Miss Florida 2010 will host 5 rib eating contestants to compete for tons of great prizes. The contestant who eats the most Sonny’s New Classic Dry Rub Ribs within 3 minutes WINS! Sign-up to compete is on-site and competition will occur near the Sonny’s booth at approximately 6:00pm.  All five contestants will receive a Sonny’s T-shirt, Baseball Hat and $10 gift card while the WINNER will additionally receive a Backyard Bar-B-Q for 10 people.

“Our first rib eating contest should be an exciting experience for those who are participating and those who are there to watch! There’s no better way to introduce our new Classic Dry Rub Rib than with a rib eating contest,” said Monique Yeager, Director of Public Relations.

The Boy Scouts of America and Dale Coyne Racing have joined forces to expose young people to an innovative educational arena through the fun and excitement of auto racing. Chief Scout Executive Robert Mazzuca recognized the Coynes for their support of the BSA Indy Car during the 2010 racing season. “We can’t thank Dale and Gail Coyne enough for what they have done to show our Scouting family the relevance of education, science, and technology all on a very modern platform like Indy Car racing,” he said. Mazzuca spoke from the 375-foot main stage of the jamboree’s arena show, which was broadcast via podcast and the Internet to millions of Scouts worldwide. This mega gathering of Scouts takes place around every four years.

“To see this many outstanding youths in one location and the honor and dignity that they possess, gives great hope to the future of our next generation,” commented Dale Coyne. “This is our first jamboree, and it is been a moving experience.”  An audience of nearly 80,000 was treated to great entertainment, a bright and prosperous outlook for the future, and tributes to those who have helped to make the 100th Anniversary year memorable, inspiring, and meaningful.

About the Boy Scouts of America
Serving nearly 2.8 million young people between 7 and 20 years of age at more than 290 councils throughout the United States and its territories, the Boy Scouts of America is the nation’s foremost youth program of character development and values-based leadership training.
 
About Dale Coyne Racing
For more than 27 years Dale Coyne Racing has competed in Indy car racing.  The team enjoyed a successful 2009 IndyCar Series season with a win at Watkins Glen, and finished 9th in the IndyCar Series championship.   Please visit www.dalecoyneracing.com for more information about the Boy Scouts of America #19 IndyCar.

All Sonny’s Orlando area locations are collecting children’s school clothes for the Coalition for the Homeless of Central Florida (The Coalition). The Coalition currently serves 86 families. The Coalition for the Homeless of Central Florida was created in 1987 and is now the largest provider of homeless services in Central Florida.  Their mission is to address the needs of the homeless in the community and to serve as a catalyst for community collaboration to end homelessness.

“We are so happy to be able to help families during this tough time for many Americans.  All children should go back to school feeling good and this is one way we felt we could help”, said Monique Yeager, Director of Public Relations for Sonny’s Franchise Company.

Please see your local Sonny’s for more information and a list of items needed (if applicable).  Clothing Drive ends August 20th.

The Smokin’ Baby Back Combo was derived from suggestions taken from the Sonny’s Guest Choice contest, whereby guests shared their thoughts on what the next Sonny’s promotion should be. The Combo consists of Sonny’s Half Rack of Baby Back Ribs, with choice of meat (see your local Sonny’s for details), two Sidekicks, and Garlic Bread or Cornbread.  This Limited Time Offer will run July 5th though August 15th.  The focus of Sonny’s Everyday Value menu items is price, portion size, and quality. Sonny’s currently offers 9 menu items for only $6.99.  So, no one has to break the bank to enjoy Sonny’s.

“When people leave Sonny’s we don’t want them worrying about making a dent in their bank account, we want them to remember the great food they ate at an affordable price.” said Monique Yeager, Director of Public Relations. During tough economic times, Sonny’s offers a great casual place to go to for the whole family.

Floyd “Sonny” Tillman founded Sonny’s Real Pit Bar-B-Q in 1968 in Gainesville, Florida.  Today, Sonny’s has more than 125 restaurants with over 6,000 team members in nine southeastern states. 

June 28, 2010, Maitland, FL –Sonny’s Franchise Company, the parent company of Sonny’s Real Pit Bar-B-Q (Sonny’s), is excited to host its Third Annual Sonny’s Summer Character Camp in partnership with the Boy Scouts’ Learning for Life program at Wheatley Park in Apopka this year.

Sonny’s Summer Character Camp is a week-long day camp that offers a free opportunity for at-risk students in the surrounding Apopka area to receive critical life lessons in character development and positive team-building activities.

Sonny’s Summer Character Camp will take place Monday, July 12th through the 16th and will include many activities for the youth attending.  Each child will share in several activities that they would not normally have the opportunity to experience, such as a visit from a balloon artist, face painter, participate in a puppet workshop, cooking presentation and cupcake decorating!

A Kick-Off Bar-B-Q will be held at Wheatley Park in Apopka on July 11th from 4:00pm to 6:00pm.  Food and activities will be provided; families are welcome.  This is will give parents the opportunity to register their child for the Summer Camp, which will begin the next day.

