Spirit Halloween Makes Hospitals 'Less Scary' for kids' With Annual Spirit of Children Program

EGG HARBOR TOWNSHIP, N.J., Oct. 9, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Spirit Halloween, the largest seasonal Halloween retailer in North America, kicks off "Spirit of Children Week" on Oct. 15, benefitting Child Life Departments at 140 pediatric hospitals across the U.S. and Canada. Through the Spirit of Children program, Spirit Halloween will host nearly 100 Halloween parties at partner hospitals so patients, who otherwise wouldn't be able to participate in Halloween celebrations, can enjoy the fun of the season despite being in the hospital.

Since its inception in 2007, Spirit of Children has raised more than $45 million in critical funding for Child Life Departments at 140 partner hospitals. With a goal of $9 million dollars this year, funds for Spirit of Children are raised via donations from customers at 1,325 Spirit Halloween stores and SpiritHalloween.com, in addition to contributions from vendors and business partners. 100% of funds raised each year stay local and are donated to the community's partner hospital.

"Spirit of Children provides kids in hospitals with much-needed play and distraction," Steven Silverstein, President and CEO of Spirit Halloween said. "We see first-hand how our parties create magic that transcends the kids' difficult situations and provides a sense of normalcy as families navigate through challenging and heart-wrenching medical situations. Every child should be able to experience the joy of Halloween."

Spirit Halloween is encouraging more awareness for Spirit of Children with its #MoreCowbell initiative. Customers ring an iconic purple cowbell each time a donation is made to Spirit of Children at a Spirit Halloween store. Donors are encouraged to post a photo or video of themselves ringing the iconic cowbell using #MoreCowbell and #SpiritofChildren to encourage others to participate and bring more happiness and smiles into children's lives.

This season, Spirit Halloween team members will supply more than 80,000 costumes, accessories, activities and décor items needed to host the ultimate in-hospital Halloween parties. At many locations, patients and their families will have the thrill of meeting one of their favorite TV or movie characters, such as Ben 10 from the Cartoon Network, Chuck E. Cheese and iconic superheroes including, Warner Bros. Batman.

The grants provided by Spirit of Children enable the hospital Child Life staff to acquire the best tools, education and training. The funds assist in hiring additional Child Life staff, extending Child Life hours of operation and providing full-time Child Life specialists in the emergency department. Hospital Child Life Departments help make the hospital experience easier and more comfortable for young patients and their families by providing all non-medical treatment and healing through play. Additionally, funds will help purchase educational and entertainment items such as iPads and educational toys used for distraction during procedures. Spirit of Children funding has also helped hospitals create dedicated playrooms, teen lounges and separate family spaces for long hospital visits.

To learn more about Spirit of Children or to help Spirit Halloween reach its $9 million goal, please visit a store near you or SpiritHalloween.com.

About Spirit Halloween
Spirit Halloween (spirithalloween.com) is the largest Halloween specialty retailer in the country with over 1,325 locations in strip centers and malls across North America. Celebrating 35 years of business, Spirit is the premier destination for all things Halloween, offering one-stop shopping for everything from costumes to décor and party goods to accessories. 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. For more information, please visit SpiritHalloween.com.

About Spirit of Children
At the heart of Spirit Halloween is Spirit of Children, a program which focuses on making hospitals less scary for kids and their families. Since its inception in 2006, Spirit of Children has raised over $45 million for the Child Life department at hospitals across the country. Donations to Spirit of Children stay within local communities, with 100% of funds going toward a child's life. For the 2018 Halloween season, Spirit of Children will be supporting 140 partner hospitals across the country, with a goal to raise $9 million. Spirit encourages customers to help make a difference in a child's life this Halloween season by donating at their local Spirit Halloween store or spreading awareness via Facebook and Instagram by using #SpiritofChildren and #MoreCowbell in their photos. For more information, please visit SpiritOfChildren.com.

Media Contacts:
Erin Springer: Spirit Halloween Public Relations
[email protected] | 609-645-5619

Nikki Pursley: Crossroads Public Relations
[email protected] | 573-230-4465

SOURCE Spirit Halloween

Related Links

http://spirithalloween.com