Baskin-Robbins® Pint-Sized Heroes Program™ honors patient at Manning Family Children’s with $31,000 grant

Jan 21

NEW ORLEANS — 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, Jan. 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/.

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BASKIN-ROBBINS:  
Baskin-Robbins, founded in 1945, is the world’s largest chain of ice cream specialty shops, with more than 7,700 retail shops in 33 global markets. Baskin-Robbins is part of the Inspire Brands family of restaurants. For more information, visit BaskinRobbins.com and InspireBrands.com.   

About Manning Family Children’s:
Manning Family Children’s is a 263-bed, non-profit academic pediatric medical center that offers comprehensive healthcare services, including over 40 pediatric specialties, just for children. With more than 600 pediatric providers, Manning Family Children’s offers a comprehensive array of specialized pediatric services in Louisiana and the Gulf South. In addition to its main campus located in New Orleans, Children’s operates a network of specialty clinics across Louisiana, including in Covington, Baton Rouge, Alexandria, Lafayette, and the Mississippi Gulf Coast. Children’s offers primary care at 17 convenient locations, along with a network of statewide pediatric affiliations. Children’s is a proud member of LCMC Health, a Louisiana-based, not-for-profit hospital system which also includes New Orleans East Hospital, Touro, University Medical Center New Orleans, West Jefferson Medical Center, East Jefferson General Hospital, Lakeview Hospital, and Lakeside Hospital. Learn more at manningchildrens.org.

Alicia Vial

Alicia Vial is a New Orleans native with more than a decade of experience elevating client stories and leading crisis response. As the senior director of strategy, Alicia acts as a leader within the Gambel Communications team ensuring each agency team member is positioned to deliver strategic public relations services that meet the highest standards of the industry. In addition to supporting the agency’s long-term business growth and development, she coordinates day-to-day account services and oversees strategic direction while staying abreast of best practices and industry trends to provide innovative solutions to meet client’s needs.

Before joining Gambel Communications, Alicia served as the communications director for the Louisiana SPCA, the oldest and largest animal welfare organization in Louisiana that impacts more than 74,000 animals per year. During her nearly eight-year tenure, Alicia oversaw numerous crises, served on national communication taskforces, oversaw all aspects of internal and external relations and worked alongside the development department to raise critical funding. Prior to that, she worked in the fast-paced New Orleans hospitality industry focusing on digital public relations for multiple hotels.

Alicia is a member of the Public Relations Association of Louisiana (PRAL), Southern Public Relations Federation (SPRF), a board member of the Public Relations Society of America (PRSA) New Orleans Chapter and a member of the New Orleans Regional Leadership Institute. An accredited public relations practitioner (APR), Alicia is also certified in crisis communications, organizational leadership, content marketing and social media.

A well respected and trusted public relations practitioner, Alicia has been recognized by SPRF as a ‘Senior Practitioner of the Year’. Dubbed early on in her career as one to watch, she also received the ‘Rising Star’ award by PRAL and was profiled in St. Charles Avenue Magazine as part of their Young Bloods series. Most recently, she was recognized at PRSA’s annual Fleurish Awards and received four Awards of Excellence for her work along with the ‘Plate Spinner’ award for her efforts on the board of directors for the chapter.

An LSU graduate, Alicia received a bachelor's degree in mass communications with a concentration in public relations and minors in business administration and leadership development. She is a frequent speaker and presenter on public relations topics, most recently presenting at the Jefferson Economic Development Commission and SPRF annual conference.

When Alicia is not at work, you can find her at the ballpark with her three boys or cheering on the Tigers in Death Valley.

Baskin-Robbins® Pint-Sized Heroes Program™ honors patient at Manning Family Children’s with $31,000 grant

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