Consumers support Beacon Children’s Hospital while saving on Halloween purchases
It’s the time of year when we have Halloween costumes and decorations on our minds. And this year, Spirit Halloween stores in South Bend, Mishawaka and Michigan City are once again partnering with Beacon Children’s Hospital in a special fundraising event.
Customers save at the checkout in stores or online and 10 percent of the proceeds goes to Beacon Children’s Hospital and our Child Life specialists. (Coupon below)
Last year, Spirit of Children donated more than $27,000 to Beacon Children’s Hospital.
Child Life Specialists are trained to help children and their families understand and manage challenging life events and stressful medical experiences. Because children process information from the world around them differently than adults, they have distinct needs for managing the effects of stress and trauma. Without assistance from a professional who understands their unique perspective, children of all ages may experience emotions such as fear, shame, confusion, anger and loneliness, which can inhibit their natural development, and have lasting negative effects on their wellbeing and future health-related choices.
Tracy Byler has worked as a Child Life specialist at Beacon for the past 16 years. She is recently pictured with Ty, one of our patients who is dressed in a Halloween mask and cape, and his mom.
“Whether I am providing a play opportunity for a child or supporting them as they get a needle poke, helping them to successfully cope with whatever they are facing in the hospital is very rewarding,” said Byler. “They have ideas and inquiries that stimulate my mind and get my creative side really going. Kids are such great little people.”
Here are the three participating Spirit Halloween stores in our region:
University Park Mall, former Sears store
Erskine Village
Former Sears store
Since 2007, Spirit Halloween guests, vendors, and licensing partners have donated to Spirit of Children, Spirit Halloween’s charitable foundation that supports Child Life programs at more than 150 children’s hospitals throughout North America.
This is a big year for Spirit of Children, as it will surpass the $100 million milestone in total donations raised. To date, Spirit Halloween’s charitable foundation has raised $93 million dollars, with a record goal of $18 million in 2022. Donations are accompanied by the ringing of the iconic purple cowbell. This feel-good moment at the store checkout has become an annual highlight for guests and associates alike.
“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.”
Click here to learn more about Spirit of Children. And here is your coupon to savings and donation to Beacon Children’s Hospital. Learn more about Beacon Children’s Hospital here.
