BOULDER, Colo. -- Smoker Friendly International, in conjunction with The Cigarette Store Corp., chose to support the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation (JDRF) as its primary charitable cause in 2011 by joining the "Walk to Cure Diabetes" through sneaker sales in its stores. Having their best year ever, the stores raised $36,669 in a 45-day period.
The two top selling stores were Smoker Friendly/Gasamat locations in Cheyenne, Wyo., and Aurora, Colo., each raising more than $2,000.
Sneakers sell for $1 each or the customer can round up their purchase to the nearest dollar for donation; by the end of the campaign the store is wallpapered with sneakers.
"We are so proud to have the opportunity to raise these dollars through the dedication of our store crews and generous customers," Smoker Friendly said.
Smoker Friendly continued its effort in Boulder, Colo., at its two-day Annual Conference & Tobacco Festival through $11,500 in donations from other Smoker Friendly retailers and participating manufacturers; these dollars combined with additional donations throughout the year from The Cigarette Store Corp. elevated the total contribution to more than $80,000 so far in 2011.
JDRF funding and leadership is associated with most major scientific breakthroughs in type 1 diabetes research to date. The foundation remains a global leader in driving type 1 diabetes science forward by funding more type 1 research than any other charity.
Smoker Friendly has participated in the Walk to Cure Diabetes since 2007, it said.
Boulder-based Smoker Friendly a leading cigarette and tobacco store (CTS) retailer. The Smoker Friendly Authorized Dealer Program is designed for existing retail tobacco store operators who wish to market their own brand of competitively priced private-label products within an exclusive territory that is geographically protected. This program is for the tobacco retailer who would like the advantages of a buying group; wants more interaction with other cigarette and tobacco store retailers including information and idea sharing; clout with manufacturers; and the greater synergies that a nationally known private-label brand like Smoker Friendly provides.
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