Funds Support Improved Hospital Experience for Pediatric Patients

Spirit Halloween’s Spirit of Children program presented UMC Children’s Hospital with a record-breaking donation of more than $202,000 on February 4 to support valuable child life services. This is the largest annual donation UMC Children’s Hospital has ever received from Spirit of Children.

UMC CEO Mason Van Houweling and UMC Children’s Hospital Medical Director Dr. Meena Vohra joined local Spirit Halloween store owner Brinnon Scott for a check presentation event at UMC.

The funds raised by Spirit of Children make hospital stays easier for young patients and their families through non-medical treatment and healing play. Proceeds were collected at local Spirit Halloween stores, SpiritHalloween.com and from business partners. One hundred percent of local donations stay in the community.

The Spirit of Children program has raised more than $844,000 for UMC Children’s Hospital since 2010, supporting vital child life services to improve the hospital experience for young patients and their family members.

Previous funds from Spirit of Children allowed UMC Children’s Hospital to launch a groundbreaking virtual reality program and introduce new sensory equipment for the hospital’s Child Life Department. The hospital has also allocated Spirit of Children funds to support a large-scale remodel of UMC Children’s Hospital in the future. This project will create an improved care environment for pediatric patients.

Each year, Spirit of Children and local Spirit Halloween stores also bring Halloween to the young patients at UMC Children’s Hospital, providing costumes, activity books and other goodies to every child receiving care at the hospital.

Photo: 2021 Spirit of Children Halloween costume delivery to UMC; courtesy of UMC