WAIPOULI — When Don and Barbi Taylor of Cold Stone Creamery agreed to switch their benefactors to the Hawai‘i Special Olympics program, they didn’t realize the response they would get on their annual icecream social. Special Olympians, volunteers from the
WAIPOULI — When Don and Barbi Taylor of Cold Stone Creamery agreed to switch their benefactors to the Hawai‘i Special Olympics program, they didn’t realize the response they would get on their annual icecream social.
Special Olympians, volunteers from the Special Olympics program, Oceanic Time Warner Cable volunteers, and even celebrities likea Ron Wiley turned out Thursday evening for the annual charity fund-raiser at both the Kukui Grove Center and Waipouli Kaua‘i Village shopping center Cold Stone Creamery stores.
Shelly Gerardo, an advocate for the Special Olympics, was pleased with the response at Kukui Grove, and got emotional when talking about how much people cared for the special athletes.
Gerardo said they had a similar response at a recent golf tournament when the benevolence of supporters drove the athletes to tears, which in turn even had volunteers shedding tears of joy.
Don Taylor explained that normally the Cold Stone Creamery chain nationwide participates in an annual fund-raiser ice-cream social which benefits the Make A Wish Foundation, but after last year’s event at Waipouli, Taylor said owners of the 14 stores in Hawai‘i agreed to hold the event to benefit the Special Olympics program this time around.
Jocelyn Freitas, the Kaua‘i Special Olympics coordinator, anchored the Waipouli event along with Don Taylor, while Gerardo anchored the Kukui Grove store along with Barbi Taylor, with KQNG radio personality Wiley helping Gerardo and the Time Warner volunteers greet patrons at Kukui Grove.
In addition to the special icecream- cake creation made just for the Special Olympics program, patrons were able to purchase stars for a minimum dollar donation, the stars being posted on the wall as an indication of support.
Don Taylor said that the Thursday-night event is not the only fund-raiser they participate in, as they will be hosting a similar ice-cream social for the KPAL (Kaua‘i Police Activities League) flag-football program on Sunday, Aug. 8, from 5 p.m.
to 7 p.m.
During that time, if any of the 600-plus, flag-football players come with their jerseys on and their participation medallion, they will get a free ice-cream cone.
Special calabashes will be set up at both stores for people wanting to contribute to the KPAL program, and the Taylors promise a lot of fun.
This event materialized after last year’s program where Don Taylor distributed coupons for free cones at the closing ceremonies, but response was sporadic.
He feels that by hosting an ice-cream party, more people will respond and take advantage of their offer of a free ice-cream cone.
Gerardo also announced that the Special Olympics program will be hosting a special fundraiser during the Labor Day weekend, where police officers will be atop the Safeway store in Waipouli.
Dubbed “Top the Cop,” Gerardo said the police officers’ goal is to raise $10,000, and will remain on the roof until that goal is reached.
Meanwhile, patrons will be treated to a host of entertainment and activities, which should make for a fun weekend.
As for the ice-cream social? Owners of Cold Stone Creamery, in celebration of National Ice Cream Month, donated a portion of their sales towards the Hawai‘i Special Olympics.
Additionally, according to Barbi Taylor, Thursday night’s function raised over $1,100 for Special Olympics, with over 900 slices of cake being served.
