From Playgrounds to Progress: Unleashed Brands' $1M Pediatric Cancer Pledge

FORT WORTH, TX – May 18, 2026 – Unleashed Brands, a company whose portfolio is built on helping children learn and play, is channeling its resources into a more serious fight: the battle against pediatric blood cancer. The company's charitable arm, the Unleashed Brands Foundation, announced a $200,000 donation to Blood Cancer United to fund groundbreaking research and provide critical support for young patients and their families.

The contribution is the latest installment of a five-year, $1 million commitment to Blood Cancer United's 'Dare to Dream Project,' an initiative aimed at transforming treatment and care for children with blood cancer. The project’s goal is not only to help children survive their diagnosis but to ensure they can live longer, fuller lives post-treatment. At the heart of this corporate pledge is the story of Perry Oviedo, a young Fort Worth girl whose resilience put a human face on the partnership's profound impact.

A Mission-Driven Partnership

For Unleashed Brands, the parent company of youth enrichment franchises like Urban Air Adventure Park, The Little Gym, and Sylvan Learning, the partnership is a direct extension of its core business philosophy. The company's mission is to help kids “learn, play, and grow,” and its philanthropic efforts are strategically aligned to support children facing the most significant obstacles to a healthy childhood.

Established in 2023, the Unleashed Brands Foundation was created to formalize the company's long-standing commitment to youth-focused charities. This partnership with Blood Cancer United, in place since the foundation's inception, exemplifies a modern approach to corporate social responsibility, where long-term commitments are favored over one-off donations, fostering deeper, more sustainable impact.

"At Unleashed Brands, we believe every child deserves the opportunity to overcome challenges, discover their potential and become the ultimate comeback kid," said Michael Browning Jr., Founder and CEO of Unleashed Brands. "Perry's journey is a powerful reminder of the resilience children and families show every single day in the fight against pediatric blood cancer. Through our partnership with Blood Cancer United, we're proud to support moments of hope, joy and healing for families navigating the unimaginable."

This model reflects a growing trend where corporations leverage their resources and brand mission to support non-profits in a more integrated way. The five-year, $1 million pledge provides Blood Cancer United with the financial stability needed to plan long-term research projects and scale its family support services, knowing the funding is secure.

The Heart of the Matter: Perry's Story

While the financial figures are significant, the partnership's true value is most clearly seen in the life of one child. The Unleashed Brands Foundation was connected with the Oviedo family through Blood Cancer United. Perry Oviedo was diagnosed with B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia just one month after her second birthday, beginning a years-long battle against the disease.

After demonstrating extraordinary resilience through extensive treatment, Perry rang the bell on April 17, a cherished ritual that marks the end of a patient's cancer therapy. Surrounded by her parents and older sister, the sound of the bell signified a new beginning.

To honor this milestone, the Unleashed Brands Foundation flew the Oviedo family to Orlando for UBCON, the company's annual conference. In front of a crowd of franchise owners and brand leaders, Perry and her family took the stage to celebrate her victory. The celebration culminated in an all-expenses-paid VIP trip to the Magic Kingdom, a day dedicated solely to allowing Perry to experience the uncomplicated joy of being a child. Her story serves as a poignant illustration of the foundation's goal: to ensure that children like Perry, and the families supporting them, have access to play, joy, and the simple chance to be kids, even in the face of immense hardship.

Fueling the Future of Pediatric Cancer Care

The donation from Unleashed Brands Foundation directly fuels the 'Dare to Dream Project,' a critical initiative in a field that is chronically underfunded. Despite cancer being the leading cause of death by disease for children in the United States, pediatric cancer research has historically received only 4% of the National Cancer Institute's budget. This funding gap makes private and corporate philanthropy essential.

Blood Cancer United, formerly known as The Leukemia & Lymphoma Society, uses these funds to attack the problem on multiple fronts. The 'Dare to Dream Project' invests heavily in research to develop “kid-sized treatments,” acknowledging that pediatric cancers are biologically distinct from adult cancers and require a specialized approach. This includes funding for revolutionary treatments like CAR T-cell immunotherapy and the LLS PedAL Master Clinical Trial, which simultaneously tests multiple novel therapies to find safer, more effective options for children with relapsed acute leukemia.

"Generous contributions from partners like Unleashed Brands Foundation help accelerate pediatric cancer research and bring hope to children and families facing blood cancer," said Jim Brewer, Vice President of Children's Initiatives at Blood Cancer United. "Support for The Dare to Dream Project helps turn promising ideas into progress that can change lives and bring more meaningful moments to young patients and their families."

Comprehensive Support Beyond the Lab

The impact of the $1 million commitment extends far beyond the laboratory. The 'Dare to Dream Project' also powers a comprehensive network of resources designed to support families through every step of their journey. A cancer diagnosis impacts the entire family unit, creating emotional, logistical, and financial burdens that can be overwhelming.

Recognizing this, Blood Cancer United provides a suite of free services funded by donations. These include access to oncology social workers and nurses who offer personalized guidance, family support groups facilitated by mental health professionals, and financial assistance programs that help with both medical and non-medical costs. Clinical Trial Nurse Navigators help families navigate the complex process of enrolling in cutting-edge trials, while registered dietitians offer free nutrition consultations.

This holistic support system ensures that while researchers work on developing cures for tomorrow, families receive the tangible help they need today. By investing in both cutting-edge science and compassionate family care, the partnership between the Unleashed Brands Foundation and Blood Cancer United creates a powerful, multi-faceted assault on pediatric blood cancer, working to ensure more children not only survive but are given the chance to thrive.