During the month of June, Cold Stone Creamery stores will again host their annual nationwide fundraising promotion to benefit Best Buddies International, a global nonprofit dedicated to establishing a volunteer movement that creates opportunities for one-to-one friendships, integrated employment, leadership development and inclusive living for people with intellectual and developmental disabilities (IDD).
Picture this: You and your best friend are asked to create a deliciously unique flavor for a national ice cream chain. How cool would that be?! Now if the two of you could manage to pause the bestie giggles for long enough to let your taste buds get to work, what sort of yumminess would you stir together? Well, this is exactly what Drew and Stan, two Best Buddies program participants, got the chance to do when they were charged with developing the “Better Together Creation” for the Best Buddies promotion at Cold Stone Creamery. For their uniquely sweet concoction, Drew and Stan blended mint ice cream with brownies, M&Ms and whipped topping!
I know what you’re thinking — I’m telling you to eat ice cream and you’re questioning if that’s really a healthy suggestion. Okay, that’s a fair thought but… let me explain why eating ice cream this June is a worthwhile consideration.
Here’s Why You Should Eat More Ice Cream in June:
You’ll Impact an Important Mission
By eating the Better Together Creation, you’ll help Cold Stone Creamery support the Best Buddies mission of ending the social, physical and economic isolation of the 200 million people living with IDD. And that’s really important work! You see, for more than 30 years, Best Buddies has helped individuals within the IDD community form meaningful friendships with their peers, secure successful jobs, live independently, and improve public speaking, self-advocacy and communications skills.
“To eat is a necessity, but to eat intelligently is an art,” said 17th-century writer François de La Rochefoucauld. I believe intelligence applies when it comes to intentionally eating ice cream with purpose.
You’ll Have a Cool Experience — Literally & Figuratively
I really love ice cream and in any form — cone, cup, sundae, on a popsicle stick, whatever. I swear “I scream, you scream, we all scream for ice cream” could be my personal mantra. And I admit, there is something extra sweet about the ice cream shop experience presented at Cold Stone Creamery. In case you haven’t been to Cold Stone yet, let me tell you that their smooth and creamy ice cream is handcrafted fresh daily in each store. But the best part is that you, yes my fellow ice cream fanatics, get to customize your very own creation by, first, selecting a base flavor (such as Cake Batter, Cheesecake, Sweet Cream or whatever your taste buds crave)’ and, second, adding in a variety of goodies (like toffee health bar, graham crackers, peanut butter cups and so much more). Watch it get folded together right in front of your eyes (and watering mouth) on top of a frozen granite stone.
You’ll Kind Of Make a Healthy Choice
When we think about the health benefits of eating, we automatically consider what we should – or should not – consume in regards to nutritional value. And, so, perhaps ice cream typically falls into that “too much of a good thing can be bad” category thanks to calories, fat, carbs and sugars. That’s why, for most, ice cream is best enjoyed in moderation, and as part of a healthy, well-balanced diet.
However, experts agree that, aside from enjoying the taste and nutrients of the foods we eat, joyfully dining with others aids physical and mental health. Since this ice cream promotion is all about buddies, I’m sure we can all agree that an ice cream rendezvous with a beloved buddy can and will be good for the mind, body and soul! This is, of course, in total contrast to binge-eating out of the container while watching Netflix (still, no judgment if you do that on occasion too). Rather, can’t you just picture the endorphins spiking high as buddy bonding is had with every lick and laugh. The act of indulging in this frozen treat can increase serotonin, a neurotransmitter often referred to as the “feel-good hormone.” Yup, this is your chance to do good and feel good!
Plus, ice cream does boast calcium, potassium and magnesium, and these help to maintain strong teeth, bones and blood pressure levels. A serving of ice cream can pack protein to boost energy levels, and offer up nutrients like vitamin A, thiamin, riboflavin, vitamin B6 and phosphorus. And don’t forget that ingredients like vanilla beans and dark chocolate deliver antioxidants.
You’ll Be Rewarded Even More & Reward Others
In addition to the promotional Creation, customers who donate $1 or more will receive double My Cold Stone Club Rewards points on their entire purchase. Customers enter a phone number at checkout in-store or login into their rewards account when ordering online to earn double points.
Cold Stone Creamery has also launched an exclusive Gift Back eGift card campaign. With every limited edition Give Back eGift card purchased online, Cold Stone will donate 10% of the amount to Best Buddies. To purchase your Give Back eGift card and make a difference, click this link to access more info on Cold Stone’s website. The donation percentage is 10 percent, with a maximum annual donation of $100,000.
The Cold Stone Creamery brand operates nearly 1,500 locations globally in approximately 30 countries worldwide. With so many locations, just think about the potential impact that eating ice cream during this limited-time promotion could have! You see… I told you there were good reasons to have a scoop (or two or three) of ice cream this June. Oh, and I agree with Drew and Stan that mint ice cream with brownies, M&Ms and whipped topping tastes awesome. Happy ice cream eating!
Image source: Best Buddies Facebook page
Nancy DeVault is an award-winning writer/editor contributing to local and national publications. Her storytelling spans a wide range of topics, including charity, disability, food, health, lifestyle, parenting, relationships and travel. Married with two kiddos, Nancy describes herself as a lover of the outdoors, fitness, news, traveling and binge-reading magazines while sipping coffee.
