20 Years of Halloween & Healing: Spirit of Children Unveils Historic $20 Million Fundraising Goal to Make Hospitals Less Scary for Kids

Celebrating 20 years of impact, Spirit of Children Week (Oct. 12–16) brings Halloween celebrations to 160+ partner hospitals and helps fund vital Child Life programs year-round.

AT A GLANCE

• Who: Spirit of Children (founded by Spirit Halloween CEO Steven Silverstein), in partnership with 160+ hospital partners.
• What: Spirit of Children 20th anniversary & Spirit of Children Week.
• When: October 12-16, 2026.
• Fundraising Goal: $20 million for the 2026 season, adding to over $145 million raised since 2007.
• Impact: 100% of local in-store and online donations stay in the community to fund Child Life staffing, sensory resources, and medical play therapy throughout the entire year.

EGG HARBOR TOWNSHIP, N.J., Oct. 6, 2026 /PRNewswire/ -- Every child deserves to experience the magic, wonder, and unbridled delight of Halloween, no matter where they are. That is why from October 12-16, 2026, Spirit of Children, dedicated Child Life specialist teams, and passionate Spirit of Children associates will transform pediatric wings across 160+ hospitals into magical Halloween havens for young patients and their families. Arriving with truckloads of costumes and supplies, the goal of Spirit of Children week is ensuring hospital walls never block out the joy of childhood.

For a child navigating an illness or hospital stay, putting on a costume and celebrating with family is far more than a fun afternoon. It's a vital dose of normalcy, laughter, and hope. That belief has driven Spirit of Children since its founding in 2006. What began as a heartfelt effort with a few local hospital parties has evolved over 20 years into a powerhouse movement to make hospital stays gentler, warmer, and less frightening for children. Today, Spirit of Children partners with more than 160 hospitals—its largest network to date. To celebrate two decades of impact, the organization has set its most ambitious campaign goal yet: raising $20 million this season to fund essential Child Life specialists, specialized equipment, and therapeutic programs.

"Celebrating 20 years of Spirit of Children is an incredible milestone, and this year's $20 million fundraising goal reflects our deep commitment to making hospitals less scary for kids," said Steven Silverstein, CEO of Spirit Halloween and Founder of Spirit of Children. "Every dollar raised goes directly to local hospital partners, funding Child Life programs that bring comfort, care, and everyday moments of joy to young patients when they need it most."

Trick-Or-Treating Down the Hallways
Throughout Spirit of Children Week, healthcare staff and Spirit of Children volunteers collaborate to ignite the Halloween spirit inside hospital halls, hosting festive costume parties, trick-or-treat parades, and interactive celebrations tailored for young patients and their families. With generous support from Spirit Halloween's partners, more than 500,000 costumes have been donated to partner hospitals over the years, empowering children to swap their hospital gowns for their favorite superhero or fairytale costumes, and just be kids.

By championing the essential work of Child Life Specialists, Spirit of Children helps ensure young patients and their families have continuous access to emotional support, creative outlets, and comfort tools throughout their healthcare journey.

The Work Doesn't End on November 1st
While Halloween comes once a year, Spirit of Children's support provides daily impact. Since fundraising launched in 2007, Spirit of Children has raised more than $164 million through the dedicated support of store guests, associates, and corporate partners. These crucial funds directly equip Child Life Departments with the resources needed to soothe anxiety, facilitate healing, and support families through complex medical experiences, including:

• Child Life Staffing
• Sensory and therapeutic resources
• Medical play and preparation
• Playrooms and activity spaces
• Art and music therapy
• Pet therapy
• Bereavement support
• Comfort and distraction tools

"Spirit of Children empowers our Child Life team to care for the emotional well-being of our patients and families in ways that extend far beyond medicine," said Kaitie Kolbeck, Supervisor of Child Life at Children's Hospital Colorado. "Their support is more than just a single day of celebration; it provides year-round funding that transforms the entire hospital experience for the kids in our care."

Spirit of Children's hospital partnerships are deeply rooted in local communities, with 100% of all in-store and online donations remaining local and directly benefiting each store's partner hospital. Many of these relationships began nearly two decades ago and have grown into lasting partnerships

As Spirit of Children celebrates 20 years of giving, its founding mission remains as focused and heartfelt as ever: to make hospitals less scary and keep the spirit of childhood alive for every child. To learn more, get involved, or donate, visit SpiritofChildren.com.

About Spirit of Children

At the heart of Spirit Halloween is Spirit of Children, a program focused on making hospitals less scary for kids and their families. Celebrating its 20th anniversary in 2026, Spirit of Children has spent two decades supporting Child Life Departments serving pediatric patients across the United States and Canada.

Since fundraising began in 2007, Spirit of Children has raised more than $164 million to support Child Life. Donations to Spirit of Children stay within local communities, with 100% of funds going toward supporting Child Life.

For the 2026 Halloween season, Spirit of Children will support 167 pediatric hospitals across North America, with a goal of raising $20 million.

Spirit Halloween encourages customers to help make a difference in a child's life this Halloween season by donating at their local Spirit Halloween store.

To learn more, donate or get involved, visit SpiritofChildren.com.

About Spirit

Spirit Halloween is the largest Halloween retailer in North America. With over 1,550 seasonal locations across North America, Spirit is the one-stop destination for all things Halloween. For more than four decades, Spirit has created immersive and interactive experiences for shoppers, complete with a unique and vast assortment of costumes and accessories for infants, toddlers, children, 'tweens, teens, and adults, along with exclusive décor and animatronics you won't find anywhere else. For more information, please visit SpiritHalloween.com.

SOURCE Spirit Halloween