Amazon Hosts Free Community Banana Split Bar at Arlington HQ2 building
Toby's Homemade Ice Cream and Amazon Partner to Offer Free Banana Splits
ALEXANDRIA, VA – Free banana splits from Amazon?? It happened today in Arlington, Virginia.
When Amazon announced its East Coast headquarters at National Landing in Crystal City, nicknamed HQ2, it promised that it would partner with local businesses and neighbors on various events in the community. Friday afternoon, Amazon stayed true to that pledge partnering with the local Toby’s Homemade Ice Cream to provide free banana splits to the Arlington and Alexandria community.
“The company’s first banana stand opened outside the original Amazon headquarters in Seattle in 2015,” said Amazon’s Amanda Cruz. “The idea came from Amazon founder and former CEO Jeff Bezos, who wanted to offer a free snack that was healthy to the community.”
At Friday’s event, attendees received a scoop of ice cream (chocolate, vanilla, or strawberry) that they could then take to Amazon’s banana split bar to adorn with bananas and banana split toppings. Employees, members of the community, kids and dogs enjoyed the ice cream, live music, and crafts and games hosted by the Museum of Contemporary Art Arlington.
Sarah Loden, Public Program Manager for the Museum of Contemporary Art Arlington, said that Amazon has been a supportive partner: “They are very interested in being out in the communities where they are,” Loden said. “They do a really great job prioritizing and highlighting local businesses and have provided the funding for several of our events, including the ‘End of Summer Silent Disco: a MoCA on the Move at Met Park.”
Banana Split Day is a legacy event that was started at Amazon’s Seattle HQ1 as part of free community events with the company’s iconic banana stand. This is the third year that Amazon has hosted this event in Arlington. Cruz added that the campus is home to more than 50,000 understory plants, 300 trees, and 160 native and native-adaptive species, as well as 18 intriguing art installations from more than 25 artists.
One of Amazon’s 16 Leadership Principles acknowledges that “Success and Scale Bring Broad Responsibility,” and challenges employees to “begin each day with a determination to make better, do better, and be better for our customers, our employees, our partners, and the world at large.”
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