Workplace Philanthropy: Homemade Ice Cream Social

Summer is here.  My thoughts go to homemade ice cream... specifically Peach Homemade Ice Cream.  MMMMMMMMMM!!!  Just the thought of it brings to mind sitting under a shady tree or on a front porch rocking chair shoveling spoonfuls of cold, refreshing tasty goodness into my mouth. 

So why not take an hour or so and create a relaxing, refreshing moment at your workplace and generate some much needed money for a good cause.

Here's How it Works

Recruit individuals to participate in "The Best Ice Cream in All the World" Contest.  Ideally, these people would have those new countertop ice cream makers.  Yes they are small, but they usually make the ice cream really quickly.  Have each person make one to two batches of the ice cream.  The key to success is to make sure no one brings in bought ice cream.  This isn't a contest between Dairy Queen, Brusters, and Carvel.

Co-workers who only want to eat ice cream donate $5 to be able to be the Judges of the contest.

The person who is judged to have the "best ice cream in all the world" is given a prize.

Things You Will Need

• Conference room or large space where the ice cream contestants can be set up.
• Condiment cups and spoons
• Trash can and Trash Bags
• Jimmies, sprinkles and other things to dress up the ice cream (optional)
• A Prize for the winner (perhaps a $25 gas card, a week of dressing down, a reserved parking space for a week).  It doesn't have to be anything expensive, but the bigger deal you make of it at first, the more likely that people will participate the next time.
• Ballots for Voting and Vote box
• Flyers and information about the cause/nonprofit organization to whom you will be donating.

Extra Idea:
If the winner agrees, people can purchase the winning recipe for the ice cream for an extra $1.

If you try this, let me know how you did.  Also if you have idea on how to make this idea better, please leave a comment!