Great American Cookies® Continues Annual Support of 'Light the Night' Walk

HOUSTON – November 12, 2009 – Great American Cookies® stores in Houston have wrapped up another successful year of support for one of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society’s (LLS) annual fundraising events, The Light the Night Walk. This year, company volunteers were on hand at both area events, including the Oct. 10 walk at Houston’s Discovery Green Park and the Oct. 25 walk at Market Street in The Woodlands, to reward walkers at the finish line with coupons to Great American Cookies and a slice of a customized “super” Cookie Cake (massive cakes comprised of multiple individual Cookie Cakes). George A. Cookies™, Great American Cookies’ official spokes-cookie, was also on hand greeting walkers and volunteers.

Cookie Associates, the Houston master franchisee of Great American Cookies, kicked off their annual support of the event by producing customized Light the Night t-shirts for around 270 employees at all 24 area locations to wear in-store to help raise awareness.

“Leukemia, lymphoma and other blood cancers touch many of us through personal experiences with family and friends,” said Nichole Poulos of Great American Cookies. “Our employees recognize the important work of The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society and had a great time at the Light the Night Walks.”

According to Jennifer Tucker, walk director for the Greater Houston Light the Night Walks, the 2009 events in Houston and The Woodlands attracted a total of around 4,500 participants and raised more than $620,000 to date, a landmark amount for the Greater Houston chapter.

“We are so thrilled that companies like Great American Cookies donate their product and their time to support the Light the Night Walks,” said Tucker. “This year we were even fortunate enough to have ‘George A. Cookies’ at the walk! He was a lot of fun and added to the festive feel that we always try to capture. We would like to thank the donors, our volunteers and everyone who walked for raising a record breaking amount of money for patient aid & research. Without companies like Great American Cookies, the Walks would definitely not be possible."

Great American Cookies stores in the Houston area have been supporting LLS and The Light the Night Walks for the past 10 years. The Light the Night Walk is one of The Society’s national fundraising events designed to help raise money to support blood cancer research, fund patient aid, provide education and support groups to patients and their families and most importantly, to honor those who have battled blood cancer. For more information about The Light the Night Walk, visit www.lightthenight.org/txg.