Francorp Client - Auntie Anne's

AUNTIE ANNE'S® ROLLS OUT SEARCH FOR FAMILIES WHO
GIVE BACK
To Celebrate 20th Birthday, Pretzel Chain Offers 20
Families Grants for Giving Back to their Communities
LANCASTER, Pa. (January 29, 2008) - Auntie Anne's® Pretzels, best known for its freshly baked, hand-rolled soft pretzels, is looking for 20 families who give back and make their communities better places to live, and will reward them with grants of up to $20,000. The nationwide search kicks off on the company's official 20th birthday, Saturday, February 2, 2008.

In the Auntie Anne's What a Difference a Family Makes: A New Twist on Giving Back grant program, families who do community service work together can be nominated by themselves or another person for an opportunity to win grants that will help support their philanthropic activities. Whether it's cleaning up a neighborhood's park, volunteering at a senior citizen center or lending a helping hand at a local soup kitchen, any family who is passionate about giving back together is eligible.

"Today's families are busier than ever, but finding time to volunteer together can be a rewarding experience, and easier than many think," says family philanthropy expert Susan Crites Price, national media spokesperson for What a Difference a Family Makes: A New Twist on Giving Back and vice president of the National Center for Family Philanthropy. "Every community has opportunities for its members to give back, and families that do philanthropic work together often find that it can make a long-lasting impact, not only in the community, but also on their family bonds."

Beginning February 2, 2008, application forms are available on www.aTwistOnGivingBack.com. Entries will be judged on the basis of passionate dedication to giving back in their communities, as demonstrated by level of involvement (amount of time spent and years of service), overall community impact and strength of initiative (process of seeking giving back opportunity).

What a Difference a Family Makes: A New Twist on Giving Back nominations will be accepted through April 4, 2008. One grand prize family will receive a $20,000 grant and 19 additional finalists will each receive $2,000.

"Auntie Anne's was founded on the principle of giving back to families, and we want to recognize those families that are working hard to make the world a better place," says Auntie Anne's President and CEO Samuel R. Beiler. "We're excited to see what we know will be amazing examples of good work in communities all across America, and to contribute to expanding that work."

The 20 families chosen as grant recipients will also have an opportunity to share their stories and real-life examples to spread the giving to others by contributing to a "20 Ways to Give Back" e-book developed by Auntie Anne's. Other members of the public will also have a chance to contribute to the book at local events at Auntie Anne's stores around the country in February and March. The e-book will be available to the public in late May for download at www.aTwistOnGivingBack.com.

For a complete list of official rules for the What a Difference a Family Makes: A New Twist on Giving Back grant program, visit www.aTwistOnGivingBack.com.

About Auntie Anne's
Auntie Anne's, Inc. is a Pennsylvania-based franchisor that supports over 940 Auntie Anne's Pretzels locations worldwide. The concept mixes, twists and bakes pretzels to golden brown perfection in full view of customers. Auntie Anne's is committed to pretzel perfection by guaranteeing you will love its pretzels or they will replace it with one that you do.