Teleflora Florists Celebrate a Decade of Delivering Smiles to the Masses

LOS ANGELES (June 29, 2010) - Teleflora, the world's leading flower wire service, offering only hand-arranged, hand-delivered floral arrangements, announced today its plans for the 10th anniversary of Make Someone Smile® Week, the floral industry's leading benevolent program running from Sunday, July 18 through Saturday, July 24. Thousands of Teleflora member florists and community volunteers will deliver bouquets in the company's keepsake gift Be Happy® Mug to those most in need of a smile, such as hospital patients, senior citizens living in nursing homes and assisted living homes, and recipients of Meals-on-Wheels programs. In honor of the 10th anniversary, Teleflora will also award 10 lucky member units a check for $1,000 to be given to a charity of their choice.

Teleflora will donate more than 50,000 of their Be Happy® Mugs to its member florists, who will work with local wholesalers and growers to secure donated flowers. Local Teleflora florists will use these donations to design cheerful Be Happy® Bouquets, full of roses and daisies, and deliver them to residents in their local communities.

I can't believe 10 years has passed since the first Make Someone Smile® Week. None of this would have been possible without the dedication of our member florist volunteers who work hard each year to see that residents in their communities benefit from this wonderful program," said Rich Salvaggio, Vice President of Industry Relations and Publications, Teleflora."And I think it is only fitting that on the 10th anniversary, Teleflora is awarding a $1,000 check to 10 lucky florists, to give back to a charity of their choice."

Since its launch 10 years ago, Make Someone Smile® Week has become the floral industry's most successful charitable program. In 10 years, more than 22,000 florists in the U.S. and Canada have donated their time. Teleflora's program has delivered more than 200,000 bouquets to those most in need of a smile.

For more information on Teleflora's Make Someone Smile Week, or how you can get involved, call 310.966.8328.