Earlier this year, "Papa” John Schnatter set out on a cross-country Road
Trip to celebrate the 25th Anniversary of Papa John’s Pizza…and to
search for the car that started it all: a 1971 Z28 Camaro that Schnatter
sold to keep his dad’s tavern in business and ultimately open his first
Papa John’s restaurant. He even offered a $250,000 reward for the car’s
safe return. To everyone’s surprise (especially Schnatter’s), the
beloved Camaro was found in Flatwoods, Ky. in August.
Beginning today, pizza and car lovers alike may purchase a mini replica
of Schnatter’s Camaro for just $4.99 at www.papajohns.com.
For every mini Camaro sold, $1 will be donated to the Marine Toys for
Tots Foundation, just in time for the holidays. In addition, every toy’s
packaging includes a coupon for a free
medium cheese pizza – making it the gift that keeps on giving, long
after the holiday leftovers are gone!
Papa John’s is also donating 5,000 mini Camaros directly to Toys for
Tots – a retail value of $25,000, and $50,000 in redeemable free pizzas.
In total, Papa John’s will contribute more than $155,000 to the 2009
Toys for Tots campaign.
"You could say that Christmas came early this year for John, which is
why we’re especially pleased to share his joy with kids around the
country who love Papa John’s pizza,” said Jude Thompson, Papa John’s
president and chief operating officer. "Papa John’s is proud to partner
and be associated with Toys for Tots, renowned for touching millions of
young lives year after year.”
"Papa John has a great story that’s not only fun, but also provides hope
and inspiration to less fortunate children,” said Maj. Bill Grein, USMC
(Ret), vice president of the Marine Toys for Tots Foundation. "Toys for
Tots is honored to have the support of Papa John’s and their 2,600
restaurants across the country this season as we make the holidays
brighter for families everywhere.”
For more information and to purchase a mini Camaro, benefiting Toys for
Tots, visit www.papajohns.com.
About Marine Toys for Tots
The Marine Toys for Tots Foundation is a not for profit organization
authorized by the U.S. Marine Corps Reserve to provide fundraising and
other necessary support for their annual Toys for Tots Program. Now in
its 62nd year, Toys for Tots provides hope and happiness to economically
disadvantaged children through the gift of a shiny new toy during the
Christmas holiday season. Our gifts offer these children recognition,
confidence and a positive memory they will cherish for a lifetime. Many
of the gifts we provide, such as books, games and sports equipment, make
a significant contribution to the educational, social and recreational
interests of these children. In 2008, Marines distributed gifts to 7.6
million children in over 650 communities nationwide. The Marine Toys for
Tots Foundation relies on individual donations from the American public
and is supported by corporate sponsorships. For more information, visit www.toysfortots.org.
About Papa John’s
Headquartered in Louisville, Kentucky, Papa John's International, Inc.
(NASDAQ: PZZA) is the world's third largest pizza company. For nine of
the last 10 years, consumers have rated Papa John's No. 1 in customer
satisfaction among all national pizza chains in the highly regarded
American Customer Satisfaction Index (ACSI). Papa John's also ranks
first among pizza companies in the 2008 Brand Keys Customer Loyalty
Engagement Index, was honored by Restaurants & Institutions Magazine
(R&I) with the 2008 Silver Award for Consumers’ Choice in Chains in the
pizza segment, and was named 2007 Pizza Today Chain of the Year. For
more information about the company or to order pizza online, visit Papa
John's at www.papajohns.com.
Photos/Multimedia Gallery Available: http://www.businesswire.com/cgi-bin/mmg.cgi?eid=6100844&lang=en