Ben & Jerry's Launches Partnership with the ONE Campaign to Bring New Voices to the Fight against Global Poverty

BURLINGTON, Vt.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Dedicated to making poverty history, the ONE Campaign welcomed Ben & Jerry’s as a partner, announcing a joint endeavor today to fight extreme poverty and preventable disease around the world. The partnership was announced at the Ben & Jerry’s Scoop Shop in Burbank, California, and featured Ben & Jerry’s Co-Founders Ben Cohen and Jerry Greenfield, and David Lane, CEO and President of the ONE Campaign. The event also featured longtime ONE members DAUGHTRY and a performance by the African Children’s Choir.

“It’s inconceivable that one out of every six people in this day and age lives on less than one dollar a day1 and that 25,000 people die of hunger and malnutrition daily2”

In an effort to support ONE, Ben & Jerry’s will create a new channel of awareness to end extreme poverty and suffering with its newest flavor, ONE Cheesecake Brownie. The company is working with ONE to help raise awareness and draw attention to these world issues.

“We have a lot in common with our friends at Ben & Jerry’s,” said David Lane, CEO and President of ONE. “We are both passionate about doing the right thing, that’s why it makes sense to join together as part of a worldwide movement to fight extreme poverty and preventable diseases. This combined undertaking is a creative way to bring people together to learn what each can do to fight extreme poverty.”

“It’s inconceivable that one out of every six people in this day and age lives on less than one dollar a day¹and that 25,000 people die of hunger and malnutrition daily²,” said Jerry Greenfield, co-founder of Ben & Jerry’s. “We’re glad to be supporting ONE.org as they lead the charge in the fight against global poverty.”

“We just took our first trip to Africa, and it was an amazing experience to see American money providing lifesaving medicines to the poor and putting kids in school,” said Chris Daughtry, lead singer of DAUGHTRY, talking about a recent trip the band made to Uganda. “We as a people have a lot to offer, so let’s unite, get involved and make a difference together.”

Those interested in the program, flavor, and what they can do to help fight global poverty can learn more by visiting ONE.org/benjerry.

¹ World Bank: PovertyNet: Overview.

² FAO & The State of Food Insecurity in the World, 2006

About Ben & Jerry’s

Ben & Jerry’s produces a wide variety of super-premium ice cream and ice cream novelties, using high-quality ingredients including milk and cream from family farmers who do not treat their cows with the synthetic hormone rBGH. The company states its position on rBGH on its labels. Ben and Jerry’s products are distributed nationwide and in selected foreign countries in supermarkets, grocery stores, convenience stores, franchise Ben & Jerry’s Scoop Shops, restaurants and other venues. Ben & Jerry’s, a Vermont corporation and wholly-owned subsidiary of Unilever, operates its business on a three-part Mission Statement emphasizing product quality, economic reward and a commitment to the community. Contributions made via the employee led Ben & Jerry’s Foundation in 2007 totaled approximately $1.7 million. Additionally, the company makes significant product donations to community groups and nonprofits both in Vermont and across the nation. The purpose of Ben & Jerry’s philanthropy is to support the founding values of the company: economic and social justice, environmental restoration and peace through understanding, and to support our Vermont communities. For the full scoop on all Ben & Jerry’s Scoop Shop locations and fabulous flavors, visit www.benjerry.com.

About ONE

ONE is a coalition of people of all beliefs and every walk of life - united as ONE - to help make poverty history. As ONE, we are raising public awareness about the issues of global poverty, hunger, disease and efforts to fight such problems in the world's poorest countries. As ONE, we are asking our leaders to do more to fight the emergency of global AIDS and extreme poverty. ONE believes that allocating more of the U.S. budget toward providing basic needs like health, education, clean water and food would transform the futures and hopes of an entire generation in the world's poorest countries.

ONE is nonpartisan; there's only one side in the fight against global AIDS and extreme poverty. Working on the ground in communities, colleges and churches across the United States, ONE members both educate and ask America's leaders to increase efforts to fight global AIDS and extreme poverty, from the U.S. budget and presidential elections to specific legislation on debt cancellation, increasing effective international assistance, making trade fair, and fighting corruption. Everyone can join the fight. The goal of ending poverty may seem lofty, but it is within our reach if we take action together as one. You can start now by joining the ONE Campaign and pledging your voice to the fight against extreme poverty and global disease. Please visit ONE.org to learn more.