Cold Stone Creamery Franchise Partners With Best Buddies

Iconic Ice Cream Franchise is Committed to Making Communities Stronger by Partnering with a Highly Regarded National Nonprofit

As one of America’s most beloved ice cream franchises, Cold Stone Creamery has become more than a place to just get a delicious dessert. Whether it’s families gathering for a snack after a sports game or a couple enjoying an after dinner treat, the iconic ice cream shop has become a place to make memories.

best buddies international cold stone creamery ice cream shot

For the business owners that franchise with Cold Stone Creamery, it’s not just about serving a great product. Just as important is providing a gathering place in town for people to meet and share an experience.

“That’s the best part about Cold Stone Creamery — not only is it an investment with tremendous support and an exceptional product, but it’s also a fun business to own,” says Jay Goldstein, VP of Franchise Development with Cold Stone Creamery.

Cold Stone Creamery Partners with Best Buddies for Community Support

To encourage and foster this sense of community at Cold Stone Creamery locations, the company reinstated a nationwide fundraising promotion that benefits Best Buddies International, a global nonprofit dedicated to creating opportunities for friendship, employment, leadership development and inclusive living for people with intellectual developmental disabilities (IDD).

Best Buddies helps individuals within the IDD community form meaningful and lasting friendships with their peers, as well as secure successful jobs, be able to live independently, improve communication skills and feel valued by their community. The nonprofit has been the leader of this effort for more than three decades.

How can Cold Stone Creamery help? Cold Stone Creamery has pledged to partner with Best Buddies to support their mission of ending social, physical and economic isolation of people living with IDD, estimated at around 200 million people.

As part of the fundraiser, two Best Buddies program participants whipped up their own ice cream concoction, the “Better Together Creation,” which features Mint Ice Cream, Brownies, M&Ms and Whipped Topping. Plus, customers who donate $1 or more will receive double My Cold Stone Club Rewards on their entire purchase.

On top of that, a new, exclusive Gift Back eGift card campaign, in which customers purchase the card online, and Cold Stone Creamery donates 10% to Best Buddies.

“We are thrilled to announce the return of our annual fundraiser supporting Best Buddies International this month, a cause very near and dear to our hearts,” said Sara Schmillen, vice president of marketing at Kahala Brands™, parent company of Cold Stone Creamery. “We invite and encourage our customers to show their support of friendship through the purchase of a Best Buddies eGift or by making a donation with their purchase.”