Local Ben & Jerry’s owner Leon Salzman continues his family’s tradition of supporting Swem Library with a recent donation of $1,003 – the total raised during “Swem Month” at his Ben & Jerry’s scoop shop. Since 1990 the fundraiser has raised nearly $22,000 for Swem Library.
Salzman’s father, Frank Salzman, started the library fundraiser 23 years ago at three of his Williamsburg-area Ben & Jerry’s stores. Leon has continued his father’s efforts, hosting the fundraiser each fall at his scoop shop in Williamsburg’s Premium Outlets. For every frozen beverage purchased in October, the shop donates 50 cents to the library.
“My father began the tradition of giving to Swem Library,” Leon said. “He believed supporting the college library would have the greatest impact on the students, and I agree. The library plays an important part in helping students do well in their studies.”
The annual fundraiser helps support library staff development, revitalization of Swem’s study spaces and the purchase of books and other library materials.
“We love having partners in the community who want to have a positive impact on William & Mary students, and understand the impact libraries can have on the academic experience. We are grateful to Leon for continuing the tradition started by his father,” said Carrie Cooper, dean of University Libraries.
Leon joined his father in the ice cream business in 1994, but their connection to Ben & Jerry’s stretches back much further. Frank became interested in the company when it went public in 1984. He wanted to test its product, but there were no Ben & Jerry’s shops where he lived in Maryland. He called Leon, who volunteered to drive from his home in New York to the closest store in Vermont for pints of ice cream. After tasting the ice cream, the entire Salzman family fell in love.
“Dad immediately called the Vermont office and asked if he could open a franchise,” Leon said. “Unfortunately they weren’t opening many franchises at that point. Three years later, they called him back and asked if he was still interested, and of course he was.”
Frank opened his first Ben & Jerry’s store in 1987 in Maryland, the first Ben & Jerry’s franchise in that state. One year later, he opened a store in Williamsburg, the first franchise in Virginia.
Between 1994 and 1998, Leon and his father would open two more shops in Williamsburg. The Salzmans owned a total of nine shops until 2004, when they decided to sell several stores to focus on Frank’s health. Frank passed away in 2007.
Today, supporting Swem Library is not just a way to give back, Leon says, it’s a way to keep his father’s legacy alive.
“My dad used to say, ‘It’s not a responsibility for a business to give back to the community, it’s a mandate.’ He believed in investing in others, and I want to continue that tradition,” Leon said.