Local Smoothie and Sandwich Café Kicks-off Summer with Third Annual Celebration; Second Annual Fundraising Drive to Send Terminally-Ill Kids to Camp Sunshine

Fayetteville, AR – Flip flop season has officially arrived. Tropical Smoothie Café in Fayetteville welcomes the start of the 2010 summer season with its third annual National Flip Flop Day celebration. This year also marks Tropical Smoothie Café’s second annual partnership with Camp Sunshine to raise funds to send children with life-threatening illness and their families to the camp for a week of rest, relaxation, plus medical counseling and much-needed emotional support.

From June 1 to June 30, 2010, Tropical Smoothie Café invites customers to contribute to the Camp Sunshine fundraising effort through the purchase of $1 paper flip flops which are posted throughout the store. Then on June 19, the first 500 customers who come in to the café located at N. Crossover & Joyce in Signature Plaza wearing flip flop sandals will receive a free 24-oz. Jetty Punch™ smoothie.

“There is no better way for us to celebrate our third annual summer kick-off day than to partner with an organization that helps children and their families who truly need an escape,” said Wes Couch owner of Tropical Smoothie Café. “Camp Sunshine is an exceptional group of professionals and volunteers who provide a positive experience for everyone involved. We are proud and honored to again support them in such a wonderful and worthy mission.”

Located in Casco, Maine, along Sebago Lake, Camp Sunshine provides a welcome retreat for children and their families coping with such life-threatening illnesses as cancer, kidney disease and lupus. Since 1984, Camp Sunshine has offered recreational, medical and counseling services at no cost to more than 16,000 individuals from diverse cultural and economic backgrounds.

Funds raised from June 1-30, 2010 at Tropical Smoothie Café will be used to sponsor a family or families residing in or near Fayetteville.  In addition, the funds will be used to cover family travels to and from Camp Sunshine for Tropical Smoothie Café week, August 2-6, 2010, as well as camp scholarships and construction and capital improvements of the camp.

“We are thrilled to partner with Tropical Smoothie Café for a second straight year because of the awareness the brand creates for us and the positive impact National Flip Flop Day has on sending even more families to Camp Sunshine,” said Matt Hoidal, Camp Sunshine’s executive director. “With Tropical Smoothie Café’s continued support, a greater number of families will have the unique opportunity to reconnect and meet other families facing similar challenges.”

About Tropical Smoothie Café Established in Destin, Florida in 1997, Tropical Smoothie Café has taken the smoothie concept to the next level by offering diners a healthy alternative to typical fast food. The concept, which introduced food in 1999, provides consumers with a variety of high-quality real-fruit smoothies, toasted wraps, Bistro sandwiches and salads. The company also caters. Tropical Smoothie Café includes menu options for breakfast, lunch and dinner. Ranked 127 out 500 and rated one of the fastest growing franchises by Entrepreneur Magazine, the concept currently has 275 locations in 34 states. For further information, visit www.tropicalsmoothieCafé .com or call 888-292-2522.

About Camp Sunshine Founded in 1984, Camp Sunshine is a year-round retreat, which provides respite, support, joy and hope to children with life-threatening illnesses and their immediate families through various stages of a child’s illness. The camp is free of charge to all families, and includes 24-hour onsite medical and psychosocial support. Bereavement groups are also offered for families who have lost a child to an illness. Camp Sunshine is nestled in the tranquil natural beauty of Sebago Lake, Maine adjacent to Point Sebago Resort. The Camp Sunshine Campus can accommodate 40 families each week, and assists over 1,200 families a year. For further information, visit www.campsunshine.org.