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(ARA) – Cental Perk Café, the coffee shop on the television show, “Friends,” was a place everyone knew one another - it was a small business that catered to its clientele and by doing so, really made a difference in the community. The regulars - Rachel, Ross, Chandler, Joey, Monica and Phoebe - kept coming back because they felt comfortable there, it was a place they gathered to laugh and make a connection. Businesses like “Central Perk Café” are integral parts of their communities. They make contributions on both a personal and financial level. In addition to offering people a familiar place they can return to over and over again; small businesses contribute tax dollars, sponsor little league teams, let girls scouts sell cookies in front of their stores, and hold fundraisers that benefit the entire community.
“When I opened my store a year ago, I didn’t realize what a difference I could make in the community, but it’s been great to see that happen,” says Rebecca Ramsden, owner of a Cold Stone Creamery ice cream shop in Hopkins, Minn., a suburb of Minneapolis. “We have our regulars who come in once or twice a week for an ice cream Creation, and the occasional curious who drop by to see what it’s all about; but when we do our annual fundraiser, it seems like everyone in the community turns out.”
The fundraiser she’s referring to is Cold Stone Creamery’s annual Ice Cream Cake Social that raises money for the Make-A-Wish Foundation, an organization that makes the wishes of children with life-threatening illnesses come true. This year, throughout the month of April a percentage of all ice cream sold at more than 1,000 store locations will raise money for the Make-A-Wish chapters in their cities. In addition, people will have the opportunity to give back even more by purchasing and inscribing their name on a $1 wish star that will be hung up in the store. Finally, the big event will happen on Monday, April 25, 2005. During the Fourth Annual World’s Largest Ice Cream Cake Social, a party where members of the community are invited to come into the store and enjoy a slice of the Make-A-Wish cake, they can make a donation to the charity.
This year’s cake, which consists of chocolate ice cream with cookie dough and dark chocolate shavings, layered with moist yellow cake and wrapped in a rich, fudge ganache, is the creation of Micah, age 12, from Somerset, Mass. Micah is one of the many children whose wish has been granted thanks to the organization. Last year, she and her family got to travel to Hawaii and swim with dolphins.
“Last year’s Make-A-Wish event was a lot of fun,” says Ramsden. “We had the fire department out front showing off their new ladder truck, and people came in and out of the store all day long. We must have served more than 1,000 slices of the Make-A-Wish cake.”
“We were pretty busy too,” says Linda Querry, owner of the Cold Stone Creamery shop in Naperville, Ill. Her store raised more than any other location for Make-A-Wish, over $5,000. “We really approached it as a significant opportunity to make a difference. We got everyone involved. Our employees, customers, and even the cleaning crew all played a role in our success.”
Cold Stone Creamery raised $625,374 for Make-A-Wish during its 2004 World’s Largest Ice Cream Cake Social; and since the company’s partnership with the organization began in 2001, more than $1.1 million has been raised to help grant wishes.
“We feel that creating strong community relations by giving back is very important. In fact, it relates directly to the first line of our Mission statement, ‘We will make people happy’,” says Sheldon Harris, president of Cold Stone Creamery. “In addition to helping out with our annual Ice Cream Cake Social, we ask each store in our system to partner with a charity during their grand opening event. We also encourage our franchisees to conduct fundraisers to benefit local charities in their communities.”
This year, Cold Stone Creamery stores have already helped out Boys & Girls Clubs, various children’s hospitals, baseball and softball teams, Boy and Girl Scout troops, and Care International for Tsunami Relief. Querrey’s store partners with the local YMCA, Little Friends Incorporated chapter and church groups. Ramsden’s store supports a girls softball team.
“As a local business owner, I’ve come to realize the community really appreciates everything we have to offer,” says Querrey. “I enjoy seeing the smiles every time we bring a cake to a party for a sick kid or give away free ice cream.”
“Your eyes are really opened to so many things in your community when you get involved,” says Ramsden. “Owning a Cold Stone Creamery has been a very rewarding experience for me.”
Cold Stone Creamery stores make their own ice cream, waffle cones, and brownies on site fresh everyday. Original flavors include sweet cream, chocolate, French vanilla, white chocolate, strawberry, cheesecake, banana, mint, and coffee. Customers can choose from more than 40 different mix-ins, including fruits, nuts, and candy.
To locate the Cold Stone Creamery nearest you, just log on to www.coldstonecreamery.com and click on “Nearest Store.”
Courtesy of ARA Content
