Spirit Halloween Presents Hasbro Children’s Hospital with $50,500 Donation

PROVIDENCE, RI  – Understanding that hospital stays can be frightening for children and their families, Spirit Halloween created its “Spirit of Children” program to bring a sense of fun, and much needed funding, to Hasbro Children’s Hospital. On Thursday, January 22, company representatives presented the hospital with a donation of $50,500, representing the program’s local fundraising efforts.

Throughout the month of October, customers who purchased their costumes and Halloween décor at local Spirit Halloween locations were given an opportunity to make a donation to Hasbro Children’s Hospital. One hundred percent of the money collected benefits the hospital’s Child Life department, which works to provide pediatric patients with a sense of normalcy during hospitalization through engaging in play, storytelling, arts and crafts, and music. Child Life Spets also educate patients and their families about a child’s illness and what to expect during a test or procedure in non-scary ways.

“This is a program our associates embrace because it gives them an opportunity to make a direct local connection and impact a cause we all care about—the well-being of children,” said Dan Mathis, Northeast Zone Manager for Spirit Halloween. “We are honored to support Hasbro Children’s Hospital; the way that Child Life is able to bring smiles to the faces of young children is truly magical.”

Since its inception in 2006, Spirit Halloween’s “Spirit of Children” program has brought smiles, laughter and a much needed escape to thousands of pediatric patients in 134 hospitals across the United States and Canada while raising more than $21 million. In Rhode Island, the program just completed its fourth year, bringing the total contributions to Hasbro Children’s Hospital to more than $134,000.

“No child comes through our doors without a bit of anxiety, so it’s important for Child Life to make the hospital as pleasant of a place as possible,” said Marianne Cooney, Manager of Child Life Services at Hasbro Children’s Hospital. “Spirit Halloween is an important partner of our work; their ongoing support truly helps us make a difference in the lives of children by taking their minds off why they’re at the hospital.”

About Hasbro Children’s Hospital

Hasbro Children’s Hospital in Providence, R.I., a part of the Lifespan health care system, is the premier pediatric facility for clinical care, research and education for Rhode Island and surrounding southeastern New England. A private, not-for-profit institution, it is the pediatric division of Rhode Island Hospital. Rhode Island Hospital is the principal teaching hospital of The Warren Alpert Medical School of Brown University, through which the department of pediatrics brings in $23 million in external research funding annually. Hasbro Children’s Hospital’s “All for One” commitment devotes all of its knowledge, experience, and passion for healing to each child in its care. For more information visit www.hasbrochildrenshospital.org, follow us on Twitter, like us on Facebook: or Pin with us on Pinterest.

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