Raise Funds For Your Fire Department Through Baskin Robbins 31 Cent Scoop Night

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The National Volunteer Fire Council (NVFC) has partnered with Baskin-Robbins for the 3rd Annual Baskin-Robbins 31 Cent Scoop Night. On April 29, 2009 from 5 p.m. to 10 p.m. participating Baskin-Robbins stores will be offering their ice cream for just 31 cents per scoop in honor of firefighters. Not only will Baskin-Robbins be making a $100,000 donation to the National Volunteer Fire Council's National Junior Firefighter Program, but this 31 Cent Scoop Night will give fire departments the opportunity to connect with their community and collect donations for their department or designated charity on the night of the event at their local Baskin Robbins store.

Baskin-Robbins to Donate $100,000 to NVFC's National Junior Firefighter Program

31 Cent Scoop Night was designed to help fire departments in two ways. First, the $100,000 corporate donation from Baskin-Robbins will be used by the NVFC to fund their National Junior Firefighter Program. Many volunteer fire departments across the United States are finding it increasingly difficult to recruit and maintain their membership, and the average age of members in the fire service is getting older. The NVFC has found that one answer to this problem is to recruit the youth into fire departments' junior firefighter programs. Through their National Junior Firefighter Program, the NVFC gives fire departments the resources and tools they need for junior firefighter recruitment and retention. They also give youths the resources and tools to be able to sign up for and participate in their local fire department's junior firefighter program. This year, a portion of the $100,000 will be used to fund ten $5,000 scholarships for junior firefighters. For more information on how to apply for these scholarships, please visit www.nvfc.org/juniors. The closing period for scholarship applications is May 15, 2009.

How Fire Departments Can Raise Funds Locally on 31 Cent Scoop Night

31 Cent Scoop Night was also designed to help all fire departments, paid, volunteer, or combination, in their efforts to connect with their citizens and raise funds for their department or designated fire service charity by allowing departments to be present at their local Baskin-Robbins store on the night of the event. The NVFC is encouraging fire departments to make arrangements to participate with their local Baskin Robbins by signing up at www.baskinrobbins.com/firefighters or by e-mailing baskinrobbins@schneiderpr.com.

The NVFC has provided the following suggestions for fire department participation:

• Have firefighters scoop ice cream during the event.
• Have a "boot drive" at the event to raise funds for your department.
• Park a fire truck outside the Baskin-Robbins store to attract attention to the local department and the purpose of the event.
• Use the opportunity to have department personnel meet with community members and increase positive community relations.
• Distribute important fire prevention and safety messages to consumers.

Of this fundraiser, Scott Colwell of Baskin Robbins Global Marketing division says, "It is unbelievable how this event brings communities together and it's a combination of consumers loving the ice cream and having the firefighters involved in being a part of the scooping. We often have firefighters with their truck out in front of the stores, which makes it a major community event. One of the most important things is that it is a great opportunity for firefighters to raise money for their organization or for other charitable organizations as well."

Sign Up Now

The NVFC is very grateful for the partnership with Baskin Robbins, and they strongly encourage all fire departments in the United States to participate. Vern Losh the California State Director of the NVFC says, "The 31 Cent Scoop Night is going to be happening all across the country…Fire departments can find a local store and partner with Baskin Robbins and be a part of this exciting night for the development of scholarship opportunities for junior firefighters." Fire departments are asked to sign-up with Baskin Robbins at www.baskinrobbins.com/firefighters as soon as possible to be a part of this event.