SONIC(R) Launches New Cause Program, Limeades for Learning(R)

$500,000 Grant-Making Initiative Encourages Consumers to Help Public School Teachers Nationwide


OKLAHOMA CITY, Aug. 31  /PRNewswire-FirstCall/ -- Beginning today, consumers have a new reason to feel good after visiting their local SONIC drive-in as they can take an active role in a national grant-making initiative aimed at supporting U.S. public school teachers.

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When customers purchase a small through Route 44  sized fountain or frozen drink at SONIC (Wacky-Pack  Meals and Premium Roast Coffee drinks excluded) they will receive a unique code used to "vote" for a teacher's project online at LimeadesforLearning.com. Teacher projects are used to help inspire learning in the classroom and range from computers needed for science labs to basketballs for gym class. Teachers' projects receiving the most votes will be awarded grants throughout the month of September. Last month, SONIC announced a partnership with DonorsChoose.org, a nonprofit organization who will administer the grants and fulfill teacher projects.

"Through Limeades for Learning, SONIC is offering our customers the opportunity to assist public school teachers in every community in which we do business. We look forward to enhancing the classroom experience with additional resources through teacher grants across America," said Clifford Hudson, chairman and chief executive officer for Sonic Corp. "SONIC and our franchisees have supported education in local communities for many years and we look forward to expanding on that tradition with this initiative."

Once a customer votes for a teacher's project online, they can send notices to friends and track its progress to ensure it receives as many votes as possible for funding.  An interactive map allows visitors to view the number of teacher projects and dollars donated in real-time nationally and by city or state.  As of August 31, nearly 4,000 teacher projects have been requested through Limeades for Learning.

For more information on Limeades for Learning and how teachers, students and customers can get involved, please visit 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 public school 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 (http://www.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, 103,000 public and charter school teachers have used the site to secure funding for $ 36.4 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 2.3 million students.

  Related Links:
  Limeades for Learning Web site
  DonorsChoose.org Web site
  SONIC Drive-In Web site

  Contact:

  Sarah Ferguson
  816-423-6061
  

http://news.prnewswire.com/viewrelease.aspx?STORY=MTMzDATASOURCE: SONIC Drive-In



CONTACT:  Sarah Ferguson, [phone], 



Web Site:  http://www.sonicdrivein.com/ 

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