The owners of Ben and Jerry's" ice cream in Chico are serving up a lot more than ice cream and smiles. They're also dishing-out community support, by helping to host benefits for a variety of good causes. As many as five to ten per month!
Just this week Ben and Jerry's helped Action News Dynamic Duo Nitin Lal and Cindy Nixon raise hundreds of dollars for Big Brothers Big Sisters. And that's the tip of the ice "cream" berg! Groups supporting schools, children, and animals also benefit from all kinds of fundraisers, both in-store and on-the-road.
Jim Graham and his wife Jeanne are the owners,"These are the customers who support us and our family so feel important to give back."
Graham says Ben and Jerry's promotes a philosophy of social responsibility, fiscal responsiblity, and of course...quality product. "It's the satisfaction of making people happy.it's ice cream. it's easy, it's fun."
He and his wife bought the franchise nearly three years ago. They get a lot of requests for help from non profits, and are happy to help when they can. That's about 90 percent of the time. They make a lot of friends along the way, "It's hard in this town not to make friends. So everyone embraces that,that's what we love about it."
Graham has the art of scooping ice cream down to a science. When we asked about his secret to staying fit surrounded by so much temptation, he said he doesn't eat a lot of ice cream at work. But after hours? "Although when I'm in bed at night some butter pecan sounds good..or mint...here usually don't crave it. wiping it off my elbows."
If there's someone you would like to see recognized for making a difference, just visit our website at www.khsl-tv-dot-com click on "Action News Applauds You."
