Across America, there are young people facing challenges, like battling severe illness, that no child should have to endure. Despite their obstacles, these children still find ways to inspire and bring joy to our communities – they are heroes. On Tuesday, January 20, the Baskin-Robbins® Joy in Childhood Foundation® named nine-year-old Abigail Fisher, a patient at Manning Family Children’s, as its newest Pint-Sized Hero.™
In Abby’s honor, the Baskin-Robbins Joy in Childhood Foundation, alongside Baskin-Robbins Brand Head Jerid Grandinetti and Baskin-Robbins Vice President of Brand Marketing and Culinary Nicole Boutwell, granted $31,000 to Manning Family Children’s. To continue celebrating all of life’s moments with Baskin-Robbins, the brand surprised Abby with a year of free ice cream. The Baskin-Robbins Joy in Childhood Foundation also hosted a Pint-Sized Hero ice cream party for patients and staff at Manning Family Children’s.
The $31,000 grant will support Walker’s Imaginarium, a first-of-its-kind 15,000-square-foot child enrichment center at Manning Family Children’s that is currently under construction and will be open in the fall of this year. The space will offer an innovative environment for patients and their families to enjoy time together while in the hospital and provide a healing and engaging space for children to thrive and find joy. It will also offer a wide range of interactive child-friendly exhibits that have been expertly designed to appeal to different age groups, including toddlers, school-age children, teens, and adolescents.
Pint-Sized Hero Abby Fisher has Treacher Collins Syndrome, a rare inherited group of conditions that affect the growth of a child’s skull and facial bones. Despite the challenges that come with her diagnosis, Abby approaches life with remarkable strength, resilience, and an infectious spirit that brightens every room she enters. Her positive attitude and joyful energy inspire those around her, serving as a powerful reminder that determination and kindness can shine through even the most difficult circumstances.
The Pint-Sized Heroes program aims to bring happiness and smiles to children that are facing challenges and receiving care at children’s hospitals across the country. Powered by Baskin-Robbins and the generosity of its franchisees, team members, partners, and guests, the Baskin-Robbins Joy in Childhood Foundation is making an impact on the lives of kids who continue to find ways to inspire joy in their communities.
To learn more about the Pint-Sized Hero program, visit https://joyinchildhoodfoundation.org/our-impact/baskin-robbins/.
