“If you have a good idea, go for it. When it’s something a lot of people are invested in and care about, it can work and it has worked for us.” - Robyn Kuhlmann, Founder of Smart Cow Yogurt Bar.
“I think the greatest accomplishment in creating Smart Cow is that it shows that little guys can do big things,” Smart Cow Yogurt Bar Founder Robyn Kuhlmann said.
CASTLE ROCK, CO; ARVADA, CO; MENOMONEE FALLS, WI; GREEN BAY, WI (PRWEB) August 26, 2015
When Robyn Kuhlmann saw that budgets were being cut from her sons’ schools, she decided to do something about it. From day one of starting her frozen yogurt business, Smart Cow Yogurt Bar, she donated money to local schools -- and four years into it, having donated over $100,000, she says it’s not only helped a lot of schools, but also kept her business afloat amidst fierce competition.
“I think the greatest accomplishment in creating Smart Cow is that it shows that little guys can do big things,” Smart Cow Yogurt Bar Founder Robyn Kuhlmann said. “If you have a good idea, go for it. You never know exactly how it will work, but when it’s something a lot of people are invested in and care about, it can work and it has worked for us.”
When starting Smart Cow Yogurt Bar, Kuhlmann knew she wanted to do more than just churn a profit selling frozen desserts. She wanted to make a difference.
“I saw programs in my kids’ school being cut, and I realized we could do something to help. Why not give a portion of our proceeds back to neighborhood schools?” Kuhlmann said. “We’re amazed that the total has surpassed $100,000 in just four years. And it’s because people in our communities believe in what we’re doing.”
One program that was directly impacted through Smart Cow Yogurt Bar’s donation is Outdoor Lab, a nonprofit that works to increase community and business involvement in support of the Jefferson County Outdoor Education Laboratory Schools. At one point, Outdoor Lab Foundation had some serious financial trouble, and thanks in part to the district matching Smart Cow’s donation, they’re still in business.
“About four years ago, Outdoor Lab was slated by Jefferson County School District to be cut because of extreme budget constraints,” Outdoor Lab Executive Director Shannon Hancock said. “Smart Cow Yogurt opened their doors - and frankly their wallet - to help rally the community to save Outdoor Lab.”
Smart Cow has donated to schools since 2011 as part of a regular campaign called Grassroots Tuesdays. To celebrate their recent milestone of $100,000 in donations, Smart Cow gave away 6-ounces of free froyo to customers all day on Saturday, August 15th at their locations in Colorado and Wisconsin. That day they served nearly 10,000 customers and gave away 55,514 ounces of yogurt worth nearly $24,000.
“It was important to us to find a way to say thanks to all of our customers who have allowed us to give so much to our schools,” said Kuhlmann.
“If you can find a way to incorporate a cause that’s important to you into your small business, then your customers may find it important too,” said Kuhlmann. “People feel good about helping a cause while at the same time supporting a local business.”
Learn more about Smart Cow Yogurt Bar’s Grassroots Tuesdays donation program on their Why We Give page. Contact Robyn Kuhlmann for more information at (720) 308-1561 or robyn(at)smartcowyogurt(dot)com.
