By Victoria Hochman, Thompson & Bender

Jan. 31, 2024: Famous ice cream duo Ben & Jerry attended a VIP screening of Zen Brownie, the award-winning documentary on the story behind Yonkers’ Greyston Bakery, on January 25 at The Picture House in Bronxville.

More than 200 people, including New York State Majority Leader Andrea Stewart Cousins and Westchester County Deputy County Executive Ken Jenkins, attended the event, which also included a panel discussion and special reception.

The lobby of the Picture House Bronxville for the Zen Brownie screening

It was all to raise funds for Greyston Foundation and highlight and the impact of Greyston in the local community. Greyston Bakery's famous brownies are the main ingredient in Ben & Jerry's Fudge Brownie Ice Cream.

Joseph Kenner, CEO & President of Greyston Bakery and Andrea Stewart-Cousins, NY State Senator

The documentary by Emmy Nominated & Award-Winning Writer/Director Alison Bartlett and narrated by Jeff Bridges tells the tale of Buddhist Monks and how leading with inclusivity, kindness, and compassion has created a well-known profitable business in Greyston Bakery.

Zen Brownie recently won Special Mention from 2023 Impact DOCS Awards Competition. The film was also selected to be part of the YOFI Film Festival in November.  

Greyston Bakery in Yonkers creates gold standard brownies enjoyed daily around the world through its inclusion in Ben & Jerry’s ice creams. Bakers are employed through an Open Hiring® policy which means no interviews, no background checks, and no resumes are required.

“Greyston has unlocked human potential through inclusive employment for 42 years. It began with a Buddhist and a bakery and desire to help make communities thrive by being supportive of folks society has cast aside. It has evolved into an employment model known as Open Hiring ®, that we would like other companies to replicate,’’ said Greyston’s CEO & President Joseph Kenner. “I thank all the sponsors who supported this wonderful event and the Greyston Foundation.”

“It was an electric evening at The Picture House with the sold-out screening of Zen Brownie,” said Clayton Bushong, Executive Director of The Picture House Regional Film Center. “As an independent non-profit theater, we were thrilled to offer our historic space to uplift other Westchester nonprofits, as well as see so many new visitors to our theater for such a quality and thought-provoking story on Greyston Bakery.”

A panel discussion followed the film screening, featuring the filmmaker, producer, wife of founder Bernie Glassman and Ben Cohen of Ben & Jerry’s.

View the trailer here: Zen Brownie Trailer (vimeo.com)