Sparked by the desire to create positive, magical moments for children in need, Spirit Halloween created Spirit of Children in 2006. The unfamiliar surroundings of hospital rooms, the noisy halls, and the daily treatments can weigh heavily on patients and their support systems, so Spirit of Children was created to provide lighthearted and fulfilling experiences that made hospitals less scary for children and their families.
To begin the journey, Spirit partnered with local hospitals’ Child Life departments to provide costumes, accessories, décor, activities, and local Spirit store volunteers for Halloween parties. Child Life departments address the essential emotional and psychological needs of children and their families. Support for Child Life Services allows patients access to art, music, aquatic, and pet therapies, as well as toys used for education, distractions, and entertainment during medical procedures. Nearly all of the funding for Child Life departments in the U.S. comes from philanthropic efforts, like Spirit of Children, so it was the perfect fit.
In 2006, Spirit of Children started its journey by partnering with 11 hospitals. By 2007, when fundraising began, its partnerships had grown to 34 hospitals. In 2024, Spirit of Children grew to a year-round donation effort with 161 partner hospitals across the United States and Canada, which receive donations from over 1,500 Spirit Halloween stores. Spirit volunteers were invited to host in-person Halloween parties at 130 partner hospitals in 2024, and Spirit of Children supported Halloween celebrations at all partner hospitals regardless of our ability to participate in person.
Your in-store and online donations, combined with donations from Spirit’s vendors, have totaled $16.7 million in 2024 and over $145 million since 2007! 100% of every donation supports the Child Life departments in local partner hospitals.
Rick Tereo, Spirit of Children Team Lead and Director, Corporate Administration, Spencer Spirit Holdings, Inc., says: “We feel a deep sense of pride and privilege in our ability to support the critical work of Child Life at 161 partner hospitals across North America through Spirit of Children. Our fundraising efforts enable Child Life Specialists to provide therapeutic and emotional healing and coping to young patients while doctors and nurses focus on medical treatment.”
“Our associates are the backbone of the impactful Spirit of Children efforts that have helped so many children and their families at our partner hospitals. Without their commitment to sharing our mission with guests, our vendors, and licensing partners, this milestone would not be possible,” said Steven Silverstein, CEO of Spirit Halloween. “We remain committed to supporting Child Life Departments and the critical work they do to make hospitals less scary for kids and their families.”
Spirit recognizes that Halloween isn’t just about spooky ghouls and goblins. Halloween also evokes warm, magical feelings for many of us. If you’re reading this, that joy has likely stayed with you as you’ve grown up. Whether it was the fun of trick or treating, or the feeling of watching scary movies with friends and family, Halloween is truly a magical time for people of all ages. Spirit of Children seeks to provide moments like that for children not only at Halloween, but year-round.
Be one of the customers who proudly rings our iconic cowbell when you donate to Spirit of Children at checkout this fall, or donate online all year long. When your local Spirit Halloween store opens, look for the signage behind the registers. This will let you know what the local partner hospital is and how much has been raised for them to date.
However you choose to give, we’d love to hear about it! Share on social media with #spiritofchildren to inspire others and spread the word!
Interested in learning more? Read more about all of Spirit of Children’s missions and accomplishments.
