By: Yuritza Arroyo
The Spirit of Children Foundation, the philanthropic arm of Spirit Halloween, awarded $114,249 to the Child Life program at Children's Hospital of New Jersey (CHoNJ) at Newark Beth Israel Medical Center.
According to officials, this is the fourteenth annual donation from the Spirit of Children Foundation which has been supporting the Child Life Program at Children’s Hospital of New Jersey since 2010.
In the last 14 years, The Foundation has generously donated $971,464 in grant funding.
“Child Life Specialists are essential members of the pediatric care team at Children’s Hospital of New Jersey.
In the fall, we experienced a surge in pediatric patients due to several respiratory viruses spreading throughout the state, and our Child Life team provided essential support and therapeutic healing tools for our young patients.
The funding that we receive from the Spirit of Children Foundation helps support our Child Life specialists, and we greatly appreciate their unwavering commitment to our patients and the delivery of this kind of comprehensive pediatric care,” said Darrell K. Terry, Sr., MHA, MPH, FACHE, FHELA, President and Chief Executive Officer, Newark Beth Israel Medical Center and Children’s Hospital of New Jersey.
The Children’s Hospital of New Jersey Child Life program uses these funds to provide vital support to children and their families in the form of healing through play therapy.
Child Life therapists use emotional and therapeutic healing tools, including educational equipment, iPads, and distraction toys for use during procedures as well as toys created specifically for physical and developmental limitations.
In addition, the Spirit of Children Foundation supports Child Life specialists in creating a fun and safe Halloween experience for patients, which includes donating costumes, activity books, crayons, and treat bags.
All proceeds for the Spirit of Children Foundation grant are collected at area Spirit Halloween stores, where one hundred percent of local donations stay within the community.