Kona Ice of Hemet Owners Give Back To Community

George and Carrie Kuvakas have been married 19 years. Last year they purchased a Kona Ice Kona Entertainment Vehicle, starting Kona Ice of Hemet.  After seven months of hard work they were able to add a second truck to their business, allowing them to serve the whole Pass from Hemet to Cabazon.  

“Kona Ice is a national franchise with approximately 160 KEVs (Kona Entertainment Vehicles) within the U.S.,” George Kuvakas said in an e-mail sent Sunday morning. “There are only five in the Inland Empire.”

“We are popular for fundraisers,” Carrie Kuvakas said.  

On July 23rd, Kona Ice of Hemet will have a fundraiser for “People Helping People.”  

“Our entire proceeds from sales that day will be donated to this fine cause,” George Kuvakas wrote.

The money will go to two Joplin, Mo. families who lost everything in the recent spate of tornadoes, George Kuvakas wrote.  

“I have a girlfriend out there,” Carrie Kuvakas said. Carrie Kuvakas called to make sure her friend was okay and was horrified to learn of the damage done to Joplin.

“[The tornado] was about a mile wide, it just tore everything apart,” Carrie Kuvakas said. “There is nothing left.”

Carrie Kuvakas felt that she had to help those who have lost so much.

“I told her to send me the names of two families who had lost everything,” Carrie Kuvakas said.  

This is not the first time that the Kuvakases have given back. They said they pride themselves on aiding the community.

For the Kuvakas family schools are their primary concern.

“We have been blessed to be able to donate back over $16,000.00 in the last 10 months,” George Kuvakas wrote. “90% of that has gone to our local schools.”

When they hold fundraisers with schools, 25% of every dollar goes to the school.  

When asked what fundraiser really stood out in his mind, George Kuvakas recalled an incident that really made the hard work worth it.

For a school year the Kuvakas family held fundraisers at Little Lake Elementary in Hemet once a month. Recently a woman came up the Kuvakas family and shared her gratitude.

The mother was unable to afford the cost of a ticket that would allow her daughter to go to Pathfinder’s Camp. She was surprised when her daughter’s teacher came up to her and handed her a ticket to camp.  

“The teacher said it was because of Kona Ice that she was able to go,” George Kuvakas said. “The little girl and the mother came up and said thank you.”

Their donations helped several other fifth-graders go to Pathfinder’s camp as well.

Little Lake Elementary school wrote a letter praising Kona Ice of Hemet for helping get children excited about Back To School Night, school events and activities.

Kona Ice donated tickets to win free treats, giving kids the incentive to work harder.

“Your contribution really inspired our students,” Little Lake Elementary School Principal Marco Baeza wrote.

Kona Ice of Hemet also won the 2011 “Small Business of the Year” award for businesses with less than ten employees.

“The Hemet San Jacinto Chamber of Commerce holds a yearly Olympus Awards Gala to award local businesses in many categories,” George Kuvakas said.

The 2011 Olympus Awards Gala -- a masquerade ball -- took place June 17th. Nominations for the awards were submitted by chamber members.

The chamber then voted on the submissions.

“Our Kona Ice of Hemet was nominated for Customer Service of the Year, Small Business of the Year and Entrepreneur of the Year,” George Kuvakas said. “We were honored.”

The Kuvakas family won the Artemis Award.

“Being our first year in business, this was a total shock to us,” Carrie Kuvakas said. “There are approximately 800 businesses in our Chamber.”

According to the Kuvakas family, the most popular shaved ice flavors include Blue Raspberry, Cherry, Tiger’s Blood (a tropical blend of strawberry and coconut), and banana.

Kona Ice of Hemet only offers twenty different ice cream flavors, including Fudge Bars, Dream Bars, and Chips Galore (a favorite of 5-year-old Sophia Kuvakas).

For Information or to donate, contact the Kuvakas family at 1.951.765.KONA.