Starlight Children's Foundation

Seattle Children's patients had a royal surprise – Princess Jasmine stopped by to say hello! Patients and staff were over the moon and stars with gratitude towards Disney and Starlight Children's Foundation for helping make the day extra special. Disney and Starlight waved their magic wands, delivered toys, books, and gave Seattle Children’s patients a sneak peek at the enchanting new Disney Princess Starlight Hospital Gowns. It was truly a day full of happily ever afters!

Starlight is incredibly focused on fulfilling our mission - #deliveringhappiness to hospitalized kids and their families - and we could not do this without YOU - our generous donors, partners, and hospitals. Today, we're thrilled to announce our 2023 Starlight Award Recipients! Last year, these individuals, organizations, and groups went above and beyond in promoting our work of bringing joy to kids at a time when they need it most. Recognizing them with a Starlight Award is a small gesture in comparison to the lasting impact of their efforts and we are beyond grateful for their continued support. Learn more and help us congratulate them today! 🌟 https://lnkd.in/gERrEiFj 🥳

This frightfully fun season, we're thrilled to collaborate with our friends at Disney to bring Halloween fun to children in hospitals! For every costume purchased on DisneyStore.com, Disney is donating a costume to Starlight, up to 20,000 costumes. We will deliver these costumes, along with Halloween-themed accessories, books, and toys provided by Disney to our hospital partners nationwide to bring joy to children who may be unable to trick-or-treat. Learn more at https://lnkd.in/en5JPXaK and help us make Halloween a fun experience for kids in hospitals. 🎃✨ #HalloweenJoy #DeliveringHappiness

The chronic pain associated with an illness can profoundly impact a child's wellbeing, both physically and mentally. Children often rely on positive and therapeutic distractions to help support anxiety and cope with pain. Mark, who lives with sickle cell disease, often experiences pain crises. Frequent visits to the hospital can often lead to heightened feelings of stress and loneliness for him. Starlight Virtual Reality provides him with a positive distraction from pain through immersive games and activities, helping to boost his mood and emotional wellbeing during those difficult times. "[Starlight VR] really brightens his day," his mom told us. "You can see the magic in [his] eyes, you can see the excitement, you can feel that energy coming back, and you can feel the love. Thank you for what your programs have done for my son." Starlight programs, like VR, can make a tremendous difference on a child's wellbeing, like it did for Mark. Help us ensure every hospitalized child can experience positive distractions during their most difficult moments. https://lnkd.in/g9kpMntz 🌟 #DeliveringHappiness #SickleCellAwareness

We were thrilled to #deliverhappiness to the pediatric patients at MemorialCare Miller Children’s & Women’s Hospital Long Beach alongside the Angels! Check out our collaboration at https://lnkd.in/gpaqQUHg 🌟⚾️

Hope to see you this week at Community Boost's Community Rising: Go Further Together virtual nonprofit marketing summit. 🐲 Classy and I are teaming up with Starlight Children's Foundation and Madison Shearer to chat about the power behind turning your donors and supporters into your greatest advocates. We will share real world tips and strategies you can implement right away. ⭐ Excited to learn from some other brilliant minds: Tim Lockie, Erik Tomalis 🦬, Mallory Erickson, Julia Campbell, Abigail Jarvis, Xavier Ramey, Dion Dawson, Beth Kanter, Allison Fine, Ishmam Raidah Rahman and many more! 🧠 Big thanks to Cameron Ripley, Candace Cody and the amazing CB team for putting out such solid content and bringing us all together. 🙌 Come see us on Wednesday at 12pm PST on the Boost Stage! 😎 Register here: https://lnkd.in/emx_J_Ti

