Krystal® Honors Influential Teacher on Thursday, Sept. 29

ATLANTA, GA, 2016-Sep-16 — /EPR Network/ — As part of more than 80 years of dedication to the communities it serves, The Krystal Company is focusing even more on supporting local schools with a prestigious, first-time award recognizing the involvement and spirit of one very special teacher – Ms. Crystal Friday. Brought to the attention of Krystal by Country-Music Star Jimmy Wayne, Ms. Friday is retiring this year after inspiring children for 37 years – including Jimmy Wayne.

Krystal and Jimmy Wayne teamed up for the “Country Fried” menu and Country Fried Favorites Contest earlier this year, in which students could participate by creating an artistic sculpture. Sequoyah High School, in Chattanooga, TN, was selected for the most creative art piece and will be receiving a free Jimmy Wayne concert catered by Krystal along with $5,000 in donated school supplies. Wayne’s own story became a powerful centerpiece of giving back, which focused on the importance of our community schools and teachers. With that focus, Krystal and Jimmy Wayne are recognizing Ms. Friday at a luncheon that will take place at the Coca-Cola® headquarters in Atlanta, GA at 11 a.m. on Thursday, Sept. 29.

“There will never be enough words to express my gratitude for Ms. Friday and teachers across America,” Jimmy Wayne says. “I am grateful that there are teachers and companies, like The Krystal Company and Coca-Cola, that are dedicated to making a difference in students’ lives.”

“At The Krystal Company, our hope for recognizing local schools and teachers is for them to receive some of the recognition they so richly deserve,” says Heather Schlesinger, Director of Calendar Programs and Promotions for The Krystal Company. “We can all remember a teacher who changed our lives and helped shape our future. For teachers, it’s a labor of love that often goes unnoticed. This award is simply our way of saying ‘thank you’ to teachers everywhere and to our communities that give us so much.”

Ms. Friday’s award is just one of many efforts The Krystal Company has contributed on behalf of neighborhood schools in the past few years. Creativity awards, back-to-school meal deals, give-back promotions, and the recently-launched Squaring is Caring program have all celebrated the importance and value of teachers, schools, extracurricular programs, and the families and students in their communities.

Jimmy Wayne is able to articulate the value of education and strong teachers from his own experience. “There were many rules in the foster care system and group home, I just didn’t follow them all,” Wayne says. “I was failing school, but she [Ms. Crystal Friday] made it a point to see that I didn’t become another ‘lost’ student.”  Wayne will be on hand to help recognize Ms. Friday at the presentation.

About The Krystal Company

Founded in Chattanooga, Tennessee, in 1932, The Krystal Company is the oldest quick service restaurant chain in the South.  Its hamburgers are still served fresh and hot off the grill on the iconic square bun at more than 350 restaurants in 11 states. Krystal’s Atlanta-based Restaurant Support Center serves a team of 6,000 employees.  For more information, visit http://www.Krystal.com or http://www.facebook.com/Krystal or follow the brand on Twitter and Instagram @Krystal.

About The Coca-Cola Company: 

The Coca-Cola Company is the world’s largest beverage company, refreshing consumers with more than 500 sparkling and still brands. Led by Coca-Cola, one of the world’s most valuable and recognizable brands, our Company’s portfolio features 20 billion-dollar brands including Diet Coke, Fanta, Sprite, Coca-Cola Zero, vitaminwater, Powerade, Minute Maid, Simply, Georgia and Del Valle. Globally, we are the No. 1 provider of sparkling beverages, ready-to-drink coffees, and juices and juice drinks. Through the world’s largest beverage distribution system, consumers in more than 200 countries enjoy our beverages at a rate of 1.9 billion servings a day. With an enduring commitment to building sustainable communities, our Company is focused on initiatives that reduce our environmental footprint, support active, healthy living, create a safe, inclusive work environment for our associates, and enhance the economic development of the communities where we operate. Together with our bottling partners, we rank among the world’s top 10 private employers with more than 700,000 system associates. For more information, visit Coca-Cola Journey at www.coca-colacompany.com, follow us on Twitter at twitter.com/CocaColaCo, visit our blog, Coca-Cola Unbottled, at www.coca-colablog.com or find us on LinkedIn at www.linkedin.com/company/the-coca-cola-company.

About Jimmy Wayne:

Jimmy Wayne is a former foster kid turned award-winning country music artist whose songs and story highlight his mission to raise awareness for kids in foster care. Jimmy’s hits include “Stay Gone,” “Paper Angels,” “Do You Believe Me Now” “Sara Smile” and “I Love You This Much.” In 2010, Jimmy walked halfway across America (from Nashville to Phoenix) to raise awareness for kids aging out of the foster-care system. Jimmy has released two novels, Paper Angles a made-for-TV movie and a three-time New York Times Bestseller, Walk to Beautiful. For more about Jimmy Wayne, please visit, www.jimmywayne.com or https://www.facebook.com/JimmyWayneOfficial/ follow him on Twitter @JimmyWayne and Instagram @JimmyWayneOfficial.

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