Celebrity scoop-off supports Easter Seals in Springfield

SPRINGFIELD, mASS. (WWLP) - A fun competition with a serious purpose in Springfield Thursday night: helping people with disabilities.  The Boston Road Friendly's hosted a celebrity scoop-off.

Politicians, Springfield Falcons hockey team players and 22News meteorologist Adam Strzempko participated in two rounds of competition ice cream scooping.

The goal is to support Easter Seals services for people with disabilities.  People like Jesse Ascioti, who's hard of hearing and legally blind, and attended and eventually became a counselor at Easter Seals Summer camp. Easter Seals Massachusetts

"Jesse is in his 20's now and lives an independent life, and he attributes a lot of that to the skills and confidence he gained at Easter Seals summer camp and being part of Easter Seals Youth Leadership Program," Easter Seals Massachusetts president Kirk joslin told 22News.

Jesse Ascioti told 22News, "When I first came to Easter Seals Camp, and I was interacting with people with disabilities, and without, I kind of learned from them.  I learned how to accept other people from different backgrounds.  Then, when I started working there, I learned how to be responsible."

Joslin told 22News that Friendly's has been an Easter Seals partner for 28 years, raising more than $26 million dollars during that time for Easter Seals. 

Friendly's is selling coupons that will entitle kids to a free ice cream on Valentine's Day.