Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams Does a Splendid Deed

It may be hard to find the heartfelt message amidst all the wrapping paper and gingerbread houses, but the holidays are really all about giving back, generosity, and supporting others. It's a time of year to do good deeds, assist those in need, and spread holiday cheer in the form of a helping hand. This message is not lost on Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams. The Columbus, Ohio-based ice cream company recently paid a visit to Peoria, Illinois, to assist in recovery efforts for tornado relief.

(Our hero)

Jeni Britton Bauer is an Illinois native, with roots in the Peoria area and family who still lives there. She has since moved to Columbus, Ohio, where the flagship location of her ever-burgeoning Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams empire is located, but she visits her hometown three to four times per year. An avid do-gooder, Britton Bauer spends much of what free time she has being altruistic, working with Local Matters, a wholesome food non-profit organization she co-founded, and serving on the boards of the Wexner Center for the Arts and Columbus College of Art & Design. The woman knows what it is to give back, and she has surrounded herself with staff that support that sentiment as well.

After tornadoes recently swept through the Peoria area, flattening homes and devastating families, Britton Bauer knew there was something she had to do for her hometown. Her aunt and uncle lost their house, and her grandmother is currently displaced, living with her in Columbus. Her team from the Southport Avenue location of Jeni's Splendid Ice Creams, the only outpost in Chicago, made the voyage to Peoria to help in cleanup efforts for three days. A little bit goes a long way, especially in light of such devastation. Just when we thought Jeni's couldn't get any sweeter.