Since I don’t eat at Burger King much these days, the only things I’ve really been able to appreciate about the company are their funny (and, well, creepy) commercials featuring the King. Now, I have an even better reason to say I like what the fast-food chain is doing.
The company’s Have It Your Way Foundation, a nonprofit public charity, recently announced more than $1 million in scholarships to 944 students across the country. These were awarded as part of the ninth annual Burger King Scholars Program. Over that time, there have been nearly 13,000 scholarships awarded, which is more than $12.7 million, since the program started in 2000. The program was created in the memory of James W. McLamore, Burger King’s co-founder.
Of the 944 students, 815 were high school seniors awarded $1,000 scholarships, 100 were student employees at Burger King (also awarded $1,000) and another 29 student employees at Burger King were awarded $5,000 scholarships.
The Have It Your Way foundation generates the scholarship money by way of fundraising activities from Burger King restaurants across the country. If you’re interested in a scholarship application for 2010, go to the Have It Your Way Foundation website for more information.