Good Humor® Expands Commitment to Support Ice Cream Truck Drivers Year-Round with the Launch of the Neighborhood Joy Grant Program

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Sep 19, 2023, 08:56 ET

The Neighborhood Joy Grant Program is the latest initiative out of Good Humor's Neighborhood Joy purpose-led campaign backed by a $200,000 commitment over the next two years to support ice cream truck drivers and pushcart operators

ENGLEWOOD CLIFFS, N.J., Sept. 19, 2023 /PRNewswire/ -- For many Americans, the iconic Good Humor truck evokes memories of a joyful and carefree summer. However, behind the scenes, ice cream mobile vendors are faced with challenges on multiple fronts – from a limited selling season, to increased gas prices, to brick-and-mortar competition. Ice cream fans are beginning to see the effects of those challenges. According to a new study conducted by Good Humor, nearly 70% of Americans acknowledge that they see fewer ice cream trucks and carts in their neighborhood now compared to their childhood. The worry of a potential future without the ice cream truck and cart would be devastating – as nearly 2/3 Americans would be upset if ice cream trucks and cart became a thing of the past.

That's why Good Humor is announcing their commitment to help ice cream mobile vendors sustain their businesses with the launch of their Neighborhood Joy Grant Program. Beginning today, ice cream mobile vendors have the opportunity to apply for a $5,000 grant. Early next year, consumers will have the chance to vote for Good Humor's "Joy Driver of The Year" – the recipient of an additional $20,000 grant. These grants will help drivers address some of the many challenges their businesses are facing so that they can continue to spread joy to neighborhoods across America for years to come.

This program is the latest initiative out of Good Humor's Neighborhood Joy purpose-led platform backed by a $200,000 commitment to support ice cream mobile vendors over the next two years. Earlier this summer, Good Humor introduced the Keep Summer Rolling partnership with Jiffy Lube to provide ice cream truck drivers with maintenance vouchers. Good Humor also launched the Neighborhood Joy Vendor Hub to open lines of communication with the ice cream mobile purveyor community and provide information and resources year-round.

"Good Humor's Neighborhood Joy program ensures that we are always able to help ice cream truck vendors spread joy to neighborhoods across America and that's why we're so proud to launch the grant program as another way to support these independent, small business owners and help us preserve this joy," said Bentley King, U.S. Head of Ice Cream Operations at Unilever. "We understand the financial investment that goes into maintaining the ice cream truck business and we hope these grants will allow ice cream truck vendors to maintain and grow their business in meaningful ways, so that we continue to see ice cream trucks on the roads for years to come."

Ice cream drivers and pushcart operators can learn more about the Grant Program and how to apply on the Neighborhood Joy Grant Program's website at https://www.goodhumor.com/us/en/neighborhood-joy/neighborhood-joy-grant-program.html.

Learn more about Good Humor's efforts to support the ice cream mobile vendor community on Good Humor's Instagram, Twitter, Facebook and the Neighborhood Joy Vendor Hub on GoodHumor.com.

About Good Humor
More than 100 years ago, Good Humor® started a delicious revolution with the first ice cream on a stick and then the original ice cream truck in Youngstown, Ohio. Today, we're still bringing tasty frozen treats to hands and homes across America.

About Unilever North America
Unilever is one of the world's leading suppliers of Beauty & Wellbeing, Personal Care, Home Care, Nutrition, and Ice Cream products, with sales in over 190 countries and products used by 3.4 billion people every day. Worldwide, we have 127,000 employees and generated sales of €60.1 billion in 2022. Our leading brands in North America include Dove, Knorr, Hellmann's, Magnum, Axe, Ben & Jerry's, Degree, Seventh Generation, TRESemmé, and Vaseline.

Our vision is to be the global leader in sustainable business and to demonstrate how our purpose-led, future-fit business model drives superior performance. We have a long tradition of being a progressive, responsible business.

The Unilever Compass, our sustainable business strategy, is set out to help us deliver superior performance and drive sustainable and responsible growth, while contributing to a fairer and more socially inclusive world.

For more information on Unilever U.S. and its brands visit: www.unileverusa.com

For more information on Unilever Canada and its brands visit: www.unilever.ca

Media Contact:
Rachel Kastil: [email protected]

SOURCE Good Humor