Starlight Children's Foundation
| Motto | Starlight Children's Foundation brightens the lives of seriously ill children. |
|---|---|
| Formation | 1982 |
| Type | Non-profit organization |
| Purpose | Children's charity |
| Headquarters | Los Angeles, California |
|
Region served
|
USA |
| Website | www.starlight.org |
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.
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]
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.
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.
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.
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