March is Child Life Month, and Spirit of Children is proud to support Child Life Departments at 162 hospitals across the U.S. and Canada.
“Child Life is essential to a child’s healing, providing emotional support, therapeutic play, and developmentally appropriate activities that help kids cope, build resilience, and feel a sense of normalcy during hospitalization,” said Erin Wojno, Assistant Manager, Donor Relations.
Erin helps manage the Spirit of Children program and understands firsthand how important Child Life can be for hospitalized children. Before joining the Spirit team, she previously worked as a Child Life Specialist at the Children’s Hospital of Philadelphia.
Each year, Spirit stores, guests, and associates unite to raise critical funds that directly enhance patient experience. In 2025 alone, Spirit of Children raised more than $18.5 million to fund Child Life services โ and every dollar stays in the community where it’s raised.
In Washington, D.C., Spirit of Children has made a meaningful impact at Children’s National Hospital. Since the start of our partnership in 2015, Spirit of Children has raised $614,180 in support of the hospital’s Child Life Department, helping to enhance the care and experiences of the patients and families they serve.
“The support from Spirit of Children empowers our Child Life team to show up as our very best for every child and family,” said Tawni Rochester, CCLS, Manager of Child Life Services at Children’s National Hospital.
“Their contributions allow us to create moments of joy, reduce fear, and offer meaningful emotional support when it’s needed most. From birthday parties to new diagnosis education to bereavement care, Spirit helps us have everything we need to meet every patient and family where they are. Our entire hospital feels the impact of this partnership.”
