Batteries Plus® Franchise Raises $60,000 For Parkinson’s Disease Research

Franchisee’s Diagnosis Sparks Company Effort to Help Find Cure

HARTLAND, WISCONSIN (Thursday, May 05, 2005) - To help raise money for a Parkinson’s Disease cure after one its franchisees was diagnosed, Batteries Plus recently raised $60,000 in one sitting at an auction-style fundraising effort at its 2005 Convention held last month in New Orleans.

Batteries Plus Multi-Unit Franchisee Leonard Cyphers, who owns three Atlanta-area Batteries Plus stores, was diagnosed with Young Onset Parkinson’s disease in 1997 at age 48. The money raised on his behalf will go toward the research efforts of Cypher’s neurologist, Ray Watts, M.D., founder of the Movement Disorders Program at Emory University in Atlanta and Chairman of the Neurology Department of the University of Alabama, Birmingham. Watts is considered a pioneer in the field of Parkinson’s research.

“We consider our franchise system to be a family, and each franchisee a valued family member,” said Russ Reynolds, Batteries Plus President & CEO. “We were extremely overwhelmed by the strong show of support at the silent auction for this cause. It illustrates the generosity of our corporate employees, franchisees, and vendors/suppliers. We will continue ongoing efforts to raise money toward the cause in the spirit of supporting Leonard and in hopes it will help someday to lead to a cure.”

The money raised at the silent auction last month comes on the heels of a previous fundraising effort Batteries Plus held that raised $10,000 for the Parkinson’s Disease research. In that campaign, Batteries Plus, its franchisee community and Douglas Battery Manufacturing Company, the fourth largest battery manufacturer in the United States, each donated 25 cents toward Watts’ Parkinson’s disease research for every discarded automotive battery returned to any of Batteries Plus’ 213 (at the time) locations nationwide.

Cyphers was diagnosed with Young Onset Parkinson’s two years after opening his first Batteries Plus store in 1995. Shortly after his diagnosis, he was referred to Dr. Watts, who is part of an international team of doctors making significant headway in discovering improved treatments - and a cure - for Parkinson's disease. As one of his patients, Cyphers has participated in Parkinson’s disease treatment studies that provided him access to cutting-edge treatments.

“I am touched by the fundraising efforts of Batteries Plus in my honor,” Cyphers said. “Corporate philanthropic efforts like this one serve to further Parkinson’s research progress and puts us one step closer to discovering a cure within my lifetime.”

Today, at age 57, Cyphers devotes much of his free time to educating others about Parkinson’s disease and helping recently diagnosed patients learn to cope with their prognosis. He manages his Parkinson's disease through a strict regimen of medication, exercise and a good attitude.

About Batteries Plus

Batteries Plus is the nation's largest retail chain of its kind, offering a comprehensive selection of batteries, battery-related products and technical support that meet the growing battery demands for consumer and commercial customers. In addition to thousands of batteries, stores also feature a Tech Center that is equipped to design, assemble, rebuild, and test custom battery packs. Accounts include Fortune 500 companies, manufacturers, other retail channels, local municipalities, fire and police departments, the armed forces and school districts. Its product line includes batteries for both the common and hard-to-find items that are traditionally not available at other retail stores. Currently, Batteries Plus has 238 open locations in 40 states and Puerto Rico and 135 additional stores in development. The fast-growing franchise company projects to have 400 stores by 2007.

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