October 10, 2008

Flavor of Love

Blue Marble Dreams Launches

Let’s get back to America’s core values. Those rooted in ice cream. From Main Street to Wall Street, it’s the people’s dessert.

Blue Marble’s pristine, organic version tickles our taste buds — and our idealistic nerves.

The Brooklyn parlor is going global via Blue Marble Dreams, a new nonprofit that’s creating a sustainable ice cream parlor in Rwanda.

The awful truth: Rwandans worry about survival, HIV, and the traumas of genocide. A joyful serendipity: One Rwandan asked Blue Marble to come build an ice cream parlor as a safe community space.

How could they refuse? There are tons of cows there, but no market diversification, no jobs for women, and little electricity. BMD wants to fix what they can, and they need cash.

All funds raised by October 19 will be matched (they’re shooting for $20 grand). They also need research/development interns, consultants, and volunteers.

It’s not about saving the world. It’s not even about ice cream. It’s about hope.

With a cherry on top.

Blue Marble, 420 Atlantic Avenue, between Bond and Nevins Streets, Boerum Hill (718-858-1100 or bluemarbleicecream.com); 186 Underhill Avenue, at Sterling Place, Prospect Heights (718-399-6926). Donate online at bluemarbledreams.org.