Reflecting on 2022

For the first time, Starlight was thrilled to have Starlight Kid Ambassadors. These three Starlight Kids were year-long representatives of our organization, sharing their stories and the impact of Starlight programs.

At the end of February, members of the Starlight team traveled to Orlando, Florida to participate in the runDisney Princess Half Marathon Weekend and represent Starlight. We interacted with runners and expo visitors to spotlight Starlight’s mission and our partnership with Disney, including our Disney Princess-themed Starlight Hospital Wear!

In collaboration with our friends at Radio flyer, we launched our new Hero Wagon program in February. Designed for Starlight by Radio Flyer, the Hero Wagon has an IV pole attachment, making it easier for all patients to enjoy a wagon ride. Plus, each wagon features seat belts for safety, smooth surfaces, and durable fabric that is easily sanitized by hospital staff between each use. Doctors, nurses, child life specialists, and caregivers across the US rely on these wagons every day as an integral part of a child's pediatric care.

Together with Nintendo, we have delivered more than 7,900 Starlight Gaming Stations to hundreds of hospitals, bringing smiles to an estimated over 12 million seriously ill children and, over the course of 30 years, this program has become a key, innovative resource for healthcare providers.

Fun fact: In 2022, we distributed 365 Gaming Stations. That's one for every day of the year!

Since 2016, Starlight Hospital Wear has been improving the hospital experience for pediatric patients, with all the features kids and their caregivers have come to love. As we looked at ways to continue to improve our programs, a key need for hospitalized kids was engagement. Time spent in a hospital can be lonely and boring – and with COVID restrictions still in place, they continue to be isolated. Simple ways to combine our programs with technology can make all the difference: that’s why we added QR codes to our Starlight hospital gowns!

From unexpected injuries to ongoing treatment for severe illnesses, even a brief hospitalization can cause a child to miss school, impacting their overall mental health and educational development - but Starlight Education can help.

Since 1982, Starlight has delivered happiness to seriously ill children and their families. 40 years later, Starlight programs continue to bring smiles to millions of kids across the country. As our understanding of technology, children’s health, and the power of play has evolved, our offerings have expanded to address the diverse challenges of hospitalized kids. Through our signature programs — Gaming, Virtual Reality, Hospital Wear, and Deliveries — Starlight has brought comfort to more than 23 million kids in over 800 hospitals through the healing power of play, directly in the hospital setting.

We honored several individuals, organizations, and groups that went above and beyond last year in promoting our work of bringing joy to kids at a time when they need it most. Recognizing them with a Starlight Award is such a small gesture in comparison to the lasting impact of their efforts.

These 10 content creators dedicated time and energy to support Starlight and the kids we serve, and many continue to do so. We were grateful to work with and learn from them as we continued to grow Stream For Starlight.

These are just some of the incredible moments from Starlight’s 2022 and each one was made possible by supporters, just like you! We can’t wait to see what Starlight’s community makes possible in 2023!