What are your most vivid childhood memories? Remember the thrill of blowing out birthday candles or finishing your first chapter book?
Every day at our hospital, children and their families are also reaching milestones and creating their own memories. A little boy dresses up as his favorite lab technician for Halloween. A teenage girl celebrates her final chemo treatment by dancing with her favorite nurse. For children receiving care at Packard Children’s, we are their second home and will forever be part of their childhood memories.
Thanks to the generous support of Spirit Halloween employees and their customers, our patients can just be kids and families can enjoy time together, even while facing medical challenges.
In 2015, Bay Area Spirit Halloween stores raised more than $85,000 for our Child and Family Life Services Department—exceeding their initial goal by more than $10,000—by encouraging customer donations and by allocating a portion of store proceeds to our hospital. A longtime supporter of Packard Children’s, the company’s Spirit of Children program has given roughly $375,000 to our Child Life Department over the past decade, and 2015 marked Spirit’s largest donation yet.
“From hospital-wide events like our Trick or Treat Trail, to one-on-one interactions between child life specialists and patients, our goal is to help children feel comfortable and safe, allowing them to have normal childhood experiences even when they are hospitalized,” said Susan Kinnebrew, MHA, CCLS, Director of Child and Family Life Services. “Spirit Halloween’s gift allows us to celebrate childhood and be there for our patients and their families, and it means so much to us.”
In addition to monetary gifts, the company also donates enough costumes, wigs, hats, glasses, and other accessories every year to fill an in-hospital costume shop, ensuring that every child—even those with medical equipment—can still dress up and participate in the annual childhood rite of Halloween.
“Spirit of Children is a program that brings fun and funding to hospitals at Halloween and all year long through supporting Child Life departments in local communities,” said Tonia Farinha, Senior Director of Stores Western Territory, at Spirit. “Our mission is to make hospital stays less scary for kids and their families, and we are proud of the difference we have made for the patients at Packard Children’s.”