COLUMBUS, OHIO – Jeni’s Splendid Ice Creams announced its newest flavor, Sunshine, is being released as part of a movement to break stigmas around children’s mental health.

For the launch of the special flavor, the ice cream company partnered with On Our Sleeves, an organization created by Nationwide Children’s Hospital to support children through advocacy, education and research.

The new flavor from Jeni’s comes in a gray container, and the color of the ice cream itself is described by the company as a muted gray, similar to a rain cloud. But the flavor consists of citrusy ingredients and is called Sunshine, and the packaging includes the tag line, “Tastes like sunshine on a cloudy day.” The company shared that it got inspiration for the concept from Depressed Cake Shop, an online platform designed to raise awareness about the challenges of mental health issues. Its Sunshine flavor was designed as a reminder “that things aren’t always what they seem.” 

Tying in with the release of the new flavor, which launched just ahead of Mental Health Awareness Month in May, Jeni’s donated $25,000 to help On Our Sleeves distribute “Kindness Kits,” which include information and activities to help children learn about practicing kindness, to 30,000 children in classrooms throughout the US.

During May, Jeni’s also is accepting at its scoop shops donations to support On Our Sleeves. Plus, its shops will make available conversation starters from behavioral health experts to spark conversations with kids.

"Even before the pandemic, we were seeing alarming trends in children's mental health," said Dr. Ariana Hoet, a pediatric psychologist at Nationwide Children's Hospital and clinical director of On Our Sleeves. "This is why it's important to provide parents, caretakers and teachers with resources and information to better understand the children in their lives. By having important conversations and building daily check-in habits, we're equipping kids with the resources they need to build their mental wellness and feel comfortable seeking help when they need it. We're so excited by Jeni's commitment to supporting pediatric mental health and continuing these conversations over a scoop of Sunshine."

The new limited edition flavor can be purchased at Jeni’s shops, as well as online at the company’s website.