Applebee's Neighborhood Bar & Grill ® has kicked off its fifth annual "Bee A Sucker For Kids" fundraiser to support the Tennyson Center for Children, one of the Rocky Mountain region's leading treatment centers for emotionally and crisis-affected children and youth, particularly from abuse and neglect.

From now until April 27, Applebee's customers will be invited by their wait staff to make a donation of any size to the Tennyson Center for Children and "Bee a Sucker for Kids." Donors will receive a candy sucker as well as a paper cut-out in the shape of a sucker that they can write their name on and display on a wall in the restaurant.

Since 2004, Applebee's has supported the "Bee a Sucker for Kids" program every April - National Child Abuse Prevention Month - and raised more than $169,000 for the Tennyson Center and its programs. This year, the restaurant chain hopes to raise an additional $65,000; last year, donations totaled more than $60,000.

"When we learned that Colorado has a high rate of children suffering from abuse or neglect - despite the fact that we're one of the wealthiest states in the country - we realized we had to do something to help," said Dan Spencer, Applebee's area director in Colorado. "Applebee's is truly a neighborhood restaurant and we care about our community. We are so proud that the money we raise for the Tennyson Center stays in Colorado and benefits our state's children."

Research has shown that children who experience abuse are 59 percent more likely to be arrested as juveniles, 28 percent more likely to be arrested as adults and 30 percent more likely to commit violent crimes. Other studies have found that as these children age they are up to seven times more likely to experience major health problems. However, research on risk and resilience demonstrates that children who have been abused can overcome adversity and thrive when they receive protection, treatment and access to positive influences and support.

"We are thrilled to have Applebee's as our partner and excited to see Coloradans of all ages 'Bee a Sucker for Kids'," said Bob Cooper, president of the Tennyson Center for Children.

At the end of the month-long promotion, children at the Tennyson Center will make a special commemorative plate for each of the top-three fundraising Applebee's restaurants to display on their wall permanently. Last year's top-fundraising Applebee's locations were the Iliff Avenue and Interstate 225 location in Aurora; the Horizon Drive location in Grand Junction; and the Belleview location in Lakewood, off Wadsworth Boulevard.