Formation 1982 Region served USA Founded 2 February 1983 | Purpose Children's charity Website www.starlight.org | |
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Type Non-profit organization Headquarters Los Angeles, California, United States Motto Starlight Children's Foundation brightens the lives of seriously ill children. Founders Emma Samms, Peter Samuelson Similar Make‑A‑Wish Foundation, Leukaemia Foundation, Academy of Motion Picture Ar, JDRF Profiles | ||
Starlight Children’s Foundation, founded in 1982, is a nonprofit organization whose mission is to brighten the lives of seriously ill children and their families.
Contents
- Taylor hay interview starlight children s foundation toy drive event
- History
- Programs
- Starlight Brave Gowns
- Starlight Fun Centers
- Starlight Sites
- Product Philanthropy
- Starlight PC Pals
- Starbright World
- Awards and Accomplishments
- Celebrity Support
- Community Partners
- Corporate Partners
- References
Starlight programs offer entertainment, education and technology to critically, chronically and terminally ill children. These programs are provided directly to children through Starlight’s network of more than 800 children’s hospitals and other community health partners throughout North America. Starlight’s US operations are based in Los Angeles, California.[2] The charity has provided support to more than 60 million children in the US, Canada, Australia and the UK where it has additional office locations and programs.[3]
Starlight in the US has several proprietary programs, including Starlight Brave Gowns which are brightly-colored gowns that make sick kids feel like superstars, and Starlight Sites which are kid-friendly indoor and outdoor hospital rooms, gardens and treatment facilities that provide kids and families a safe and relaxing place.[4]
Taylor hay interview starlight children s foundation toy drive event
History
Starlight Children's Foundation was founded in 1982 by Peter Samuelson and Emma Samms, who was inspired by her brother's death, at age 8, from aplastic anemia. Steven Spielberg serves as the organization’s Chairman Emeritus. From 2010-2015, Jacquie Hart was recruited as CEO. Starlight's current CEO is Christopher Helfrich who assumed leadership on Nov. 1, 2016. Helfrich spent five years at the UN Foundation at the helm of Nothing But Nets, the world’s largest global, grassroots campaign to defeat malaria.
Programs
Starlight focuses on brightening the lives of seriously ill children through a number of programs such as Starlight Fun Centers, Star Visits, Starlight Sites and Starlight Brave Gowns.
Starlight Brave Gowns
Launched November 2016, Starlight Brave Gowns are high-quality, comfortable and brightly colored hospital gowns that replace unattractive, uncomfortable and embarrassing hospital garments. Michaels, North America’s largest arts and crafts specialty retailer is Starlight's launch partner and designed the first 10 inaugural gowns as well as donated 10,000 initial gowns. Originally conceived by entrepreneur and philanthropist Summer Germann to honor her 10-year-old brother who died from pediatric cancer in 2002, Starlight Brave Gowns are made for boys and girls ages 2 through 12. Made in the USA, the gowns are manufactured to meet strict hospital infection and safety protocols, and are specially designed to allow for easy access to heart monitors as well as IVs on both sleeves.
Starlight Fun Centers
Starlight teamed up with Nintendo in 1992 to build Starlight Fun Center mobile entertainment units, which contain Wii technology that has been customized for hospital use. The units carry family-friendly Wii games and a DVD player and serve as a distraction to brighten moods and boost kids' morale during hospital stays.
Starlight Sites
In partnership with corporate donors, Starlight solicits grants to fund Starlight Sites, which are renovations to children's hospital treatment rooms designed to make kids more comfortable during procedures. The aim is to distract children from pain and anxiety, thereby improving their experience and making procedures easier for doctors and nurses to carry out. Sites can also take the form of teen lounges and kids' playrooms, designed for chronically ill kids facing long stays in the hospital.
Product Philanthropy
Launched in 2013, this online marketplace is offered to 700 children’s hospitals and other health partners across the US. The marketplace offers donated products and services from companies such as Disney, Radio Flyer Inc. and other brands.
Starlight PC Pals
Starlight provides tablets to children's hospitals so that kids with limited motion and those who can't leave their beds can still play games. The tablets are housed in protective covers that comply with infection control protocols and come with games, apps and connection to the Starbright World online community.
Starbright World
The first-ever private social network, started in 1995 by filmmaker and Chairman Emeritus Steven Spielberg, Peter Samuelson and Norman Schwarzkopf, Jr. It served to connect chronically ill teenagers with life-threatening medical conditions, and their siblings, in a safe, online community where they could chat, blog, post content, and meet others who shared similar experiences. Starbright World was taken offline on August 31, 2015.
Awards and Accomplishments
In 2016, Starlight earned a 4-star rating from Charity Navigator, America’s largest independent charity evaluator. Starlight is a gold-level GuideStar participant. Starlight is a CharityWatch Top Rated non-profit with an A rating.
Celebrity Support
Community Partners
Starlight partners with nearly 700 children's hospitals, hospice centers, outpatient homes and rehabilitation centers nationwide. Below are a list of a some of those partners
Corporate Partners
Starlight partners with world-class brands and companies, charitable foundations, socially aware groups and organizations and philanthropic individuals. Below are a list of a few corporate partners: