Golf Tournament Raises Funds for the RTM Institute

The second annual RTM Challenge golf tournament and auction raised $215‚000 to benefit Kennesaw State University's RTM Institute for Leadership‚ Ethics & Character Endowment Fund. Presenting sponsors of the RTM Challenge include Equifax‚ The Coca−Cola Company and RTM Restaurant Group.

Georgia (Nov 1, 2004) — The second annual RTM Challenge golf tournament and auction raised $215‚000 to benefit Kennesaw State University's RTM Institute for Leadership‚ Ethics & Character Endowment Fund. Presenting sponsors of the RTM Challenge include Equifax‚ The Coca−Cola Company and RTM Restaurant Group.

"We are indeed appreciative of RTM for the extraordinary work they do in support of the Institute‚” said Kennesaw State University President Betty L. Siegel. “We continue to be overwhelmed with their generosity‚ and are also grateful to the many sponsors and partners who worked to make this event a great success.”

October 11‚ over 100 enthusiastic golfers “teed−off” at Atlanta Country Club. The tournament was followed by a live auction‚ guest emceed by former Atlanta Braves All−Stars Phil Niekro and Ron Reed.

RTM Restaurant Group‚ one of the nation’s largest restaurant franchise companies‚ announced in 2003 a gift of $1 million to endow Kennesaw State’s new RTM Institute for Leadership‚ Ethics & Character. The gift by Atlanta−based RTM is the largest received for the new Institute and will allow the RTM Institute to grow quickly into one of the nation’s top centers established to teach future business‚ education and non−profit community leaders.

"Our goal is to help KSU pioneer a curriculum that will instill integrity‚ truthfulness and fairness into business practices and decision−making‚” says Russ Umphenour‚ CEO‚ RTM Restaurant Group. “These values form the foundation from which successful leaders should follow.”

The RTM Institute for Leadership‚ Ethics & Character exists to develop and promote ethical leadership among individuals and organizations through education‚ service and applied research.

The gift to KSU is the latest in a commitment to community service by RTM that has spanned decades. RTM‚ which celebrated its 30th anniversary in 2003‚ was founded on six principles: Dream Big‚ Work Hard‚ Get it Done‚ Play Fair‚ Have Fun and Make a Difference. The company’s very name embodies part of its philosophy −− Results Through Motivation. RTM has long supported the communities in which it operates‚ including long−standing relationships with Big Brothers Big Sisters and other youth mentoring organizations.

RTM Restaurant Group operates 915 restaurants in 24 states and 43 markets. It is ranked by the Restaurant Finance Monitor as the largest restaurant franchisee in the United States. RTM’s (acronym for Results Through Motivation) company portfolio of restaurant concepts includes Arby’s and Mrs. Winner’s Chicken & Biscuits. The company employs approximately 25‚000 people and is privately held by management. RTM’s website can be found at www.rtminc.com and Arby’s website can be found at www.arbys.com.

A leader in innovative teaching and learning, Kennesaw State University offers more than 150 undergraduate, graduate and doctoral degrees to its more than 41,000 students. With 11 colleges on two metro Atlanta campuses, Kennesaw State is a member of the University System of Georgia and the second-largest university in the state. The university’s vibrant campus culture, diverse population, strong global ties and entrepreneurial spirit draw students from throughout the region and from 126 countries across the globe. Kennesaw State is a Carnegie-designated doctoral research institution (R2), placing it among an elite group of only 6 percent of U.S. colleges and universities with an R1 or R2 status. For more information, visit kennesaw.edu.