In a check presentation on Friday, January 29, Spirit of Children donated $176,210 to Phoenix Children's Hospital. The funds make hospital stays easier for young patients and their families through non-medical treatment and healing play. Proceeds were collected at the register at 20+ pop up stores in Arizona. One hundred percent of local donations stay in the Valley. To-date, the Spirit of Children program has raised approximately $1,200,000 for Phoenix Children's Hospital.

Grants provided by Spirit of Children bring joy and smiles to young patients far beyond the Halloween season. Funding enables the hospital’s Child Life staff to acquire the best tools, education and training as well as support hiring additional Child Life Specialists, extending Child Life hours of operation and providing full-time Child Life specialists in the emergency department and other areas of the hospital. Additionally, funding helps the Child Life department purchase sensory, educational and entertainment items such as interactive bubble rovers, illuminated wall panels, fiber optic tunnels, iPads and 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.

The donation follows an alternate in-hospital Halloween celebration for pediatric patients made possible by Spirit of Children Halloween Care packages sent to all 147 partner hospitals in October. Phoenix Children’s Hospital patients enjoyed reverse trick-or-treating and other contactless activities with costumes activities and treat bags donated by Spirit of Children. In past years, Spirit Halloween volunteers hosted in-person celebrations at nearly 100 partner hospitals. Due to the pandemic, visitors were restricted from visiting hospitals to protect the health of both young patients, hospital staff and Spirit volunteers.

To learn more about Spirit of Children, visit SpiritofChildren.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 2007, Spirit of Children has brought smiles, laughter and a much-needed escape to thousands of pediatric patients in 147 hospitals across the United States and Canada. One hundred percent of the money collected each year is given directly to the Child Life Departments at local partner hospitals, such as Phoenix Children’s Hospital. Spirit of Children raised over $12 million in 2020, bringing its total collections total to more than $77 million since the program’s inception. Spirit encourages customers to help make a difference in a child's life by donating at their local Spirit Halloween in season, donating online anytime at SpiritHalloween.com or spreading awareness via Facebook and Instagram by using #SpiritofChildren and #MoreCowbell in their photos. For more information, please visit: SpiritOfChildren.com.

About Phoenix Children’s Hospital

Phoenix Children’s Hospital is Arizona’s only children’s hospital recognized by U.S. News & World Report’s Best Children’s Hospitals. For 35 years, Phoenix Children's has provided world-class inpatient, outpatient, trauma, emergency and urgent care to children and families in Arizona and throughout the Southwest. As one of the largest children’s hospitals in the country, Phoenix Children’s delivers care across more than 75 pediatric specialties. Recognized specifically for its patient-focused innovation, medical education, growth and research, Phoenix Children’s was named Business of the Year and Exceptional Innovator by the Greater Phoenix Chamber in 2018. For more information about the hospital, visit phoenixchildrens.org.