The Big Apple and East Rutherford weren’t the only New York-area
communities with superstar activity over the weekend. The Applebee’s
neighborhood in Lindenhurst, NY, also rolled out the red carpet for
multi-platinum singer-songwriter Gavin DeGraw to play a special concert
for veterans, active duty military and area residents.
Multi-Platinum Singer-Songwriter and 2013 Face of Applebee's Thank You Movement Gavin DeGraw performs Friday at Lindenhurst High School in Lindenhurst, NY. The village was named America's "Most Thankful Neighborhood" and won a tribute concert for area veterans for compiling nearly 24,000 messages of thanks at www.thankyoumovement.com in the weeks leading up to Veterans Day. (Photo: Business Wire)
Lindenhurst welcomed DeGraw, the face of the Applebee’s Thank You
Movement in 2013, to town Friday after compiling nearly 24,000 messages
of appreciation for the U.S. Armed Forces in the weeks leading up to
Veterans Day at www.thankyoumovement.com,
where Applebee’s is collecting “Thank Yous” for each of the 24 million
veterans and active duty military in the United States. The concert took
place at Lindenhurst High School, where DeGraw performed for a crowd of
more than 1,000 veterans, Applebee’s Guests and community members.
“I loved being able to perform for the Lindenhurst community,” said
DeGraw. “The gratitude they showed the brave men and women who serve our
country is incredible. I feel honored to have been a part of the
Applebee’s Thank You Movement.”
Nationwide, the Applebee’s Thank You Movement goes beyond the
restaurant’s annual tradition of serving veterans and active duty
military free meals on Veterans Day. Instead, it celebrates veterans
year-round, with more than 6.7 million messages of “thanks” collected
since the initiative began in 2011.
In 2013, visitors to the Thank You Movement website were directed to
their local Applebee’s Facebook page, where personal Thank You messages
were tallied by neighborhood and tracked in real time on the Thank You
Movement website. On Veterans Day, Lindenhurst earned the title of “Most
Thankful Neighborhood” and the opportunity to host Friday’s concert.
“The people of Lindenhurst really took the time to show our veterans and
active duty armed services how much we care,” said Ed Doherty, Chairman
and CEO of Doherty Enterprises, which owns 100 Applebee’s restaurants in
four states, including the restaurant in Lindenhurst. “Veterans always
have a home at Applebee’s, because when it comes to defending and
fighting for our freedom, they never stop. And when it comes to showing
our support, neither will we.”
On Nov. 11, Applebee’s restaurants served nearly 1 million free entrees
to veterans and active duty servicemembers across the country.
Applebee’s has served nearly 5 million free meals on Veterans Day since
beginning the program in 2009.
About Applebee's Services, Inc.
Applebee’s (www.applebees.com)
is the world’s largest casual dining chain, with approximately 2,000
locations in 49 states, 15 countries and one U.S. territory. Based in
Kansas City, Mo., Applebee’s restaurant takes pride in providing a
welcoming, neighborhood environment where everyone can enjoy the dining
experience. Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill & Bar® is a DineEquity, Inc.
(NYSE:DIN) brand, and is franchised and operated by Applebee’s
International, Inc. and its affiliates.
About Gavin DeGraw:
Gavin DeGraw is not a stranger to the top of the charts. He first broke
through with the 2003 release of his debut album, Chariot,
which sold over a million copies, earned platinum certification, and
yielded three hit singles: “I Don’t Want To Be,” “Follow Through,” and
the title-track, “Chariot.” Gavin’s self-titled second album debuted at
No. 1 on the digital sales chart and at No. 7 on Billboard’s
Top 200 album chart in 2008, earning Gavin his first Top 10 album. It
spawned the hit singles “In Love With A Girl,” which Billboard dubbed
“a rocking homerun,” and the gold-certified “We Belong Together.” In
2009, Gavin released Free as a gift to his die-hard fans
clamoring for recorded versions of Gavin’s live favorites. DeGraw
released his third studio album, Sweeter, in September 2011.
The album’s first single, “Not Over You,” co-written with OneRepublic’s
Ryan Tedder, reached #1 on the Hot AC charts, was a top 10 hit on Top
40, and was certified double platinum. On October 15th, 2013
DeGraw released his acclaimed, fourth studio album, MAKE
A MOVE which has since garnered rave reviews from such
publications as Billboard, People and Entertainment Weekly amongst many
others. Gavin was recently nominated for his first Grammy for “We Both
Know,” the song he co-wrote with Colbie Calliat for the 2013 film, “Safe
Haven.” For more information visit www.gavindegraw.com-facebook.com/gavindegraw -
twitter: @gavindegraw
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