dunk booths and tricycle races. The amount raised this year is significantly higher than the $75,000 that employees raised last year.

The employee appreciation event that accompanied the check presentation was an opportunity for several employees from each location to come together for fun and competition, as well as to be thanked for their tremendous community outreach efforts throughout the year.

“We are so appreciative of the Apple Gold Group and their employees,” said Nick Valvano, CEO of The V Foundation for Cancer Research. “They exemplify the spirit and tenacity that it will take to beat this terrible disease!”

About The V Foundation for Cancer Research
The V Foundation for Cancer Research was founded in 1993 by ESPN and the late Jim Valvano, legendary North Carolina State basketball coach and ESPN commentator. Since 1993, The Foundation has raised more than $80 million to fund cancer research grants nationwide. It awards 100 percent of all new direct cash donations and net proceeds of events directly to cancer research and related programs. The Foundation, which has received sixth consecutive top 4-star ratings from Charity Navigator, awards grants through a competitive awards process strictly supervised by a Scientific Review Committee. For more information on The V Foundation or to make a donation, please visit www.jimmyv.org.

About Apple Gold Group
Apple Gold, Inc., one of the original five Applebee’s Franchisees, was founded in 1984 to develop and operate Applebee's restaurants in North Carolina, opening its first Neighborhood Grill and Bar in Cary, North Carolina in 1985. A decade later, the company expanded its territory to include Oklahoma and then Arkansas, and currently operates 71 restaurants in those three states. The Apple Gold Group strives to be a recognized leader in both the casual dining industry and in local charitable fundraising. For more information on Apple Gold Group, please visit www.AppleGoldCareers.com.