Press
Release
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Contact
Information
Cracker Barrel Old Country Store, Inc.
Julie Davis
615-443-9266
jdavis@crackerbarrel.com
or
REACH Media Inc./The Tom Joyner Morning Show
Maiya Hollie
maiya.hollie@reachmediainc.com
or
African Ancestry, Inc.
Taylor Communications Group
info@taylorcommunicationsgroup.com
.
Cracker
Barrel Old Country Store(R) Expands Second-Year Sponsorship of Tom
Joyner Family Reunion
(BLACK PR WIRE)LEBANON,
Tenn.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--May 16, 2008--Cracker Barrel Old Country Store,
Inc. ("Cracker Barrel"), The Tom Joyner Morning Show and
African Ancestry, Inc. are partnering to introduce the "What's
In A Name Contest" as part of Cracker Barrel's second-year sponsorship
of the Tom Joyner Family Reunion(R). Through this contest, four lucky
families will win packages to the sold-out 2008 Tom Joyner Family
Reunion event being held August 29-September 1, 2008 at the Gaylord
Palms Resort and Convention Center in Orlando, Florida as well as
the opportunity to have their family lineage traced by African Ancestry,
Inc.
Beginning
this week and running through June 16, listeners can register to win
one of four grand prizes by logging on to BlackAmericaWeb.com and
writing an essay about their family history and why they would want
their family genealogy traced. The four families selected will enjoy
all the weekend activities and have their genealogy revealed at the
Family Reunion. Everyone attending can learn more about their own
genealogy by attending one of the two family genealogy seminars sponsored
by Cracker Barrel and led by African Ancestry, Inc., an ancestry tracing
company that pioneered African lineage matching in the United States
utilizing a proprietary DNA-database.
"We
are very excited to build on our relationship with the Tom Joyner
Morning Show as a sponsor of Family Reunion," said Diana Wynne,
Senior Vice President of Corporate Affairs at Cracker Barrel. "The
'What's In A Name Contest' will enable four families to learn of their
African genealogy as it's traced back more than 300 years. Cracker
Barrel welcomes the opportunity to share these historical insights
with Tom Joyner's loyal audience."
At
last year's reunion, Cracker Barrel team members visited with thousands
of reunion attendees and often answered questions regarding the origin
of the company name. Executives shared the story of how saltine crackers
used to be shipped in barrels to old country stores.
When
the barrels were empty, they became useful as a place to hold a checkerboard,
a conversation or both. "The Cracker Barrel" became known
as a comfortable place to visit where people would share stories and
advice. As Cracker Barrel shared these insights with Tom Joyner's
team, the "What's In A Name Contest" began taking shape.
"Ever
since I've had my genealogy traced, I've wanted to give others that
same opportunity and our partners at Cracker Barrel had the same idea,"
says Tom Joyner, whose show is aired in more than 115 markets reaching
eight million listeners every week. "I can't wait to find out
whether some of the winners of the "What's in a Name Contest"
are
long-lost cousins of mine!"
To
enter the "What's In A Name Contest" and review the contest's
official rules and regulations, log onto BlackAmericaWeb.com.
About
Cracker Barrel
Cracker
Barrel Old Country Store(R) restaurants provide a friendly home-away-from-home
in their old country stores and restaurants.
Guests
are cared for like family while relaxing and enjoying real home-style
food and shopping that's surprisingly unique, genuinely fun and reminiscent
of America's country heritage...all at a fair price.
The
restaurant serves up delicious, home-style country food such as meatloaf
and homemade chicken n' dumplins as well as its signature biscuits
using an old family recipe. The authentic old country retail store
is fun to shop and offers unique gifts and self-indulgences.
Cracker
Barrel Old Country Store, Inc. is a wholly owned subsidiary of the
publicly held CBRL Group, Inc. (Nasdaq: CBRL).
Cracker
Barrel was established in 1969 in Lebanon, Tenn. Cracker Barrel Old
Country Store, Inc. operates 576 company-owned locations in
41
states. Every Cracker Barrel unit is open seven days a week with hours
Sunday through Thursday, 6 a.m. - 10 p.m., and Friday and Saturday,
6 a.m. - 11 p.m. For more information, visit crackerbarrel.com.
About
The Tom Joyner Morning Show
The
nation's # 1 syndicated urban morning show, which airs in over
115
markets reaching nearly 8 million listeners, has distinguished itself
over the years as continuously giving back to its audience with quality
programming, highly popular promotions, special events and philanthropy.
Since 2004, Joyner has awarded millions to nearly 2,000 contest winners
and his Foundation has raised more than $55 million to help keep students
in historically black colleges and universities.
The
Morning Show with co-hosts Sybil Wilkes and J. Anthony Brown also
features news analysis with Jacque Reid, the Celebrity Snitch Huggy
Lowdown, political commentary by Tavis Smiley, and celebrity news
with Jawn Murray, as well as comedic observations and lifestyle tips
from Sheryl Underwood, D.L. Hughley, and Adele Givens. Joyner's website,
BlackAmericaWeb.com, has more than 1.5 million registered users and
features news with special reports by award winning journalists and
exclusive political coverage as well as interactive elements with
on demand audi
About
African Ancestry, Inc.
Founded
in 2003 on years of research, African Ancestry, Inc., is an ancestry
tracing company that pioneered African lineage matching in the United
States utilizing its proprietary DNA-database of more than 25,000
African DNA lineages to more accurately assess present-day country
of origin for people of African descent. Since its inception, African
Ancestry's lineage reveals have impacted the lives of more than 100,000
people of African descent in the U.S.
African-American-owned
and operated, African Ancestry is headquartered in Washington, DC.
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