Contact: Jenni Brockman
Telephone: 804-443-3357 (w)
Fax: 804-443-6781
FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE
Area Businesses Support Community,
Sponsor 5K Rappahannock River Run
Ben & Jerry's Homemade, Inc. is a Vermont-based super premium ice cream company that specializes in both traditional and innovative flavors. Since the company first began in a renovated Burlington, VT gas station in 1978, Ben & Jerry’s has grown rapidly from a small business into a highly successful national company. A major portion of the company’s success can be attributed to a business philosophy cameoed in one-third of the company’s mission statement: "Business has a responsibility to give back to the community."
Twenty one area businesses have exhibited a similar commitment to the local Tappahannock/Essex county community through sponsorship of the First Annual Rappahannock River Run to benefit St. Margaret’s School. Business sponsors to-date include: Roma Ristorante Italiano, Riverside Accents & Gifts, Tea House Restaurant, Southside Bank, Northern Neck State Bank, The Tides, Atkins Petroleum Products, Inc., Digital Wisdom, Inc., Hobbs Hole Golf Course and Restaurant, Store-Tel Storage, Service Master, Citizens & Farmers Bank, Bank of Essex, Riverside Café, Ficklin Bryant Upholstery, Regal Travels, Linden House, Harborside Storage at Garrett's Marina, William Darwin Prillaman & Associates, P.C., Dr. William G. Ryan, Optometrist, and Edward Jones Investments.
(l. to r.) Amy Ray and Emily Saliers, of the Indigo Girls, headline the Newport Folk Festival at Fort Adams State Park, Newport, RI, August 1997. The festival, sponsored by Ben & Jerry's, combines pleasant music with social awareness drawing thousands of fans to historic Newport each summer.
St. Margaret’s School expresses its appreciation to the race sponsors for without such broad-based support, an event of this nature would not be possible. Alumnae Association President Martha Frances Fortson (SMS ’65), of Portsmouth, summed her appreciation, "I have a high regard for businesses that demonstrate a strong commitment to the communities of which they are a part. As a consumer, I try to support businesses that are actively involved in community affairs. As a St. Margaret’s alumna, I know just how important developing a sense of being a part of the community is to a young person away from home for the first time."
Ben & Jerry’s thanks its patrons by hosting "free scoop days" once annually in each of its 120 franchised scoop shops in twenty states. Likewise, St. Margaret’s plans to acknowledge race sponsors by printing their names on the back of official Rappahannock River Run t-shirts commemorating the event.
The 5-kilometer (3.1 miles) event will be held in Tappahannock on Saturday, October 9th, starting at 8:00 AM in front of St. Margaret’s Hall (444 Water Lane); participants may run or walk. Fill out an entry form and mail with a $12 check (payable to St. Margaret’s School) by the September 22nd pre-registration deadline to: SMS, Attn: Hollis Duncan, P.O. Box 158, Tappahannock, VA 22560. Pick up entry forms in Tappahannock at Lowery's, Riverside Wellness & Fitness Center, Tappahannock One Hour Photo, Tea House Restaurant, and the Post Office. Call Race Director Hollis Duncan at SMS 443 - 3357 ext. 3043 or e-mail hduncan@sms-va.com for further information.
