For teacher appreciation week, Sonic Drive-In has teamed up with award-winning actress Sheryl Lee Ralph to help teachers get the materials they need in the classroom. On Tuesday, May 9, the brand’s charitable arm, the Sonic Foundation will match up to $1.5 million in donations to education non-profit DonorsChoose, to donate directly to public school classroom requests submitted by teachers across U.S. public schools, according to press release.
The brand will also offer a free cheeseburger with purchase to all enrolled in SONIC Teachers’ Circle, a free rewards program exclusively for educators available through the Sonic app.
On May 9 the Sonic Foundation will match 50% of each public donation to teachers’ requests on DonorsChoose, up to $1.5 million. They can also simply text GIVE to 31869 and receive a direct link to a teacher’s classroom in their local community.
“Public school teachers have dedicated their lives to inspiring America’s youth, and we must ensure they have all the tools they need as they shape the hearts and minds of our children,” Ralph said in the press release. “I’m thrilled to partner with Sonic Drive-In for Teacher Appreciation Week to encourage people to come together and thank our educators by making a small contribution to get them the materials they desperately need.”
The brand also donates a portion of every drink, slush and shake purchase to the Sonic Foundation.
“Sonic is invested in supporting the local communities served by our more than 3,500 locations, and we’re proud of the impact we’ve made over the past 14 years through Limeades for Learning,” Lori Abou Habib, chief marketing officer of Sonic, said in the press release. “This Teacher Appreciation Week, I hope our Sonic guests will join us in celebrating teachers by donating to a classroom request on DonorsChoose on May 9, or by grabbing their favorite Sonic drink to have a portion of the purchase go towards helping a nearby public school.”