Las Vegas celebrities get scoop on free Ben & Jerry’s ice cream for a good cause

By Nikki Villoria

Tuesday, April 12, 2011 | 5:43 p.m.

Some of Las Vegas' top entertainers scooped up more than the usual applause Tuesday as they pushed up their sleeves and dished out ice cream for Ben & Jerry’s annual Free Cone Day.

Ben & Jerry’s ice cream locations throughout the valley participated in the 33rd annual event, treating the community to free ice cream and raising money for charity.

Joining in on the free-treat fun was a lineup of local celebrities, including cast members of "Fantasy," "Jersey Boys" and "Thunder From Down Under." Performers Angel Porrino, Kevin Burke and Josh Strickland were among those doing the scooping at a Ben & Jerry's store at The District in Henderson.

“We love getting out and doing charity,” said "Jersey Boys" cast member Jeff Leibow.

“Especially when there’s ice cream involved,” added fellow cast member Peter Saide. “Scooping ice cream is the best thing ever, because everybody likes ice cream, so all you’re doing is making people happy. We come for the charity and we stay for the ice cream."

With celebrity shifts switching every 30 minutes, enthusiastic entertainers planned to greet customers until 7 p.m. Tuesday.

“It was great, (though) I thought it was going to be easier … My right arm is definitely going to be sore tomorrow,” said Lorena Peril, a lead "Fantasy" singer. “I liked it, I enjoyed it. That half-hour went by quick, and I got to eat free ice cream."

Customers were encouraged to "tip" the entertainers, with the donations at The District location going to St. Jude's Ranch for Children, an organization for abused, abandoned and neglected children.

“It’s really rocket science, too, because I don’t know what flavors are what. This is my third year I’ve been involved with this; I enjoy it,” said "Fantasy" performer Tracey Gorman.

Donations at other valley locations were going to other charities. The cast of "Absinthe" and KOMP-FM's morning show were scooping at the Sunset Station location to raise money for Nevada Community Learning Centers.

Las Vegas resident Michelle Head said this was the second consecutive year she had attended the event.

“We do homeschooling so it’s fun to get out," she said. "The weather is perfect: before it gets too hot when you can’t eat your ice cream fast enough."

Free ice cream and celebrity appearances weren’t the only entertainment for the day. In front of the store was a video game trailer that included multiple screens inside and outside with Xbox and Wii games for families to enjoy while they ate ice cream.