Spirit Halloween Transforms Children's Hospitals for 10th Annual "Spirit of Children Week"

Since 2006, with the help of vendor partners, Spirit sponsors and hosts Halloween celebrations in children's hospitals across the United States and Canada. Members of the Spirit field team bring everything needed to have the best party possible from costumes and decorations to goody bags. It's a remarkable event that touches thousands of pediatric patients and brings countless smiles and laughter to children and their families.

"Spirit of Children is a way to give back to the communities we are a part of each season.  With our parties, we bring the magic of Halloween to kids and their parents who otherwise might not have been able to participate," said Steven Silverstein, President and CEO, Spirit Halloween. "And with the money raised, Spirit of Children helps year round."

Spirit of Children chooses to partner with and support Child Life whose main function is to provide developmental, educational and therapeutic support for children undergoing medical treatment. Trained Child Life Specialists help children and their families cope with the many stresses involved when a child is in the hospital. These programs are instrumental to the healing process for children and helps kids just be kids in times of fear and discomfort.   

While always keeping the focus on the local community, Spirit of Children has raised more than $29 million in cash and merchandise donations nationally.  100% of the contributions made at any of the 1,200 Spirit Halloween stores go directly to that community's partner hospital.  This year Spirit hopes to raise almost $8 million more for Child Life programs.

Spirit of Children Week provides a prescription for play by supplying 15,000 costumes, face painting, crafts, music and more to throw the ultimate happy Halloween party at local children's hospitals. Many of the hospital parties this year will get uplifting visits from children's favorite TV and movie characters, including Chase and Marshall from Nickelodeon's Paw Patrol, Dream Works' Kung Fu Panda, Nickelodeon's Shimmer & Shine and Saban's Power Rangers.

"For the Spirit Halloween family, this is the time of year to consider the incredible emotional and life-long impact we can make on pediatric patients and their families," reflects Silverstein. "It's inspiring to see so many people come together to deliver strength and smiles to these young patients on Halloween and year-round, helping kids be kids. We know that every dollar makes a difference."

About Spirit Halloween
Spirit Halloween (spirithalloween.com) is the largest Halloween specialty retailer in the country with more than 1,200 locations in strip centers and malls across North America. Celebrating 33 years of business, Spirit is the authority on all things Halloween, offering one-stop shopping for everything from costumes to decor 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.

Photo - http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20161006/416296

SOURCE Spirit Halloween

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http://spirithalloween.com