Ziegenfelder Anxious To Be Part Of Wellness Weekend

Photo by Derek Redd

Few combinations are more fitting than Memorial Day Weekend, family fun and popsicles. The Ziegenfelder Co., the Wheeling-based industry leader in frozen treats, knows that, which is why the company can't wait to be a part of the 2023 Ogden Newspapers Wellness Weekend presented by WVU Medicine.

The weekend's events will be held May 27-28 in downtown Wheeling.

Ziegenfelder's presence will be felt throughout the weekend in events that will give adults and children alike the opportunity to stay fit and have a good time in the process.

"I think it's great to be a part of and just let everyone in the community know that we're here and we want to support the community," said Brad Allen, Ziegenfelder Co.'s sales and marketing director, "especially the events that help Wellness Weekend, just to give people opportunity to have activities that promote fitness and wellness for for everybody."

That begins with the 5K Twin Pops Run/Walk for Health, presented by Ziegenfelder. The walk begins at 7:30 a.m. May 27, with the run following at 8 a.m. The course will take participants around downtown Wheeling.

The Ohio Valley's little ones get their chance to join the fun May 27 with the Ogden Fun Run and Tiny Tot Trot, each presented by Ziegenfelder. The Fun Run begins at 8:30 a.m. May 27 for children 12 and younger. The smallest youngsters can experience the Tiny Tot Trot at 10:30 a.m. May 27.

Allen said that sponsoring events catered to children is extra special, considering the company's mission.

"My favorite thing about this job is we get to make popsicles," Allen said. "We get to make people smile. And then we get to go out and partner with an event like the (Ogden Fun Run and Tiny Tot Trot) where they're doing a little bit of activity and then they get the treat. And they know at the end they got Cherry Larry on the on the shirt, and they get a Cherry Larry popsicle at the end. You can't beat that. You've never seen anybody with a popsicle not smile."

The company helps in other ways as well. Ziegenfelder employees, which the company affectionately refers to as the "Zieggy Tribe," can be seen helping out at the finish lines of the races and doing some of the little things that keep the events rolling.

"Ziegenfelder is such an integral part of what makes the Ogden Newspapers Wellness Weekend presented by WVU Medicine the event that it is," said Perry Nardo, general manager of The Intelligencer and Wheeling News-Register. "The company's devotion to its community is second to none and we really appreciate everything that Ziegenfelder does as a partner in this weekend."

Allen said that having employees assist throughout the weekend is a great way for them to see their neighbors in the Ohio Valley enjoy the fruits of their labor.

"I think there's an opportunity for our folks in the production facility that ... they're making pops every day," Allen said. "And they get to get out and see people's faces when they get to consume that product. So when they get an opportunity to see people enjoy the product that they made, that makes me that makes me excited. It makes me feel really good about what we do."

The Ogden Newspapers Wellness Weekend presented by WVU Medicine also includes the Ogden Newspapers Half Marathon Classic, with the walk starting at 7:30 a.m. May 27 and the run following at 7:50 a.m. that day. The events of Sunday, May 28 will begin with the Heritage Trail Bicycle Tour at 7 a.m. and the Tough As Nails Urban Challenge presented by The Health Plan at noon.

To register for the weekend's events, visit ogdenwellnessweekend.com.