1851

When Jeff and Jennifer Berryhill first noticed <a href="https://www.ownakona.com/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=franchisees-who-give-back-jeff-and-jennifer-berryhill-with-kona-ice-2707581" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Kona Ice</a>, it wasn&rsquo;t in a franchise directory or online ad. It was at their son&rsquo;s lacrosse tournament &mdash; a brightly-colored, can&rsquo;t-miss Kona Ice truck was serving up shaved ice to families looking for a cool treat to accompany an afternoon of sports. But while they were noticing the popularity of the Kona Ice brand among its many customers, it was the Kentucky-based company&rsquo;s emphasis on giving back that ultimately drove the Berryhill&rsquo;s to purchase a truck of their own. By the end of their first season as Kona Ice franchisees in the Ann Arbor area, the Berryhill&rsquo;s had donated nearly $15,000 to local organizations and charities. 

To learn a bit more about the couple&rsquo;s community involvement, 1851 spoke with Jeff Berryhill about their dedication to giving back and how it&rsquo;s helped shape their Kona Ice business into a fan-favorite among community and youth sporting events in the area.

1851: How important is it to give back to your local community as it relates to growing your business? &nbsp;

Berryhill: I think it&#39;s a key element to growing our business. When people benefit from it or see others who benefit from it, they are much more likely to do business with you or refer others to you.

1851: What local or charitable outreach efforts have you made in order to connect with your local community? &nbsp;

Berryhill: We adopted a local classroom through <a href="https://www.adoptaclassroom.org/?utm_source=1851franchise.com&utm_medium=article&utm_campaign=franchisees-who-give-back-jeff-and-jennifer-berryhill-with-kona-ice-2707581" target="_blank" rel="nofollow" style="text-decoration-line:none" target="_blank">Adopt-A-Classroom.org</a>. We were able to fund a field trip and the teacher bought math toolkits for the kids. This is just something in addition to the fundraising we do as a normal part of our business.

1851: What are your top ideas or tips to market your local business? &nbsp;

Berryhill: I think social media is a key component. We maintain a Facebook page that allows us to communicate with customers and to let them know where we&#39;ll be. With Kona Ice, our trucks are a great marketing tool too, so just having them out in the community gives us a great presence. We also utilize constant contact to send out marketing emails twice per month to remind customers about Kona Ice.

1851: How effective are charitable efforts in growing your business? &nbsp;

Berryhill: I would guess that close to 70 percent of our sales are from events where we give back a percentage of those sales. Once people see how easy it is compared to other fundraising activities, they are eager to have us back, which helps us promote our business.

1851: What advice would you give to other franchisees who are just starting their businesses to best set themselves up for success on the local level? &nbsp;

Berryhill: I would encourage them to connect with the community in as many ways as possible. Join the Chamber of Commerce. Participate in community events. Connect with the leaders of various organizations in the community and maintain a relationship with them. Most importantly, you need to provide great service and be accountable.

Franchisees Who Give Back: Jeff and Jennifer Berryhill with Kona Ice

1851 Franchise

Kona Ice franchisees Jeff and Jennifer Berryhill estimate that 70 percent of their sales come from events where a portion of the proceeds are donated.

franchisees-who-give-back-jeff-and-jennifer-berryhill-with-kona-ice

The Growth Coach

The Growth Coach Franchise Costs, Fees, Profit and Data for 2025

the-growth-coach-franchise-costs-fees-profit-and-data-for-2025

One Hour Heating and Air Conditioning

Why One Hour Heating & Air Conditioning Sees People as the Power Behind Franchise Growth

one-hour-heating-air-conditioning-franchise-growth

Lawn Doctor

Design with photo of John Perry and Lawn Doctor logo

How a 20-Year Industry Veteran Tripled His Sales With a Lawn Doctor Franchise

lawn-doctor-franchise-success-story-john-perry

Fitness Premier

The Secret to Fitness Franchise Success? It's Not Just the Workouts

fitness-premier-franchise-marketing-support

Fresh Coat

Photo of Fresh Coat vehicle with ladders on top

The Rise of Home Improvement Franchises: Why Now Is the Time to Invest

why-invest-home-improvement-franchise-fresh-coat

Buying a Franchise Masterclass

 Franchise Opportunities

Get Support Buying a Franchise

How to Buy a Franchise White Paper

How to Buy a Franchise

How to Sell Franchises

How to Grow a Franchise

Find a Franchise Supplier

1851 Franchise Opportunities

Franchisor News

Franchisor Power Rankings

FranCamp Mastermind Summit

Franchise Development Website Builder

Franchise Resources

What ALEC-Laffer's Report Means for Franchising

Website Awards

Power Rankings

About 1851

Advertise on 1851

Contact 1851 Editorial

Terms of Use

1851 Login

GROWTH CLUB LOGIN

facebook

instagram

twitter

linkedin

youtube

Design with American and Federal Reserve flags against light blue background

Federal Reserve Expected To Cut Rates by Quarter Point, a Move That Could Boost Franchise Growth

fed-rate-cut-boosts-franchise-growth

Potbelly to be Acquired by RaceTrac in $566 Million Deal 

racetrac-acquires-potbelly-in-566-million-deal

Health Care Hiring Slowdown Highlights In-Home Care Franchise Opportunities - 1851 Franchise Agg

Health Care Hiring Slowdown Highlights In-Home Care Franchise Opportunities 

health-care-hiring-slowdown-in-home-care-franchise-opportunities

Caribou Coffee Names Scott Kennedy CEO, Eyes Continued Growth

caribou-coffee-names-scott-kennedy-ceo-eyes-continued-growth

McDonald’s Launches New Extra Value Meals as Consumer Demand for Value Continues to Climb

mcdonalds-launches-extra-value-meals

Hely and Hiral Patel Bring Their Longtime Dream to Life With The Brass Tap

brass-tap-franchise-pasadena-maryland-hely-hiral-patel

Franchisee spotlight graphic with photo of Ricki Oberoi and Layne's Chicken Fingers logo

Multi-Unit Wendy’s Operator Signs 12-Unit Deal With Layne’s Chicken Fingers

ricki-oberoi-laynes-chicken-fingers-growth

graphic image of an 1851 franchisee spotlight brayden and johnny steven of teriyaki madness

Father-and-Daughter Team Bring Teriyaki Madness to Wichita, Kansas, With Big Expansion Plans

johnny-brayden-steven-teriyaki-madness-wichita

photo-of-laynes-chicken-fingers-dalton-dennis-southern-oregon

23-Year-Old Entrepreneur Brings Soon to Be Famous Chicken™ to Southern Oregon With 3-Unit Layne’s Chicken Fingers Franchise Signing

laynes-chicken-fingers-dalton-dennis-southern-oregon

1851 Keyword - The Secret To Succeeding With a Part-Time Franchise Is Picking the Right Model

The Secret To Succeeding With a Part-Time Franchise Is Picking the Right Model

part-time-franchises-picking-the-right-model

DevHub - Meet the Supplier - 1851 Franchise

DevHub: Scalable Digital Marketing for Franchises and Multi-Location Brands

devhub-meet-the-supplier

1851 Franchise Deep Dive graphic with Sparkle Squad logo

Sparkle Squad Franchise Costs, Fees, Profit and Data for 2025

franchise-deep-dive-sparkle-squad-franchise-costs-fees-profit-and-data

Design with school-aged child standing on pencil with text "Education Franchises" and "<$500K"

Top Education Franchises Under $500K To Explore in 2025

top-education-franchises-under-500k

Franchisees Who Give Back: Jeff and Jennifer Berryhill with Kona Ice

MORE STORIES LIKE THIS