Ben & Jerry’s Franchisees Serve the Community One Community at a Time

Shop Owners and Managers Give Back at Company’s Annual Meeting

BURLINGTON, Vt.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--It’s hard to imagine that running a successful business would involve so much giving. Keeping true to their Social Mission, the Ben & Jerry’s franchisee community gathered to practice their belief that “business has a responsibility to give back to the community.” Members of the Ben & Jerry’s franchisee family worked together to reinvigorate The Shade Tree in Henderson, NV. As part of their annual Global Franchise Meeting, Ben & Jerry’s franchisees, managers, staff and friends came out to support The Shade Tree, which provides safe shelter to homeless and abused women and children.

“business has a responsibility to give back to the community.”

“I’m thrilled beyond words; it looks like springtime hit The Shade Tree, “Marlene Richter, Executive Director of the facility told cofounder Jerry Greenfield as he toured the facility. The Shade Tree, which served 4,200 women and children in 2012, was in desperate need of assistance. Projects for the twelve year old building included cleaning, painting, landscaping and donation sorting. A celebration of the day’s accomplishments concluded with ice cream for The Shade Tree’s residents. “We want them to be treated with dignity, that’s what today did…bring dignity back to The Shade Tree,” said Richter.

The Global Franchise Meeting is held every January. Participants shared best case practices, customer service, social media outreach, and how to bring the social mission to life. One of the most popular perennial activities is an exciting first taste of the new 2013 flavors.

The meeting wrapped on Monday, January 21 with an inspirational speech from Ben & Jerry’s Board Chairperson, Jeff Furman. His talk paid homage to civil rights leader, Martin Luther King, Jr. on MLK day and included a call to action for franchisees to make the company’s mission statement more than just rhetoric.

To learn more about Ben & Jerry’s scoop shops visit benjerry.com. Progressive entrepreneurs interested franchising opportunities call 802.846.1500, extension 2451.

About Ben & Jerry’s
Ben & Jerry’s produces a wide variety of super-premium ice cream and ice cream novelties, using high-quality ingredients including milk and cream from family farmers who do not treat their cows with the synthetic hormone rBGH. The company states its position on rBGH* on its labels. Ben and Jerry’s products are distributed nationwide and in selected foreign countries in supermarkets, grocery stores, convenience stores, franchise Ben & Jerry’s Scoop Shops, restaurants and other venues. Ben & Jerry’s, a Vermont corporation and wholly-owned subsidiary of Unilever, operates its business on a three-part Mission Statement emphasizing product quality, economic reward and a commitment to the community. Contributions made via the employee led Ben & Jerry’s Foundation in 2009 totaled over $1.7 million. Additionally, the company makes significant product donations to community groups and nonprofits both in Vermont and across the nation. The purpose of Ben & Jerry’s philanthropy is to support the founding values of the company: economic and social justice, environmental restoration and peace through understanding, and to support our Vermont communities. For the full scoop on all Ben & Jerry’s Scoop Shop locations and fabulous flavors, visit www.benjerry.com.

* The FDA has said no significant difference has been shown and no test can now distinguish between milk from rBGH treated cows and untreated cows. Not all the suppliers of our other ingredients can promise that the milk they use comes from untreated cows.

About The Shade Tree
The Shade Tree is a 501(c)3 non-profit organization dedicated to improving the lives of women, children and their animals affected by domestic violence in the Las Vegas valley for over twenty years. As the only organization with an animal shelter on campus, named Noah’s Animal House, The Shade Tree brings families together with their pets and connects them with assistance and services. The Shade Tree is the largest shelter of its kind in Nevada and is the only 24-hour accessible shelter designed specifically to meet the needs of women and children in Southern Nevada. With 364 permanent beds, The Shade Tree provides over 100,000 nights of shelter each year. To remove any barrier that might prevent a woman from accessing necessary services for she and her children, 100% of our services are provided completely free of charge, regardless of the length of stay. To learn more about The Shade Tree, please visit www.theshadetree.org.