BOJA Bojangles, Inc.

Today, Bojangles’ (NASDAQ:BOJA) hosted their annual Teacher Appreciation Breakfast for South Carolina’s 83 District Teachers of the Year at the Trinity Episcopal Cathedral in Columbia, S.C. During the event, Bojangles’ surprised the newly-announced 2016 South Carolina Teacher of the Year, Jennifer Wise, from Richland County School District One, with a five-night Caribbean cruise.

A founding partner of Teacher Appreciation Month in South Carolina, Bojangles’ also recognized the following teachers at the event:

• Sheryn Hadley Billue, from Lexington County School District One, was selected at random to receive a five-night Caribbean cruise.
• Amanda Harris, from Kershaw County School District, was announced as the Charles S. Dickerson Award recipient for community service. She received a $1,000 gift, with $500 donated in her name to the nonprofit of her choice.

“Bojangles’ has proudly supported South Carolina Future Minds for the last seven years,” said Bojangles’ President and CEO, Clifton Rutledge. “Educators play such an important role in our society, so it’s our pleasure to recognize these remarkable individuals who make such a difference in the lives of students in South Carolina.”

Bojangles’ partnership with South Carolina Future Minds continues this September with the company’s annual in-store fundraiser. Customers will have the opportunity to honor past and present teachers by purchasing a paper book for $1 at more than 100 Bojangles’ restaurants in South Carolina. Customers may write the name of the teacher they would like to honor on the book. These symbolic books will be displayed on the walls of Bojangles’ restaurants. All funds raised will support the My First Library program in the Palmetto state.

Since 2010, Bojangles’ has raised more than $140,000 in support of a better learning experience for the state’s public school students. Over seven years, the company has donated more than 20,000 books to teachers in the state of South Carolina.

“South Carolina Future Minds has always maintained our passion and vision for public school excellence in our State,” said South Carolina Future Minds Executive Director, Trip DuBard. “However, we cannot do this work without the support of great partners like Bojangles’. Through Bojangles’ Teacher of the Year activities and their in-store fundraisers, we’re able to provide financial support for better curriculums, improved classrooms and much-needed materials for thousands of teachers and students.”  

About Bojangles’, Inc.

Bojangles', Inc. is a highly differentiated and growing restaurant operator and franchisor dedicated to serving customers high-quality, craveable food made from our Southern recipes. Founded in 1977 in Charlotte, NC, Bojangles' serves menu items such as delicious, famous chicken, made-from-scratch buttermilk biscuits, flavorful fixin's and Legendary Iced Tea®.  At December 27, 2015, Bojangles' had 662 system-wide restaurants, of which 281 were company-operated and 381 were franchised restaurants, primarily located in the Southeastern United States.  For more information, visit www.bojangles.com or follow Bojangles' on Facebook and Twitter.

Forward-Looking Statements

This press release contains forward-looking statements. All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this press release are forward-looking statements. These statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve a number of known and unknown risks, assumptions, trends, uncertainties and factors that are beyond our control. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those anticipated, estimated or projected. We undertake no obligations to update or revise publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise than as required under the federal securities laws.

Media Contact: Cliff Cermak, Bojangles’ PR & Media Relations (ccermak@bojangles.com or 704-519-2126) 
or Debbie Jones, S.C. Future Minds (Debbie@scfutureminds.org or 803-741-5646)