Limeades for Learning. Sonic Drive-In and Donorschoose.org
When consumers visited Sonic during the 2009 Back to School Season and purchased a small through Route 44 sized fountain or frozen drink, they received a code to vote online for their favorite public school teacher project. Using DonorsChoose.org to solicit , vet and fulfill teacher project requests, Sonic contributed more than $630,000 to fund nearly 1,500 projects.
The drive in chain’s first cause marketing program had a major positive impact on consumer, employee and teacher attitudes toward Sonic and the program helped increase sales by 8%. The company pulled out all the stops to support the program with substantial print, PR, packaging promotion and this charming broadcast television commercial of kids thanking customers for their support.
