There’s something magical about a Root Beer Float, and you know exactly what I’m talking about. The creamy contrast of the vanilla ice cream melting against the bite of carbonation, the foam trying to escape at the top of the glass, it’s enough to make anyones mouth water. On August 6th, we celebrated Free Float Day, and we got to see firsthand the magic that this treat brings. Moms arrived with carloads of kids. Groups of teenagers piled around tables together. Couples stopped by, and solo guests as well. Some people just walked in, got their free float, and headed back out to enjoy their little piece of nostalgia. Guests from every walk of life showed up to share one thing: an ice-cold A&W Root Beer Float. That sense of togetherness is exactly why this day means so much to us, but it’s about a bit more than just free ice cream.
“National Root Beer Float Day is one of our favorite days of the year because it brings people together over a free treat while supporting those who have served our country,” said Betsy Schmandt, CEO and President of A&W Restaurants. A&W partners with Disabled American Veterans (DAV) every year to support our veterans and their families. A&W’s commitment to veterans actually goes back to their humble beginnings, serving frosty mugs to World War I heroes. For over a decade now, A&W guests and partners have helped raise more than $1 million for veterans through Free Float Day!
Click here to learn more about DAV.
Behind the scenes, our team kept the floats coming for 6 hours straight, with a grand total of 986 free floats handed out to our community. If you think about it, that’s a pretty big number. And if you’re wondering just what 986 floats actually looks like, we got you covered (because we were curious too).
Handing out free floats turned into hundreds of guests coming through our doors to celebrate together, and hundreds of donations towards a cause that matters. That could be what makes the day so special. It doesn’t matter if you’re three years old, sixteen, forty-five, or eighty-five. You don’t even have to celebrate anything in particular, you just need to enjoy root beer and a solid excuse to treat yourself. And it seems like that’s something everyone can agree on.
About DAV
DAV is dedicated to ensuring our promise is kept to America’s veterans. DAV does this by helping veterans and their families access the full range of benefits available to them, fighting for the interests of America’s injured heroes on Capitol Hill, providing employment resources to veterans and their families, offering programs and services to empower them, and educating the public about the great sacrifices and needs of veterans transitioning back to civilian life. A nonprofit organization with nearly 1 million members, DAV was founded in 1920 and chartered by the U.S. Congress in 1932. Learn more at dav.org.
Click here to learn more about A&W’s mission behind Free Float Day!
