Ben and Jerry’s ‘Free Cone Day’ Benefits More Than Just Ice Cream Lovers

Ben and Jerry’s annual Free Cone Day is back! But unbeknownst to many ice cream lovers simply looking for a free scoop, Ben and Jerry’s annual celebration of the company’s anniversary is also a way to give back for some participating locations.

According to an article on Wmbfnews.com the participating Ben and Jerry’s locations in Myrtle Beach South Carolina are pairing up with the Miracle League charity organization for the ninth straight year. All participating Ben and Jerry’s stores in that area will collect donations that benefit the Miracle League

According to the Miracle League web site, “[the] goal is to offer this program to every city in the country so children, young adults and adults alike with special needs around the globe will have this same opportunity to play baseball.”

Just another reason to celebrate the Vermont based company opening it’s doors 36 years ago. The history of Ben and Jerry’s “Free Cone Day” can be found on the company web site in a catchy video that catalogs the preparation that goes into making this awesome day of free ice cream for all.

And according to the Ben and Jerry’s web site, the Burlington ice cream makers came from humble beginnings:

“With a $5 correspondence course in ice cream-making from Penn State and a $12,000 investment ($4,000 of it borrowed), Ben and Jerry open their first ice cream scoop shop in a renovated gas station in Burlington, Vermont.”

The story then jumps ahead one year later:

“Ben and Jerry celebrate the shop’s one-year anniversary – and the customers who made it possible – by holding the first-ever Free Cone Day: free scoops for all, all day long. The annual ice cream give-away continues today in scoop shops around the world.”

In an interview with Biz Journals, the co-founder of Ben and Jerry’s, Jerry Greenfield gives even more detail behind “Free Cone Day” and it’s origin:

“When Ben and I started in Burlington, (Vt.), we knew nothing about business and ice cream. That first year was tough. We said, if we’re still opened after a year, we’ll celebrate by giving out free ice cream to everyone. That was the start of Free Cone Day.”

Greenfield goes on to add: “It’s something we do every year now, it flows through every shop worldwide.”

And speaking of worldwide, the event is so popular that last year’s Free Cone Day even crashed the company web site – proving that when it comes to free Ben and Jerry’s ice cream, people can never get enough!