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Starlight Children's Foundation
MISSION
Starlight helps seriously ill children and their families cope with their pain, fear and isolation through entertainment, education and family activities.
  • $ 85
    Raised To Date
  • 63
    Supporters
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Organization Description

Whether it’s finding friends online, learning more about a disease, or just spending time together as a family, Starlight’s programs help children and families cope with the challenges they face daily.

When a child is diagnosed with a serious illness, the day-to-day joys of childhood take a back seat to the rigors of treatment and hospitalization. For more than two decades, Starlight Children’s Foundation has dedicated itself to improving the quality of life for children with serious medical conditions by providing entertainment, education and family activities that help them cope with the pain, fear and isolation of prolonged illness.

We understand what families go through when a child is sick, and how important it is to find relief from constant worry and isolation. Our programs have been proven to distract children from their pain, help them better understand and manage their illnesses, and connect families with others facing similar challenges so that no one feels alone.

Serving more than 180,000 children each month, Starlight uniquely offers a comprehensive menu of both “high tech” and “high touch” programs. Our array of outpatient, hospital-based and Web offerings enables us to provide ongoing support for children and families – before, during and after medical treatment. These programs include: Family activities and outings, offered regularly to give families a chance to have fun together away from the hospital so they can relax, regroup and return home with a renewed sense of strength and hope. The events also forge connections between families struggling with similar issues to combat isolation.

Playrooms and special events designed to ease the loneliness, fear and boredom that accompany long hospital stays. Starlight has built more than 60 children’s playrooms and teen lounges in hospitals nationwide that provide children with an inviting place to play, relax and connect. Additionally, we bring fun-filled special events involving musicians, clowns and other entertainers to pediatric hospital patients – even those who are bedridden – to provide a morale boost and important social interaction.

Technology-based programs like online communities, mobile entertainment centers and laptop computers that help kids fill the long hours with fun, and stay connected to their friends, keep up with school work and chat with other seriously ill children.

Educational programming via CDs, DVDs and the Internet that helps sick children understand common hospital procedures and manage illnesses such as cancer, sickle cell anemia, cystic fibrosis, asthma, IBD and kidney disease. These programs combat the fear and uncertainty that often accompany illness with fact-based knowledge presented in an engaging and age-appropriate format.

Research conducted on select Starlight programs indicates patient benefits include reduced pain, greater compliance with treatment, and an increased sense of peer support, knowledge, responsibility for disease management, and ability to cope. The way we see it, while doctors work to restore a child’s health, Starlight works to restore his or her spirit.

We invite you to be a part of the growing Starlight network of supporters who are making a difference in the lives of children and families suffering through childhood illness.

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Research studies on select Starlight programs have shown the following benefits:

Reduced pain and distress

A reduction in the fear and isolation of a prolonged illness

A greater willingness to return for treatment

An increased sense of peer support

Increased knowledge and sense of responsibility for managing disease

Much needed distraction from the challenges that accompany their illness

Increased ability to cope with their disease

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Supported Events

  • A Stellar Night 2009
    Starlight Children's Foundation invites you to join us for A Stellar Night 2009 to celebrate our inspiring Starlight families and our very special honorees.
  • World Health Day
    World Health Day 2009 focuses on the resilience and safety of health facilities and the health workers who treat those affected by emergencies. Events around the world will highlight successes, advocate for safe facility design and construction, and build momentum for widespread emergency prepare...
  • Starlight Children's Foundation Volunteer Opportunity
    VOLUNTEER Show your support for Starlight and help make a difference in the lives of seriously ill children by volunteering for one of our events or activities. WISHLIST Donated goods and services allow Starlight to maximize the percentage of our budget that goes directly to program deliver...
  • Power of Youth
    Variety's Power of Youth Initiative is focused on encouraging top young talent to become involved with philanthropic and humanitarian causes, using their positions in popular culture to motivate others to do the same.
  • Starlight Childrens Foundation Presents 'A Stellar Night 2010'
    Save the Date!
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