Teen donates ice cream truck profits to charity in Brooklyn Park

BROOKLYN PARK, Minn. (KMSP) - A 14-year-old Brooklyn Park boy donated profits from his ice cream truck business to the Ronald McDonald House of Minneapolis.  

“You know, pay it forward,” Duane Helms Boyd said.  

Helms-Boyd spent the summer traveling the streets of Brooklyn Park and Brooklyn Center to raise money for the charity while raising money for college.  When he started his business, he made a promise to himself that he would “give something back” to the community.

He decided that he would choose one charity per season and donate 100 percent of the profits from the sale of a product to that charity.

"It was pretty much every weekend, it mainly depended upon the weather,” he said.  "My mom did the outside and without my grandfather and dad the inside wouldn't be food safe so we couldn't start.”

When he sold Jonny Pops, the money from each sale went to the Ronald McDonald house. His family knows someone helped by the charity.

“I've seen a ton of heartwarming stuff from visiting there and seeing what families have to go through with their kids,” he said.

Jonny Pops is also a company that gives back to a cause, the Hazelden addiction treatment center.

“I heard about the mission of Jonny Pops and Hazelden treatment center and I wanted to donate the profits from Jonny Pops to the Ronald McDonald House,” the 14-year-old said.

In his first season, Duane has learned a lot about business and a lot more about life. So look for him next summer in Brooklyn Park and Brooklyn Center and help him pay it forward.