Opportunity to Meet Jack in the Box Fictional Founder Attracts Top Bid at eBay Auction (9/01)

How much would you pay to poke the Pillsbury Doughboy's stomach? Or squeeze the Charmin with Mr. Whipple? Or bake brownies with Betty Crocker? Though these advertising icons aren't real, they've become so ingrained in the American psyche that the line between reality and fantasy has blurred. But there's something very real about the $1,725 that one individual has offered to pay to meet Jack, the fictional founder of Jack in the Box® restaurants.

The opportunity to personally meet Jack, face-to-face, on the set of a television commercial shoot was the lead item that The Jack in the Box Foundation auctioned on eBay in a charity event that just ended. The event raised several thousand dollars for Big Brothers Big Sisters of America®.

"The fact that people are bidding for a chance simply to meet Jack, a fictional personality, speaks volumes about his popularity," said Kathy Kovacevich, community relations manager for The Jack in the Box Foundation. "Not only are we fulfilling a bidder's dream to meet Jack, but proceeds from the auction will help fund BBBSA's youth-mentoring programs."

Since his introduction in 1995, Jack, the witty and irreverent spokesperson for Jack in the Box restaurants, has steadily built a huge following of Jack fanatics. These adoring fans have elevated Jack from fake fast-food flak to real corporate executive, family man, even presidential candidate. During the six-year-running "Jack's Back" advertising campaign, Jack has starred in nearly 300 television and radio commercials. The campaign has also received numerous awards, including a 2001 Cannes Gold Lion for the best fast-food advertising in the world, and a 2001 Bronze EFFIE from the New York American Marketing Association.

Founded in 1904, BBBSA is one of the nation's most experienced and widely known youth-mentoring organizations. BBBSA has provided professionally supported, one-to-one mentoring relationships for more than a million children through its more than 500 affiliated agencies. BBBSA is headquartered in Philadelphia. For more information, visit BBBSA's website at www.bbbsa.org or phone 215/567-7000.

A national BBBSA sponsor since 1998, The Jack in the Box Foundation has provided more than $1 million in financial support and services through contributions from Jack in the Box Inc. and its employees, community fund-raising activities, and volunteer efforts.

Founded in 1951, Jack in the Box Inc. is the nation's first major drive-thru hamburger chain. The San Diego-based company operates or Franchises more than 1,730 quick-service restaurants in 16 states and has more than 43,000 employees.