Pinky Swear Foundation

Ariana (age 12), Gabi (age 10), and Michael (age 6) Feygin are passionate about making a positive difference in this world.   They have always believed that kids can do a lot more than people think and are capable of a lot more than people give them credit for.  After learning that their grandfather (who they never had a chance to meet) passed away from cancer when he was only 40 years old, they wanted to learn more about this terrible disease.  Ariana, Gabi, and Michael were shocked by what they learned, especially the devastating statistics around pediatric cancer.  And in addition to living the nightmare of having a child battle cancer, 1 out of 11 families end up filing for bankruptcy as a result of treatment costs and secondary expenses.  Ariana, Gabi, and Michael made it their mission to help these families.  In 2013, they asked all their family and friends for donations, and with many people contributing a little bit, they were able to collect $1500.  Since that time, they have recruited more and more kids to help with their mission and have organized many different fundraising events through which they have raised over $110,000 for kids with cancer and their families.

All the money raised has been donated to the Pinky Swear Foundation, a MN-based organization that helps kids with cancer and their families with financial and emotional support.  The Pinky Swear Foundation was created in 2003 to honor a pinky-swear promise made between 9-year old Mitch Chepokas and his dad, Steve.  Mitch was terminally ill with bone cancer and gave away his life savings of $6000 to kids in the hospital, making his dad pinky swear to continue helping kids with cancer after he died.  The Pinky Swear Foundation has given away more than $12 million to support families of kids with cancer.

Passionate advocates for families dealing with pediatric cancer, Ariana and Gabi have presented at galas, Lions, and Rotary Clubs around Minnesota.  Most recently, they were invited to present at the HyVee Exercise Your Character event in Des Moines, Iowa to over 8000 kids alongside Olympic Gold Medal Gymnast Laurie Hernandez, WNBA All-Star Elena Delle Donne, Vikings Wide Receiver Adam Thielen, and Miss Iowa Kelly Koch.  In 2017, Ariana was named Minnesota's top middle school age volunteer and honored with the Prudential Spirit of the Community Award.  Ariana participated in a 4 day recognition program in Washington DC with top volunteers from the US and around the world where she had the honor to lay a wreath at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier at Arlington National Cemetery, meet with Senator Al Franken on Capitol Hill, and discuss her philanthropy work with the most decorated Olympian of all time, Michael Phelps.  Ariana, Gabi, and Michael firmly believe that only the people who are crazy enough to think they can change the world are the ones who actually do it.