Sonny’s Summer Character Camp has helped more than 170 kids over the past two years to have a week of activities and learning along with a complete breakfast and lunch.  Sonny’s is preparing for 80 to 100 kids this year!
Learning for Life State Chairperson and former Secretary of State for Florida, Glenda Hood, explains, “This is a program that allows Orlando’s youth to enjoy their summer in a safe, fun and educational camp that ordinarily would not be available to them. Sonny’s Bar-B-Q is a staple in the Central Florida Community and their commitment to Orlando’s youth is commendable.” 
 

 
Take Flat Sonny on vacation or staycation, take a picture with him and submit a descriptive paragraph.
First prize is a Dinner for Four from Sonny’s and Four Park Hopper Passes to Disney World! Sonny’s is taking
this opportunity to spread the “slow-cooked” life all over the world.  
Instructions:

• Pick up a Flat Sonny at any Sonny’s Real Pit Bar-B-Q Restaurant or download online www.sonnysbbq.com
• Cut-out and color Flat Sonny
• Take Flat Sonny on vacation or staycation and take a picture with him and write a brief paragraph about your adventure
• Email the picture and a descriptive paragraph to support@sonnysbbq.com.

Sonny’s is always finding new ways to interact with guests and make them feel as much a part of the Sonny’s Real Pit Bar-B-Q family as possible. With Flat Sonny, Sonny’s restaurant locations will no longer limit the boundaries of where the “slow cooked life” can be experienced.

• The First 15 guests to arrive and tell the Manager, “I’m here to savor the Slow-Cooked Life” will receive a FREE Big Deal
• Balloon Pop during lunch and dinner! Guests will have the opportunity to win great prizes by popping a balloon at their table
• The official ribbon cutting ceremony will be at 5:30pm with the Wesley Chapel Chamber of Commerce, local business leaders and elected officials
• Two For One Drink Specials All Day along with other daily specials throughout the week

The Wesley Chapel Sonny’s Bar-B-Q is located at 5324 Bruce B. Down Blvd., Wesley Chapel, FL 33543 and the phone number is (813) 994-8989, for more information.

The new Sonny’s Bar-B-Q  is located at 1515 Dunlawton Avenue, Port Orange, 32127 and the phone number is (386) 492-8820. The location boasts many unique features, such as a beautiful ceramic “Spanish style” roof as well as a spacious parking lot.  For entertainment, the location has four 31” TV’s in the dining room as well as a roomy, open floor plan and other new design changes. This location also includes a drive-thru.

“We are excited to have this location open in East Volusia and we look forward to being an active member of the community,” said Bob Yarmuth, Owner and Chief Executive of Sonny’s Franchise Company.

Managing Partner of Port Orange Sonny’s Bar-B-Q, Tom Stephan adds, “I am delighted to open the new Port Orange location!   All of the team members here are excited too.”

Grand Opening details soon to follow!

Megan Clementi and Sonny’s will host two charity nights, whereby a portion of the sales, between 5pm and 9pm will be donated to Give Kids the World. Dates and locations are as follows: 

Tuesday, March 23rd Sonny’s at 310 S. Alafaya Trail, Orlando, FL 32825 from 5:00pm to 9:00pm
Monday, March 29th Sonny’s at 7460 Dover Garden Lane, Oviedo, FL 32765 from 5:00pm to 9:00pm

 “Partnering with Miss Florida USA 2010, Megan Clementi is a unique opportunity. Our team members are excited and we hope to raise much needed funds for Give Kids the World,” said Bob Yarmuth, Owner and Chief Executive Officer of Sonny’s Franchise Company. 

 “Most of us don’t understand what it means to have a life-threatening illness; it means living in hospitals being pricked and prodded by needles. GKTW offers kids a vacation to a place where they can feel 'normal’. It is a place for a mother or father to witness their child smile; something that many of these kids have been unable to do. These families have the opportunity to experience the happiest memories of their lives. You cannot put a price on GKTW, this place is truly magical,” said Megan Clementi, Miss Florida USA 2010.

About Megan Clementi
Megan was crowned Miss Florida USA 2010 on July 18th, 2010.  Megan is an accomplished dancer and former captain of the Orlando Magic Dancers. Megan is also a UCF alumna where she graduated with her Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering with a minor in Engineering Leadership. Megan supports many non-profts including Give Kids The World, Susan G. Komen and the Florida Lighthouse Association.

About Give Kids The World
Give Kids The World is a non-profit organization that exists only to fulfill the wishes of all children with life-threatening illnesses and their families from around the world to experience a memorable, joyful, cost-free visit to the Central Florida attractions, and to enjoy the magic of Give Kids The World Village for as long as there is a need.  For more information on Give Kids The World, please visit their website at http://www.gktw.org.

On Tuesday, January 26th, participating Sonny’s locations, across the Southeast, donated a portion of the day’s sales directly to the American Red Cross Haiti Relief Fund, an essential organization in the rescue and rehabilitation efforts in the country of Haiti.

“Sonny’s has always been a socially responsible company and we are grateful that our franchisees were able to combine efforts quickly and raise much needed funds to help during this tragic event ,” said Bob Yarmuth, Owner and Chief Executive of Sonny’s Franchise Company. Sonny’s will continue to be proactive community partners.

Donations can be made to the American Red Cross International Response Fund at redcross.org or by calling 1-800-RED-CROSS. Donors can designate their gifts to Haiti relief.  Donations of $10 can also be made by texting “HAITI" to "90999."