Pitching his charity: The Stephen Colbert AmeriCone Dream Fund

Last week, we reported on Stephen’s scheduled appearance at an upcoming Charleston RiverDogs baseball game, where he will be throwing out the ceremonial first pitch . . . of AmeriCone Dream. Here’s a little more information about the event, courtesy of RiverDogs.com:

Ben & Jerry’s Steps Up To the Plate for Fundraiser
06/22/2007 1:13 PM

The Ben & Jerry’s Charleston Scoop Shop, located at 96 North Market Street, is issuing a challenge to other businesses. Here’s the pitch: With the upcoming visit from Comedy Central celebrity and South Carolina native Stephen Colbert, slated to attend the Charleston RiverDogs game on July 7, the shop is pulling out all the stops to help with a good cause.

A major focus of the event is to raise awareness about the Stephen Colbert AmeriCone Dream Fund. The national fund – managed by the Coastal Community Foundation of South Carolina – is a non-profit endeavor to benefit children, veterans and the environment.

Earlier this year Ben & Jerry’s announced a flavor to honor the comedian/satirist. Stephen Colbert’s AmeriCone Dream, vanilla ice cream with fudge covered waffle cone pieces and a caramel swirl is available in supermarkets and convenience stores nationwide. Colbert is donating all of his proceeds from the sales of the flavor to the fund.

To help launch the AmeriCone Dream Fund the Ben & Jerry’s of Charleston is offering a challenge to other businesses in the greater Charleston area.

“This is what being a socially responsible business is all about.” said Fred vom Lehn, owner of the Charleston ice cream business. “We’re challenging other local businesses to step up to the plate and help us hit this fund-raising opportunity out of the park,” adds Manager Terri Gould.

The goal of the campaign is to raise $10,000 for the AmeriCone Dream Fund. For each $1000 donor, Ben & Jerry’s of Charleston will provide an AmeriCone Dream ice cream office party for up to 100 people delivered Friday, July 6, the day before the big game. The RiverDogs organization is also generously sweetening the deal for the $1,000 donors who will receive 20 tickets to the July 7 game.

The ice cream company’s co-founder, Jerry Greenfield, will be on hand for the big game to participate in all of the fun at The Joe. Jerry will serve as catcher for Colbert, as he throws out the first pint of Stephen’s flavor, a Ben & Jerry’s twist to the official start of the game. Greenfield will also sit in with Colbert to do some broadcasting from the booth, and lead the crowd during the 7th inning stretch, singing “Take Me Out to the Ballgame.”

For further information about the event, please see www.benjerry.com or www.riverdogs.com.

To contribute a $1,000 donation or for more information, please contact Terri Gould at Ben & Jerry’s Charleston: 843.364.9066.

Good luck to the RiverDogs! And, for everyone else, please keep in mind that victory may be sweet, but philanthropy is even sweeter.