Watch out Mister Softee!

by nicole ~ July 22, 2009

The other day I was walking down the street near Mediashop’s office when I noticed a brightly colored truck parked across the way.  It looked just like this one posted on the Staten Island North Shore Blog.  At first I did not believe my eyes.  Was Time Warner really selling ice cream? According to this article in the Staten Island Advocate:

“Time Warner Cable, the second-largest cable operator in the U.S., has branched out into a new market — selling ice cream from a truck.

The company really is giving the ice cream away, but there’s a suggested donation of $1 — with or without toppings — and the money will go to a good cause, the Staten Island Children’s Museum.”

During a time when companies are taking desperate measures to get noticed, this stunt doesn’t seem as unlikely as it might have a few years ago.  In the Staten Island Advocate story Time Warner explained the company’s goal.

“‘This year’s beneficiaries do an amazing job of providing young people in our community with educational programs that focus on science, technology, engineering and math,’ said Gina Gutman, Time Warner Cable’s director of Marketing and Public Affairs. She explained that the company’s goal is to raise $10, 000 for educational organizations in the five boroughs.”

Of course they’re out to make money for a cause, but the Staten Island Advocate makes another great point.

“Time Warner may not realize its charity could be somewhat self-serving. Educating today’s children in technology and engineering is a certain step toward preparing them to work for technologically innovative companies.

Like Time Warner Cable.”

Nicole Amato is an Account Executive at Mediashop PR and a graduate of Northeastern University with a BA in Journalism.