Smart Business Magazine, January 2018

2018Pill r Award for Community Service Graeters Ice Cream Richard Graeter president and CEO www graeters com U nderstanding the importance of cause marketing Graeters Ice Cream launched a new flavor in Cincinnati markets to celebrate the birth of Fiona the baby hippo at the Cincinnati Zoo and Botanical Garden Graeters introduced the flavor as Chunky Chunky Hippo and donated a portion of the proceeds from Chunky Chunky Hippo to the zoo further supporting the Cincinnati community Graeters partnered with Braxton Brewing Co to release a unique ice cream inspired ale this time in support of The Cure Starts Now This Blueberry Pie Brown Ale was another first for both brands building on the success of the brands recent collaboration in early 2017 At the center of Graeters and Braxton Brewing Co s KDM P O P Solutions Group Robert Bob Kissel president and CEO www kdmpop com 8 Smart Business Cincinnati Northern Kentucky Winter 2018 new product launch was The Cure Starts Now and its mission to find the home run cure for cancer by focusing on pediatric brain cancer Graeters also featured its Elenas Blueberry Pie ice cream during its annual Cones for the Cure campaign throughout September Guests in the Graeters retail scoop shops during the campaign had the opportunity to make a donation directly to The Cure Starts Now Foundation As a member of the fourth generation of the Graeter family to own and operate the business President and CEO Richard Graeter is dedicated to the family tradition of making ice cream while embracing new opportunities to become an even more prominent part of the communities the brand serves PILLAR AWARD HONOREE K DM P O P Solutions Group is a family owned privately held company headquartered in Cincinnati Led by President and CEO Robert Bob Kissel the company has been actively involved in community service and fundraising efforts for many years Giving back to the community is a priority for KDM and strengthens the workplace culture The company has a dedicated KDM service committee in place that is tasked with leading the way to execute this initiative One of the highlights of KDMs efforts is Adopt A Class Foundation a group mentoring program that connects businesses with students inspiring a corporate culture of teamwork hope and a future vision of what is possible for the youth in the community A team of seven to 10 KDM employees visited a class of 40 children in the fourth fifth and sixth grades at Parker Woods Montessori School during the 2016 17 school year for one hour each month Employees interacted with their adopted class through planned activities and sponsored an end of the school year half day field trip for the students which included bus service to KDM a tour a gift for each student and a special project Other activities during the year included helping the students design a dream classroom STEM activities and designing their own boxes imprinted by KDM to keep personal things KDM is continuing the volunteer program again for this 2017 18 school year PILLAR AWARD HONOREE PillarCIN