Books and Ice Cream? Sweet Republic Teams Up with Valley Libraries to Make Summer Reading Even Sweeter
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The co-founders of Sweet Republic partnership with the “Color Our World” Summer Reading Challenge at Valley libraries grew out of their shared love of books. With four scoop shops spread across the Valley located in Central Phoenix, Tempe, and two in Scottsdale, it was a natural way to give back to the communities they serve. It’s a simple idea—read books, earn points, get ice cream—but for hundreds of Valley kids, it might just make reading the highlight of summer. For store hours and participating libraries (click on READ tab) www.sweetrepublic.com Follow @SweetRepublic on Instagram and Facebook for updates.
Kids (5-11) and Teens (12-17), must first register with the Maricopa County Reads maricopacountyreads.org. Then log 500 minutes of reading time to earn 500 points, receive a message confirmation to go to the participating library to pick up a coupon (while supplies last) and redeem at any of Sweet Republic’s four locations for one free scoop. One choice could be the vibrant Superhero flavor, a bold blend of Blue Moon, strawberry, and mango, inspired by the colorful reading theme.
While the free ice cream is certainly a draw, the story behind the partnership is as meaningful as the reward itself. Sweet Republic’s co-founders, Helen Yung and Jan Wichayanuparp, are both lifelong readers who see books and imagination as foundational to their lives and business.
“Jan and I are avid readers,” Yung explains. “I have two young boys who love reading as well. It’s something we’ve always valued—not just for education, but for creativity, curiosity, and connection.” Yung recalls that her business partner loved reading so much as a child that her parents would take away her library privileges as punishment if she misbehaved.
Sweet Republic has spent the last 17 years crafting a reputation for creative, small-batch ice cream using locally sourced ingredients. But for its founders, being part of the community means more than what’s in the freezer. “Whether it’s our ingredients or our outreach, we try to reflect what we care about, and for us, reading has always been part of that,” Yung says.
About Sweet Republic:
Sweet Republic is a women-owned artisan ice cream company founded in 2008 by Helen Yung and Jan Wichayanuparp in Scottsdale, Arizona. With a passion for flavor and a love of creativity, with premium ingredients sourced from local purveyors. Known for their artisan handcrafted flavors, Sweet Republic has become a go-to destination for ice cream lovers of all ages.
This summer the co-founders of Sweet Republic want to make sure that those three ingredients come together in the best way possible for those who register for the “Color Our World” Summer Reading Challenge from June 1 to August 1, 2025. Readers must register with Maricopa County Reads maricopacountyreads.org to get started.
Visit our scoop shops at:
Phoenix - 6054 N. 16th Street Scottsdale - 9160 E. Shea Blvd. Scottsdale - 3712 N. Scottsdale Rd. Tempe - 410 N. Scottsdale Rd. (at the Watermark)
