The Tribune

By ALESHA CADET

Tribune Features Reporter

acadet@tribunemedia.net

DAIRY QUEEN’s goal to sell over 3,000 Blizzard treats on their very first Miracle Treat Day exceeded their expectations.

With Bahamians walking in and out to satisfy a sweet tooth while supporting a good cause, a total of just under 4,000 Blizzard ice-cream treats were sold at the four locations in Nassau.

The Miracle Treat Day initiative was launched in effort to help sick children in the Bahamas. The event, which is held every year in the United States and Canada, took place on August 14.

Dairy Queen will donate $2 from every Blizzard treat sold on that day to children suffering from serious conditions such as cancer and sickle cell disease.

The first recipient of restaurant chain’s fundraiser, Zion Knowles, was diagnosed with leukaemia aged four in June 2012.

Her father, Jason Knowles, said that the family has been appealing for donations from corporate and private entities after Zion’s insurance was exhausted within the first eight months of treatment.

Deon Dunbar, marketing and human resource manager at Dairy Queen, said Mr Knowles approached the company for assistance even before the Miracle Treat Day initiative to help children battling with illness in the Bahamas was launched.

While planning and preparing for the launch, she said they were grateful to show their support to Zion and her family.

“We thought, yes, this is a good year for us to get on board and carry out Miracle Treat Day and not put it off again. This was a way for us to give back, so we decided to identify Zion as a recipient and help her,” said Ms Dunbar.

Mr Knowles visited the Dairy Queen locations on Miracle Treat Day, witnessing the support that unfolded right before his eyes.

Dairy Queen CEO Derek Osborne said Mr Knowles was very appreciative for the company’s efforts and their cause.

He said they all wish Zion the best and will remain involved in her progress.

“Whatever way Dairy Queen can help a family, we will do so in other fundraising efforts from time to time. This is a partnership that we are going to keep with the Knowles family,” said Mr Osborne.

He said they had not been not sure what to expect given that this was the first time the Dairy Queen franchise in the Bahamas hosted Miracle Treat Day, however, they received generous support from Bahamians for the give-back initiative.

“There were some people calling the stores at 9.30pm to ask if they could come and buy a Blizzard. The turn-out was very good. Our plan is to continue with this initiative,” Mr Osborne said.

“We started very late. This has been going on around the world for years, but hopefully we can now learn from experience and get this thing out to the public well in advance next year. We certainly expect a larger turn-out on the day and to do more stuff for sick children in the Bahamas. We will have a balloon programme that we will add to the event next year.”

He said corporate Bahamas supported Miracle Treat Day as well, with 15 companies taking part, including First Caribbean Bank. The companies either ordered coupons for their staff or just came in and took the Blizzards back to their offices. Some 850 coupons were sold to corporate entities.