Spirit Halloween Kicks Off Spirit of Children Week October 15-18, 2012

EGG HARBOR TOWNSHIP, N.J., Oct. 15, 2012 /PRNewswire/ -- Spirit Halloween, the largest seasonal Halloween retailer in North America, is once again bringing the fun and excitement of Halloween to hospitalized children throughout the United States and Canada with its Spirit of Children program. Since 2006, Spirit of Children has supported Child Life departments to make hospital stays less scary for kids and their families and touches hundreds of thousands of pediatric patients each year by providing both fun and funding to hospitals at Halloween and all year long. Spirit of Children enables hospitalized children to celebrate Halloween like kids should by organizing events complete with costumes, accessories, decorations and activities. This season, Spirit of Children will host celebrations at 85 hospitals and hopes to raise $3.5 million, bringing its total contribution to more than $10 million since the program's inception.

New for 2012, Spirit of Children has teamed up with Saban's Power Rangers Super Samurai and Power Rangers emPOWER to visit and entertain young hospital patients and promote a safe and "Powered Up" Halloween nationwide during Spirit of Children Week. The Power Rangers will make special appearances at 14 hospitals to bring to life the Halloween spirit. Kids are not supposed to be sick and they're not supposed to have any worries, with Spirit of Children kids can just be kids for one day.

"Spirit of Children is the heart of our organization and we're thrilled to partner with Saban's Power Rangers this year," said Steven Silverstein, President and CEO, Spirit Halloween. "We've always said a great holiday should do great good and the Power Rangers emphasize the importance of responsibility, teamwork and helping others. We believe every child has the right to celebrate Halloween and we've made it our responsibility to bring this holiday to children who otherwise wouldn't be able to celebrate."

Spirit of Children raises money online and in its almost 1,000 stores to support the Child Life departments of local children's hospitals in each store's community. Child Life focuses on the emotional and psychological wellbeing of hospitalized children while doctors and nurses focus on their medical needs. Money collected and donated to the Child Life departments in partner hospitals support everything from music and art therapy programs, which help children communicate and express the emotions they are feeling while in the hospital, to games and toys that serve as distractions for children while undergoing treatment thus limiting the need for painkillers and anesthesia, to additional Child Life Specialists that enable playrooms to be kept open on weekends so kids can leave their room and escape their reality.

"We are excited to join forces with Spirit of Children and bring the Power Rangers to kids in hospitals across the country," said Elie Dekel, President, Saban Brands. "Partnering with Spirit of Children for the second year of our national Halloween Safety campaign, which includes in-theater media, online safety tips, and family activities, as well as these hospital visits, is a great way to demonstrate the Power Rangers values of caring, friendship, and standing for what's right."

While shopping online or in Spirit Halloween stores for costumes and decor, shoppers can donate to Spirit of Children to bring a smile to a child's face this Halloween. Consumers that make a donation of $2 will receive a reflective Halloween safety bracelet for kids to wear while trick-or-treating.

To locate a Spirit Halloween store in your area or to donate to the Spirit of Children program, visit www.SpiritHalloween.com.  For exclusive discounts and the inside scoop on all things Halloween, "Like" us if you dare on Facebook www.facebook.com/spirithalloween, follow us on Twitter @SpiritHalloween, check us out on YouTube www.youtube.com/SpiritHalloweencom and follow us on Pinterest www.pinterest.com/spirithalloween. Find everything you need for a safe and "Powered Up" Halloween at www.powerrangers.com/halloween.

About Spirit Halloween
Spirit Halloween (www.SpiritHalloween.com) is the largest Halloween specialty retailer in the country with almost 1,000 locations in strip centers and malls across North America. The authority on all things Halloween, Spirit has offered one-stop shopping – ranging from costumes to decor and party goods to accessories – for nearly 30 years. In addition to being a fun and interactive event for shoppers, Spirit stores offer complete selections of costumes and accessories for infants/toddlers, children, 'tweens, teens, and adults along with exclusive decor you won't find anywhere else. At the heart of Spirit Halloween is Spirit of Children (www.spiritofchildren.com), a program which focuses on making hospitals less scary for kids and their families. For the 2012 Halloween season, Spirit of Children's goal is to raise $3.5 million, bringing its total contribution to more than $10 million since its inception in 2006.

About Saban's Power Rangers Super Samurai
Power Rangers Super Samurai is the all-new, half-hour series that features a new cast of Rangers and never-before-seen villains, as well as high-octane action, martial arts and advanced special effects.  New episodes premiere Saturdays at 1 p.m. (ET/PT) on Nickelodeon. Currently in its 19^th season, Power Rangers Super Samurai is helmed by Haim Saban, who created and produced the original Mighty Morphin Power Rangers series in 1993. Following its introduction, Power Rangers quickly became the most-watched children's television program in the United States.  Emphasizing the importance of teamwork, responsibility and helping others by following the adventures of a group of ordinary young people who "morphed" into superheroes, the series was seen in more than 60 countries, translated into numerous languages, and was a mainstay in the most prominent international children's programming blocks.  Power Rangers LLC, which licenses and merchandises the Power Rangers brand, is an affiliate of Saban Brands. For more information, visit www.powerrangers.com.

About Power Rangers emPOWER
The universally recognized Power Rangers brand delivers humorous action-adventure entertainment that kids love and positive messaging that parents value. Just as the Power Rangers work together to solve a different challenge in every episode, Power Rangers emPOWER provides parents and kids the tools they need to work together to grow healthy kids and support healthy communities. Power Rangers emPOWER provides an innovative, engaging platform for information, activities, and resources. Power Rangers emPOWER inspires participation in schools, online and in local communities to demonstrate the Power Rangers values in action: teamwork, confidence, health and physical activity, friendship and caring. Power Rangers emPOWER is positive and fun, emphasizing kids' strengths and potential, and providing kids and parents with accessible resources. Developed in partnership with leaders in children's services, it is central to the Power Rangers brand. For more information, visit http://empower.powerrangers.com.

SOURCE Spirit Halloween