Friendly's Steps Up to Help a Reading Boy Get His Service Dog

Patch told you recently about a Reading mom organizing an ice cream fundraiser dedicated to getting her 8-year-old son a therapeutic service dog.

That article found its way to the top decision-makers at Friendly’s and, suddenly, Andrea Scullin’s hopeful effort on behalf of her son, Sean, became a major event.

Friendly’s will be donating 3,000 pieces of ice cream for the June 26 event as part of the company’s ”Random Acts of Friendlyness” community initiative.

“’We heard about Sean’s ice cream social in hopes of raising money for a service dog,” said Friendly’s CEO John Maguire in a statement to Patch, ”We had to be part of it and help however we could. We are in the business of creating great memories and this one is an important one.”

Scullin said that donations have come pouring in since the article ran on Patch in early June and now Jacob Berman will be DJ’ing the event that also now includes raffles and a silent auction for gift certificates and gift baskets.

“Thank you. From the bottom of my heart, thank you for sharing,” Scullin wrote in an email to Patch. “I do not believe Friendly’s would have found us without the Patch publicity. I do not believe the donations would have spiked, we would not have a DJ. Our turnout will be 500 percent what was anticipated thanks to the Patch.

“And because of all of that, my boy will get his dog.”

Scullin wrote in a fundraising letter that Sean had shown great response when he’d been around therapeutic service dogs, but bringing one home permanently means the Scullin family needs to raise $10,000.

“I have been utterly overwhelmed, in the best possible way,” Scullin said of the response from the community so far. “The generosity and kindness that the community has shown has been outstanding. I have always loved living in Reading because of the people. We stand behind each other.”

The ice cream social fundraiser takes place June 26 from 5-8 p.m. at Memorial Park.