Bank Exec to Give Wife ``Sweetest'' Valentine's ``Kiss'' of All.

Business Editors & Lifestyle Writers

CHICAGO--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Feb. 13, 2002

LaSalle National Bank Senior Vice President Michael W. Kiss has come up with an undeniably 'sweet' Valentine's Day gift for his wife Gail -- possibly the most expensive strawberry milkshake ever sold.

Rest assured it is no ordinary strawberry milkshake. The shake and its stunning $7500 price tag come to Mr. Kiss courtesy of The 11-10-02 Foundation (ShakingUpChicago.com).

In March 1997, the group's founder, Greg Forbes Siegman, took two students for milkshakes, which led him to start the BrunchBunch.com Mentoring Program. After the first 70 brunches, he established The 11-10-02 Foundation. When he wanted to fund college scholarships, he came up with the Milkshake Campaign as a throwback to how the whole process began. Other 11-10-02 Foundation (ShakingUpChicago.com) Milkshake Buyers have included Nordstrom, Kraft Foods, Strategos, Multiplex Clubs, business advisor David Weinberg, the law firm Corboy & Demetrio and NHL Star Chris Chelios.

After looking all over town for what to get his wife for the romantic holiday, Mr. Kiss decided to purchase the milkshake earlier this week. Siegman will personally meet for the Shake with Mr. and Mrs. Kiss on Valentine's Day at Johnny Rockets in downtown Chicago.

The shake's price tag will fund an 11-10-02 Foundation Scholarship in Ms. Kiss' name. The milkshake glass from Johnny Rockets from which she drinks will literally be turned into the trophy given to the student who receives the scholarship.

This is the second time in three years that Mr. Kiss has purchased one of the foundation's trademark milkshakes. In the fall of 2000, he bought a vanilla one for himself for slightly over $5,000. The foundation raised the price to $7500 in 2001 but Siegman notes "we now throw in a straw so it's really still a great deal." The Valentine's Day Shake will be the first strawberry one the foundation has sold since raising the price. Siegman points out, "They usually opt for vanilla."

11-10-02's Milkshake Campaign continues to garner local and national attention. In fact, just six days after meeting with the Kiss Couple at Johnny Rockets, Siegman will be honored as America's Daily Point of Light.

The foundation has received a variety of other prestigious awards as well, including the Jefferson Award for Public Service.

After the Shakes are gulped down and the glasses are turned into trophies, 11-10-02's Scholarship Board will select which hard-working students will get the scholarships. 11-10-02's Scholarship Board is a virtual Who's Who of Chicago's Movers and Shakers including the likes of Mesirow Financial Corp CEO James Tyree, Chicago Mercantile Exchange Chairman of the Board Scott Gordon, Chicago Sun-Times Editor-in-Chief Michael Cooke, Anna Eleanor Roosevelt of Boeing, Tru Serv Corp CEO Pamela Forbes Lieberman, Mascon Global CEO Dr. Nandu Thondavadi and BBDO Chicago CEO Tonise Paul.

The recipients of the Milkshake Scholarships are honored at ShakingUpChicago.com -- 11-10-02's Annual Summertime Gala in June.

Site: Johnny Rockets (901 North Rush - Chicago, IL)

Thursday, February 14, 2002 (Valentine's Day) 5:20pm