Earlier this year, Starlight and a few pediatric patients had the chance to connect with attendees of #SXSW2024 to raise awareness for Starlight's play-powered programs. Today, we’re thrilled to announce a collaborative panel with Highlights to bring the power of play to hospitalized kids — and we need your support to bring our panel to SXSW 2025! Vote at https://lnkd.in/g77BvRdf to help bring our panel to the stage! This panel, "Nurturing Childhood Joy: A Fireside Chat with Starlight and Highlights for Children," will dive into how play can transform the hospital experience for young patients. We’ll explore how educational resources, interactive play, and storytelling not only bring joy to sick kids but also contribute to their emotional and physical well-being, promoting faster recovery. By highlighting our partnership with Highlights, we’ll show how collaborative efforts can make a real difference in the lives of hospitalized children. Help us share this important message at SXSW 2025! Your vote can ensure that more organizations understand the essential role of play in healing. #SXSW2025

Each year, over 15,000 children and their families receive a pediatric cancer diagnosis, turning their lives upside down in a matter of seconds. Still, when kids and families receive positive experiences, they often show strength and resilience. That's why Starlight exists - to provide hospitalized kids with opportunities to socialize, manage pain, and find comfort. In 2023, Ashton was diagnosed with medulloblastoma, an aggressive form of brain cancer, and has since had two brain surgeries, six rounds of radiation, and is currently undergoing chemotherapy. Through it all, Starlight programs have been there to provide moments of respite, comfort, and joy to both her and her family. "She definitely feels the love, and so do her sisters and my husband and I as we watch them all forget, even for a short time, the battle that Ashton is facing," her mom, Amanda, told us. "As a parent, there are so many things I grapple with as Ashton is forced to face brain cancer and all that comes with it. But through it all, she’s been so strong, and we are so thankful for organizations like Starlight, who don’t forget about our girl and understand her journey all too well." This September, for #ChildhoodCancerAwarenessMonth, help us turn hospital stays around for patients like Ashton, empowering them with Starlight programs. Learn more at https://lnkd.in/gzeggAnA 🌟 #DeliveringHappiness

We had an incredible experience at Comic-Con in San Diego, where we had the honor of showcasing the impact of our work at Starlight! 🎮🎤✨ Our panel dove into how storytelling, imaginative play, gaming, and purposeful fandom bring joy and distraction to hospitalized kids, fostering a sense of optimism and emotional well-being. Singer, songwriter, and gamer Chrissy Costanza joined us to shared her inspiring perspective on the power of gaming and music. “That's why when I saw Starlight for the first time I was like, this makes perfect sense. Gaming and music both allow us to take on this persona and dream bigger than we feel that we are.” Justin Sonfield, commanding officer of the 501st Legion, also emphasized the importance of play for both adults and children. “For me as an adult, it's very important that we know we can also play. When it's okay for us to play, children see that it's okay, and they become inspired and lose a little bit of fear and see that things can be just a little bit better, and a little bit more hopeful.” Thanks to everyone who joined us and to our amazing panelists for sharing their stories and insights! Together, we can make hospitals easier places for kids to be. 💫👾 #ComicCon #StarlightChildrensFoundation #FandomWithPurpose

For Starlight, 2023 was a year of growth. We helped more kids than ever, soaring from 2.4 million in 2022 to 3 million sick kids impacted by Starlight programs at over 720 hospitals and medical facilities nationwide. Learn more at https://lnkd.in/gsEBmiYh 🌟 Our efforts to equitably distribute our inclusive program has been at the forefront of our Commitement for Change. Since 2022, 50% of the facilities receiving our programs serve medically underserved and vulnerable populations, based on census demographics. With the support of our donors, partners, and fundraisers like you, we were able to deliver the power of play through our innovative programs, inspiring kids imaginations, promoting positivity, fostering creativity, and empowering their sense of control over their hospitalizations. No matter the length, hospital stays can be lonely, stressful, and scary. That’s why Starlight exists - to ensure hospitals are easier places for kids to be. Our vital programs help prepare kids for treatments, distract them from endless pokes or pain, alleviate stress, and ease boredom to help kids feel better – because happy kids heal faster.