COLUMBIA (WACH) -- Bojangles customers raised more than $20,000 for South Carolina teachers and public education.
More than 100 company-and franchise-operated restaurants across the state held a two-week in-store fundraiser where customers purchased $1 and $5 paper apples to honor teachers who made a difference in their lives.
Wednesday, the money raised was donated to South Carolina Future Minds, a nonprofit organization dedicating to supporting education.
Camden Middle School's Lori Cooper, who happens to be the 2010-2011 Kershaw County was selected from the thousands of teachers honored online and in Bojangles' restaurants during May's Teacher Appreciation Month Celebration and awarded with a five-night Caribbean cruise.
"In times like this where budget considerations or budgets are tough its wonderful to see a company reaching out and appreciation teachers and showing us that what we do really matters," said Cooper.
Cooper and her husband, who is also a teacher, plan to take the cruise in August to celebrate their 20th wedding anniversary.
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