How one company helped to create a playroom fit for a princess

(BPT) - Like many little girls her age, 6-year-old Francesca loves her pets, mermaids, swimming, ice pops, playing with her brothers — and all things princess. Her favorite activities are jumping, sliding, swinging, playing with dolls and singing pop songs.

But this playful girl, known as "Frankie" to her family, has also been bravely fighting a rare nervous system disorder since she was 3 years old, which requires daily medications, plus frequent infusion appointments that can last up to seven hours. The condition can also impact her speech, motor and cognitive skills.

A wish from her heart

To help provide more fun, hope and positivity in her daily life, Make-A-Wish^® Ohio, Kentucky and Indiana partnered with nationwide retailer Big Lots to help make Frankie's wish come true: she wanted a special place all her own, filled with everything she loves — in other words, the perfect princess playroom.

To help transform Frankie's basement into her ideal princess playroom, a group of 30 Big Lots associate volunteers came together to include every detail they knew she would love, including a ball pit and slide, a swing, a chest stocked with art supplies, and of course, an armoire full of beautiful princess dresses. Many of the products used for creating the space came from Big Lots!

A representative from the Big Lots team said, "Seeing Frankie's face when she saw the playroom for the first time was an experience our team will never forget."

And her mother Estela was equally moved, saying, "We asked Make-A-Wish to create a space full of joy and excitement that Frankie can revisit every day. Big Lots and Make-A-Wish did just that."

Partnerships that make wishes come true

Big Lots has been a proud local supporter of Make-A-Wish since 2009, and the company's associates have been directly involved in granting the wishes of three children so far — with another planned for the upcoming fall.

"We grant more wishes during the summer than any other time of the year, making support from partners like Big Lots absolutely vital," said Leslie Motter, president and CEO, Make-A-Wish America. "Big Lots prides itself on helping people to 'live big,' and they're making that sentiment a reality by helping grant wishes that can be truly life-changing for wish kids and their families."

How everyone can help

Big Lots stores nationwide are helping to raise funds for Make-A-Wish this July by launching their first-ever in-store campaign as a national partner with Make-A-Wish. Customers can donate at the register when shopping in-store, and they'll receive a coupon for $5 off their next purchase of $15 or more at Big Lots when they choose to donate.

This campaign aims to give children renewed energy and strength, bring families closer together during difficult times, and unite communities.

"Partnering with Make-A-Wish allows us to grant life-changing wishes for children with critical illnesses," said Bruce Thorn, president and CEO, Big Lots. "We believe in the power of a wish to bring hope and joy to these courageous kids and their families, and it's an honor to support Make-A-Wish through this campaign."

Big Lots also encourages customers to leave messages for wish kids with special donation notes displayed in stores to help spread the hope and positive encouragement.

Learn how you can help grant wishes for children at wish.org.