Lapels collects over FOUR TONS of clothing to benefit the Big Brothers Big Sisters Foundation.

DATELINE: HANOVER, MA… Earlier this fall, “Big Brother” Lawrence Friedman, CEO of Lapels, challenged the Lapels Dry Cleaning stores in Massachusetts and Rhode Island to double their collection of clothing during the semi-annual Lapels Clothing drive to benefit the Big Brothers Big Sisters Foundation. The numbers are in and over FOUR TONS of clothing was collected!

Friedman is clearly delighted with the success of this fall’s clothing drive noting, “As a Big Brother for the past eight years, on behalf of “littles” everywhere who will benefit from this effort, I would like to give a heartfelt thanks to our loyal Lapels’ patrons and franchisees who helped Lapels take its dedication to helping kids to a new height. As Lapels continues to grow, so does our capacity to serve the community, as evidenced by the great results of our latest clothing drive.”

Kaurie McDermott, spokesperson for the Big Sisters Foundation in Cranston, Rhode Island, thanked Lapels, noting, “The generous contribution of clothing collected by Lapels was very much appreciated since we are in need of clothing donations at this time. We appreciate their generosity and look forward to continuing to build our relationship with them and would love to work with them again in the future.”

The two Rhode Island Lapels stores, located in Greenville and Lincoln, collected over half a ton of clothing to benefit the Big Sisters Foundation of Rhode Island.

During the last week of October, patrons of all of the Massachusetts Lapels stores heeded the effort to clean out their closets, including the Lapels stores in: Abington, Boston, Concord, Dedham, Easton, Framingham, Halifax, Hanover, Lynnfield, Newton, Norton, Quincy, Randolph, Salem, Taunton, Westford, and Westwood.

Overall, Lapels Dry Cleaning collected 329 bags, totaling over 8,800 pounds of clothing.

Look for the next Lapels’ Dry Cleaning Clothing Drive to benefit the Big Brothers Big Sisters Foundation coming to your neighborhood Lapels in April 2007!

The gently used clothing collected by Lapels will be distributed to Big Brothers Big Sisters consignment shops, where the net proceeds from the sales of these items will support the Big Brothers Big Sisters mission to help children reach their potential through professionally supported, one-to-one relationships.

Lapels Community Commitment
Being a good neighbor isn’t just a slogan at Lapels, where community involvement is becoming a tradition. The Clothing Drive is now a semi- annual event benefiting the Big Brothers Big Sisters Foundation, with more stores than ever participating. In addition to conducting clothing drives, Lapels has also worked in conjunction with the American Red Cross to encourage blood donations through campaigns in their stores, and by sponsoring blood drives as well.

About Big Brothers Big Sisters
Big Brothers Big Sisters serves over 200,000 children, ages 6 through 18, in 5,000 communities across all 50 states, establishing successful mentoring relationships for all children who need and want them, contributing to better schools, brighter futures, and stronger communities for all. Big Brothers Big Sisters one-to-one mentoring makes a huge difference for the youth it serves by helping at-risk youth overcome the many challenges they face

Big Brothers Big Sisters was selected by Forbes Magazine as one of its top ten charities, making the publication’s “gold star” list of charities which it believes are worthy of donor consideration, in its annual survey of 200 large charities. The magazine surveyed 200 non-profits and rated them on how efficiently they collect and distribute dollars. Forbes looked at three categories: charitable commitment, fundraising efficiency, and donor dependency.

A Rising Star
In 2005, Lapels was ranked in Entrepreneur’s “Franchise 500” as well as Entrepreneur’s “Top 50 New Franchises,” identifying Lapels as one of today’s top franchise opportunities. Entrepreneur's “Franchise 500” is the best and most comprehensive rating of franchises in the world and is based on objective, quantifiable measures of a franchise operation.

The Lapels Difference
With Lapels’ unique outsourcing advantage, Lapels storeowners outsource dry cleaning operations, providing the best possible service and quality to customers while caring for the environment. With the establishment of franchisee owned Lapels Earth Friendly dry cleaning plants in Massachusetts, Lapels retail store franchisees will have unprecedented access to wholesale dry cleaning that meets Lapels rigorous standards, providing better quality at a better price.

Lapels franchise owners benefit from exclusive territories, group purchasing power, job security and unlimited earning potential. Lapels offers franchisees full training and support in every aspect of the business and a comprehensive start-up package that includes: a point-of sale computer system; an automatic clothing conveyer; a wedding gown program; retail products to sell; indoor and outdoor signage with all needed permits; a grand opening marketing package; and advertising promotion to 10,000 homes. Lapels also provides franchisees a custom web site with email, on-going training and support, custom counters, start up supplies, and much more.

Store Locations
Lapels has stores in Massachusetts (Abington, Boston-Back Bay, Boston-Charles River Park, Concord, Dedham, Easton, Framingham, Halifax, Hanover, Lynnfield, Newton, Norton, Quincy, Randolph, Salem, Taunton, Westford, and Westwood); California (Pomona); Louisiana (Baton Rouge); Rhode Island (Greenville and Lincoln); Texas (Garland); and Washington (Kirkland). Lapels is also coming soon to Brighton, MA, Cape Cod, MA, Sudbury, MA, and Arlington, TX.

Lapels – Earth Friendly Cleaners
A full slate of services are offered at each Lapels store, including: same-day dry cleaning; shirt service; tailoring; shoe repair; wedding gown heirlooming; suede and leather processing; box storage and fur storage.

Lapels corporate offices are located at 962 Washington Street, Hanover, MA 02339. To learn more about franchise opportunities with Lapels, call toll free (866) 695-2735 or email admin@lapelsdrycleaning.com. Additional information and up-to-date company news can also be found on the company’s Web site, www.lapelsdrycleaning.com.