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WILMINGTON, Del., Oct. 30, 2023 – This Halloween season, the non-profit Starlight Children’s Foundation, in collaboration with Disney, delivered Disney-themed costumes, wheelchair covers, toys, and books to Nemours Children’s Hospital, Delaware in Wilmington. This delivery provided fang-tastic fun to pediatric patients in an effort to spread toothy grins across their faces, reminding them what it means to be a kid. Patients were treated with a fun-filled day of movies, costumes, and a chance to meet Mickey Mouse himself.
Every child should be able to enjoy Halloween, regardless of their circumstances. Today’s Disney-themed Starlight Delivery, provided by shopDisney, brought all the tricks and treats, allowing hospitalized kids to experience the magic of Halloween, providing pediatric patients with a much-needed break from treatments and procedures. From superheroes to princesses, pediatric patients were able to embrace the power of play and partake in a normal childhood experience from the safety of the hospital.
"I was really stressed about this surgery on Wednesday, but now I am completely distracted because I have Mickey Mouse here. It's wonderful to have such a healthy distraction in a stressful time of life," said Natalie Corbett, a parent of a patient at Nemours Children's Hospital, Delaware.
Nemours Children’s Hospital, Delaware is part of Starlight’s hospital network, receiving access to Starlight programs, including toy deliveries, gaming, and character-themed hospital gowns. Utilized by child life specialists and clinicians to provide play, distraction, and comfort to pediatric patients, these vital programs are donor-funded and offered at no cost to hospitals.
“The Child Life program at Nemours Children’s Health is dedicated to going beyond medical care to enhance the lives of our patients and their families by providing free support services and fun activities.” said Jennifer Sciolla, Assistant Vice President, Child and Family Services, Nemours Children’s Health, Delaware Valley. “We are very thankful for the generous delivery from Starlight Children’s Foundation and shopDisney. Their support helped to create a magical and unforgettable Halloween event for our patients!”
While play is a natural and essential part of childhood, it can be a powerful tool in promoting healing and recovery. With resources like toy deliveries provided by Starlight, child life specialists and clinicians use play to help young patients process their emotions, develop coping skills, and express themselves in a safe and supportive environment.
For over 20 years, Disney and Starlight have teamed up to bring Disney stories and characters to over 800 children’s hospitals and pediatric places of care throughout the United States.
"Kids should be able to participate in the fun, regardless of their circumstances. We hope the products from our shopDisney team will provide patients and families with a much-needed break from treatments and procedures, and let kids be kids again," said Bernie Prazenica, President and General Manager at 6 ABC.
Community members can also play a part in transforming hospital moments for seriously ill children. To learn more, visit starlight.org.
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About Starlight Children’s Foundation
No matter the length, hospital stays can be lonely, stressful, and scary. That’s why Starlight exists. Founded in 1982, Starlight Children’s Foundation is a 501(c)3 organization that aims to deliver happiness to hospitalized children and their families. Carefully crafted to address the unique needs of pediatric patients, Starlight’s vital programs – including Starlight Gaming, Starlight Virtual Reality, Hospital Gowns, and Starlight Toy Deliveries – are donor-funded and offered free of charge to hospitals within its nationwide network to provide comfort, distraction, and a sense of normalcy to kids coping with hospitalization, procedures and treatments. The impact of these programs reaches even further to the families and caregivers, creating a supportive community that nurtures kids when they need it most.
To learn more and to help Starlight deliver happiness to hospitalized kids, visit www.starlight.org and follow Starlight on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.
About Nemours Children’s Health
Nemours Children’s Health is one of the nation’s largest multistate pediatric health systems, which includes two free-standing children's hospitals and a network of more than 70 primary and specialty care practices. Nemours Children's seeks to transform the health of children by adopting a holistic health model that utilizes innovative, safe, and high-quality care, while also caring for the health of the whole child beyond medicine. Nemours Children's also powers the world’s most-visited website for information on the health of children and teens, Nemours KidsHealth.org.
The Nemours Foundation, established through the legacy and philanthropy of Alfred I. duPont, provides pediatric clinical care, research, education, advocacy, and prevention programs to the children, families and communities it serves. For more information, visit Nemours.org.
Media Contact:
Anna Gripp, Public Relations Coordinator
302-824-6476 | Anna.gripp@nemours.org
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