SONIC(R), America's Drive-In(R) and DonorsChoose.org Partner to Support Teachers in Local Communities

Half a million dollars to be donated through new Limeades for Learning(R) program


OKLAHOMA CITY, July 27  /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Resources and funding for teachers are lessening everyday, and SONIC Drive-In is stepping in to help. Through a new program, Limeades for Learning, SONIC will donate more than half a million dollars to classrooms in local communities across the country and SONIC customers will direct the donation. The program stems from SONIC's new partnership with DonorsChoose.org, a non-profit organization that helps public school educators find resources for classroom projects they wouldn't have funding for otherwise.

(Photo:  http://www.newscom.com/cgi-bin/prnh/20090727/CG51978)

"SONIC and our franchisees have supported schools in local communities for decades," said Clifford Hudson, chairman and chief executive officer 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."

August 31 through October 1, when customers purchase a small through Route 44 sized fountain or frozen drink at SONIC, they can go online and vote for their favorite teacher's classroom project. Each drink will have a unique code used to place one vote for projects registered. SONIC will fund up to $100,000 of projects with the most votes each Friday for five weeks during the campaign. Though the voting campaign doesn't begin until late August, teachers are encouraged to visit http://www.limeadesforlearning.com/ to register their project and learn more.

"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."

To learn more about Limeades for Learning and SONIC's partnership with DonorsChoose.org, visit http://www.limeadesforlearning.com/.

About SONIC Drive-In

SONIC, America's Drive-In (NASDAQ:SONC) started as a hamburger and root beer stand in 1953 in Shawnee, Okla., called Top Hat Drive-In, and then changed its name to SONIC in 1959. The first drive-in to adopt the SONIC name is still serving customers in Stillwater, Okla. As the nation's largest chain of drive-in restaurants, SONIC has more than 3,500 drive-ins coast to coast. More than a million customers eat at SONIC every day; and with more drink combinations than any other quick-service restaurant - more than 168,000 - SONIC is Your Ultimate Drink Stop . For more information about Sonic Corp. and its subsidiaries, visit SONIC at http://www.sonicdrivein.com/. Through a new program, Limeades for Learning, SONIC will donate more than half a million dollars to classrooms in local communities across the country. Visit http://www.limeadesforlearning.com/ to learn more about SONIC's commitment to education.

About DonorsChoose.org

Founded in 2000, DonorsChoose.org is a nonprofit Web site where public school teachers describe specific educational projects for their students, and donors can choose the projects they want to support. After completing a project, 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 that their students need to learn. Through DonorsChoose.org, individuals from all walks of life have helped 1.8 million students.

  Contact:
  Sarah Ferguson
  816-423-6061
  

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DATASOURCE: SONIC, America's Drive-In



CONTACT:  Sarah Ferguson, [phone], , for

SONIC, America's Drive-In



Web Site:  http://www.donorschoose.org/

http://www.limeadesforlearning.com/

http://www.sonicdrivein.com/ 

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