SOUTH TEXAS HEALTH SYSTEM CHILDREN’S CHILD LIFE PROGRAM SET TO RECEIVE GENEROUS DONATION FROM SPIRIT OF CHILDREN
The locally raised funds, a portion of the proceeds from sales at its Valley Spirit Halloween stores last season, will be used to support healing through play therapy and more for young patients and their families at STHS Children’s
What:
Spirit of Children will present a check to the Child Life Department at South Texas Health System Children’s for $57,000+ at a special presentation ceremony, all money raised locally through the sale of costumes, décor and more at five RGV-based Spirit Halloween stores during the Halloween season. The event will include the official ribbon-cutting for the hospital’s Children’s Healing Garden, which the Auxiliary to South Texas Health System built with funds received previously from Spirit of Children. This year’s donation will be used by STHS Children’s Child Life program, which aims to make hospital stays easier for young children and their families through non-medical treatment and healing play. Proceeds were collected last Halloween season at local Spirit Halloween stores in the Rio Grande Valley, SpiritHalloween.com and from business partners. One hundred percent of local donations stay in the Rio Grande Valley community. To-date, the Spirit of Children program has raised nearly $200,000 for South Texas Health System Children’s.
When:
Thursday, February 23, from 10:00 a.m. – 11:30 a.m.
Where:
STHS Children’s Main Lobby, South Texas Health System Children’s, 1102 W. Trenton Rd., Edinburg, TX 78539
Why:
Grants provided by Spirit of Children help bring joy and smiles to young patients year-round. All of the funding, which is handled through the Auxiliary to South Texas Health System, enables the hospital’s Child Life staff to acquire the best tools, education and training, as well financial support for the Child Life Department at STHS Children’s. Additionally, the funding helps the department purchase sensory, educational and entertainment items that can be used for distraction purposes during procedures. The donation follows an alternate in-hospital Halloween celebration for pediatric patients made possible by Spirit of Children Halloween care packages sent to all partner hospitals, including STHS Children’s in October.
About South Texas Health System
South Texas Health System is a multi-hospital health care system serving patients throughout the Rio Grande Valley. The system includes four hospital campuses with specialties in pediatrics, heart and vascular services, maternity and women’s health and trauma services. Treatment for behavioral health needs and addictive disorders is also provided through the system's South Texas Health System Behavioral Health campus location. South Texas Health System is affiliated with the South Texas Clinical Partners ACO, Prominence Health Plan, and Cornerstone Regional Hospital. The system operates an advanced Level I Trauma Center at South Texas Health System McAllen, the first and only pediatric ER at South Texas Health System Children’s, a specialized cardiac ER at South Texas Health System Heart, and six freestanding emergency rooms located in and around Weslaco, Mission, Edinburg, McAllen and Alamo. For more information on the system, please visit www.southtexashealthsystem.com.
About Auxiliary to South Texas Health System
The Auxiliary of South Texas Health System is comprised of men and women who donate not only their time assisting in the various departments throughout the facilities that make up South Texas Health System. The non-profit organization also raises money for educational scholarships to students within the Rio Grande Valley, continuing education assistance to STHS employees, and donations for other not-for-profit organizations within the community. The Auxiliary is able to give generous financial donations each year through money raised from the gift shop and various fundraising projects.
About Spirit of Children
At the heart of Spirit Halloween is Spirit of Children, a program which focuses on making hospitals less scary for kids and their families. Since its inception in 2007, Spirit of Children has brought smiles, laughter and a much-needed escape to thousands of pediatric patients in 147 hospitals across the United States and Canada. One hundred percent of the money collected each year is given directly to the Child Life Departments at local partner hospitals, such as South Texas Health System Children’s. Spirit of Children raised over $12 million in 2020, bringing its total collections total to more than $77 million since the program’s inception. Spirit encourages customers to help make a difference in a child’s life by donating at their local Spirit Halloween in season, donating online anytime at SpiritHalloween.com or spreading awareness via Facebook and Instagram by using #SpiritofChildren and #MoreCowbell in their photos. For more information, please visit: SpiritOfChildren.com.
