Graeter's Ice Cream, who partnered with The Cure Starts Now for its Cones for the Cure campaign and pediatric brain cancer research, announced it will donate $290,000, thanks to guest support, company donations, and ice cream sales of the seasonal favorite, Elena’s Blueberry Pie ice cream.

 All 56 Graeter’s retail stores participated in this year’s fundraising effort, with many stores setting new individual records. The Cure Starts Now’s Co-Founder and Chairman of the Board, Keith Desserich shares, “Graeter’s has been an incredible partner for The Cure Starts Now for more than 15 years. This year’s campaign hit a major milestone, raising over $2 million over the duration of our partnership together. We are proud to have Graeter’s as part of The Cure Starts Now family, helping continue the fight for the Homerun Cure for cancer.” 

In addition to Cones for the Cure, Graeter’s also donates a portion of the proceeds from every pint of their seasonal ice cream flavor, Elena’s Blueberry Pie to The Cure Starts Now. The campaign continues to surpass donation goals year after year, demonstrating the community’s love for this beloved charity and Elena’s Blueberry Pie ice cream.

“Ice cream is a family-centric business, and it’s our privilege to help families through the good times and the bad,” shares Chip Graeter, fourth-generation Graeter’s family member. “The Cones for the Cure annual event allows us to have a positive impact in the community and with the families we serve. This year’s donation not only surpassed previous years but has led to more than $2 million in donations from the Cones for the Cure event over the 16 years. This has always been a great showing of families supporting families.” 

With the funds from the Cones for the Cure campaign, The Cure Starts Now will be able to fund up to 20 new research projects and trials. Since 2011, with the support from Graeter’s, their efforts have resulted in the doubling of expected survival times. The Cure Starts Now was started in Cincinnati but now has more than 50 locations worldwide and an army of over 1,000 families united to fight pediatric brain cancer.