2024 Starlight Annual Report
A Year of Meaningful Impact and Expansion
A Message from Adam Garone, CEO Starlight Children’s Foundation
I am honored to share the remarkable progress Starlight made in 2024. With the support of our dedicated donors, fundraisers, corporate partners, and hospital network, we have impacted more than 3 million children and expanded our national network to over 1,000 hospitals and pediatric facilities. We also enhanced our ability to bridge the gap between in-hospital and at-home care by growing our families’ network – providing vital support to over 1,000 families with chronically ill children.
We continue strengthening our position as the broadest-reaching charity impacting sick kids and have boldly expanded our reach beyond hospital walls. Starlight has partnered with the Weitzman Institute and the LEGO Group to serve as the distribution partner for the Prescription for Play program. Now available in pediatrician offices across the U.S., this new initiative enables Starlight to offer support throughout every stage of a child’s healthcare journey — even outside of serious illness.
How Play Helps Kids Heal
At Starlight, we know that play is crucial to supporting a child’s healing process during hospitalization. Research demonstrates that play has high therapeutic value for seriously ill children, helping them cope, learn and adapt to the hospital setting. A recent study among Starlight’s hospital partners found that Starlight Hospital Gowns and Toy Deliveries significantly decreased patient anxiety and created a sense of normalcy. Other studies have found that playing video games, like those provided through Starlight Gaming, can improve mood and foster social connections.
With Starlight programs, kids are immersed in the benefits of play-based care
Play eases anxiety and distracts from pain.
82 percent of hospital partners in our study report playing with Starlight Toy Deliveries reduces patient stress and anxiety. Kids experience the same relief and comfort with Starlight Gaming and Hospital Gowns.
Play helps kids feel safe by normalizing the hospital environment.
Whether it’s on Starlight Gaming, Toy Deliveries or Hospital Gowns, familiar characters remind kids of their home life. Hospital partners in our study shared that normalization was a key factor in increasing patient compliance.
Play builds trusting relationships with hospital staff.
After putting on Starlight Hospital Gowns or playing with Starlight Toy Deliveries and Gaming, patients have more chances to interact with hospital staff and speak more freely about their concerns.
Pediatric patients are kids first. When they play, kids feel safe and build trust with their healthcare teams, which in turn leads to improved health literacy and better outcomes.
Your support is what makes happiness possible for seriously ill kids.
“The kids tell their toys, ‘It’s okay. You’re being so brave.’ These are things the patient hears us say and, without prompting they’re mirroring it, which is fantastic.”
- Certified Child Life Specialist, Arizona
Intentionally crafted to address the unique needs of children in hospitals, Starlight programs bring comfort, distraction, and a sense of normalcy during the moments when they need it most.
- 1,522,692
Starlight Gaming Play Sessions
- 110,649
Starlight Hospital Gowns and Pants Delivered
- 906,426
Deliveries to Kids
- 346,861
Children Rode a Hero Wagon
We developed our first Starlight Gaming Station, powered by Nintendo, in 1992. Fast forward 27 years later to 2019 and Stream For Starlight (S4S) launched, uniting gaming and streaming communities to help advance our mission. Today, S4S remains a vibrant and diverse community where creators stream happiness 365 days a year.
Celebrating Milestones and Impact
Since its inception, S4S has been an overwhelming success, with over 2,000 charity streamers raising an incredible $2.7 million for Starlight! The impact of the S4S community continues to grow each year. In 2024 alone, streamers united to raise
$473,000, enabling the delivery of 69 Gaming Stations to 60 hospitals across the country, delivering moments of happiness to countless kids and families.
Aria's Journey
Finding Strength and Joy Through Play
A vibrant and energetic young girl whose passion and competitive spirit have earned her the title of “Mario Kart” expert at Seattle Children’s Hospital. But Aria’s journey to becoming a gaming champion started in an unexpected way.
In 2022, Aria began experiencing sudden pains in her leg that made it difficult for her to enjoy the activities she once loved – like gymnastics. Concerned, her parents took her to the hospital, where doctors delivered a devastating diagnosis: “Aria has cancer.”“I felt like time froze and that I probably wouldn’t make it,” said Aria. What followed were countless rounds of chemotherapy and immunotherapy.
Aria found that gaming provided a much-needed escape from the hospital’s clinical atmosphere. With the game controller in her hand, she found herself immersed in a world where she could feel in control, confident, and proud—even while undergoing chemotherapy.
“It was great to see her happy, smiling, and excited about something again”
- Aria's father, Patrick
Despite the weight of her treatment schedule, Aria faced each day with remarkable courage.
“When I play video games, I just feel confident. It’s hard to describe, but I feel proud of myself. Like, I’m having chemo, and I’m still doing things,” she said.
Aria’s passion for gaming influenced those around her. She began organizing “Mario Kart” tournaments in the hospital, inviting nurses and gaming technology specialists to compete in bracket-style matches. These friendly competitions became an opportunity for her to build relationships with her care team, fostering trust and transforming the hospital experience. Play gave her a sense of control over her circumstances and despite the challenges she faced, she could still be a kid.
In 2024, Aria rang the bell, marking the end of her cancer treatment. With cancer behind her, Aria is enjoying the things she once loved: being back at the gym and school.
Impact & Financials
Partnerships
Thanks to our corporate partners and their long-standing generosity, we can ensure hospitalized kids experience the transformative power of Starlight’s programs. A very special thank you to our major corporate supporters in 2024!
Here are a few highlights of the significant impact we’ve been able to make with corporate partners in 2024:
