Cafe Carolina Achieves Success with Shamrock Contributions

in the Fight Against Muscular Dystrophy

RALEIGH, N.C. (April 29, 2009) — Cafe Carolina and Bakery’s locations raised $24,528 this year for the Muscular Dystrophy Association (MDA) by participating in the Shamrocks Against Dystrophy campaign.

During the months of February and March, customers at Cafe Carolina locations in the Triangle, Greensboro and Charlotte were encouraged to purchase a $1 green MDA Shamrock.  Once purchased, the Shamrocks, including the customer’s signature, were hung for display in Cafe Carolina to create a festive St. Patrick’s Day atmosphere. In exchange, each customer who purchased a Shamrock received coupons for discounts in the cafe.

A portion of the total raised by Cafe Carolina will help send 30 children to MDA summer camps this year. Offering a fun, safe outdoor experience, the camps give participating youngsters the opportunity to develop important life skills such as confidence, independence and social ability.

“We are very grateful for what our Cafe Carolina customers and employees provided this year for the Shamrocks Against Dystrophy campaign,” said Ron Hines, director of Operations for Café Carolina. “This contribution will play a direct role in helping affected children in our local communities attend MDA camp. We’re very proud of that – especially in a tough economic time for everybody.”

“MDA is proud and truly fortunate to have the partnership of Cafe Carolina,” said David Stephenson, regional representative for MDA. “We salute the commitment and enthusiasm of these wonderful folks and the Cafe Carolina patrons who continue to give our families help and hope.”

The contributions will go to help with care for local children and adults affected by one of the 43 diseases for which the MDA provides treatment. The local services that the MDA provides include wheelchair, leg brace, and communication device payment assistance, support groups, professional health education, and care at affiliated clinics at Duke University, the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, Sentara Norfolk General Hospital, Roanoke Neurologica lCenter, the Medical College of Virginia and elsewhere.