Happy 100th Birthday, Life Savers

Live Savers hard candies have been around for as long as we can remember — 100 years, to be exact. To ring in their 100th anniversary, the brand is launching a charity campaign. Customers can enter the code found on 100th-anniversary wrappers to LifeSaversShareRing.com. For every code entered, a $1 donation will be made to a charity chosen by the participant from a list of 100 charities.

“For 100 years, people have used Life Savers as a token of sharing— it’s time to share with causes that matter to them,” says John Starkey, Director of Confections for Wrigley, in a press release. Eating candy and donating to a charity? Seems like a win-win.

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But how did the candy get its start? Let’s take a look back.

1912: Chocolate maker Clarence Crane wanted a candy that could stand up to the summer heat.  Hence, the creation of the original Pep O Mint Life Saver. The candy got its name due to its resemblance to little life preservers.

1935: The three original candy flavors, Lemon, Lime and Orange, were joined by Cherry and Pineapple, rounding out the classic Five Flavor roll.

1940s: During World War II, the Armed Forces were supplied with 23 million boxes of the candy, giving them  a taste of home.

1995: Life Savers jump on the healthy food train and produce a sugar-free version.

2003: Life Savers add Blackberry to the Five Flavor Roll.

Fun Fact: It’s estimated that there are a million locations in the United States where you can buy Life Savers. It’s nice to know that there’s at least one life saver you can always depend on.

MORE: 100 Years of Oreos: 9 Things You Didn’t Know About the Iconic Cookie